Park Min Ji: Nationalism Debate

Is Nationalism A Good Thing?


Nationalism is the desire for political independence of people who feel they are historically or culturally a separate group within a country. It is often associated with the belief that a particular nation is better than any other nation. And it is often used to show disapproval. Then, is nationalism a good thing?

If we don't have any mind to we love our nation, we might lose our own culture. When countries develop, nationalism is helpful. For example, our country, Korea, accomplished rapid economic growth. This is because we all had patriotism that encouraged us to cooperate.

I'm worried about over-nationalism! Appropriate control, such as for cultural assets, is important. Nationalism also includes tendencies that drive out other cultures. In globalization, nationalism leads nations to cultural and economic recession.

If nationalism exceeds appropriate levels, It can result in racial discrimination. For example, Nazis cruelly killed millions of Jewish people because Hitler thought his race was superior to the Jews.

Consequently, I think over-nationalism is not good. If it exceeds an adequate level, many problems will happen in our society. We have to properly use this idea only for good thing. We should be in harmony. We need to have self-esteem and also have acceptance.

Kim Soon Young's Debate Essay

Is Nationalism a Good Thing ?

Soon Young Kim


Nowadays in this age of globalization, no matter how far, people share each different culture and follow it. As we now have a big market in the world, we have to live under a common rule beyond nation, race, and religion. Because of this situation, we are losing ethnic identity and don't know what nationalism is exactly, So I will talk about what nationalism is and it's pros and cons.
First, what is nationalism? According to the dictionary, "It is a feeling of loyalty to a country on the part of its people and leaders, the desire for political independence of people who feel they are historically of culturally a separate group within a country."

Pros insist nationalism is necessary, because if there is none, people won't think about their race and nation, so people would accept other nation's policies and cultures without thinking. And nations can be confused about their own identity. I go along with that idea. Nationalism helps a country's people unify their goal and keep their nation powerful.

Cons insist nationalism is not necessary, because in globalization nationalism leads a nation to cultural and economic recession. And if nationalism exceeds appropriate levels, it can bring about racial discrimination. For example, sometimes Koreans think our nation is single unit too much, so we overacted about Jaebum, who just complained about Korea because of his pain of being in a different culture.
But I think this analysis of the situation is too superficial. Essentially his unconsciousness about that lead to this problem. If he thought that Korea's nationalism was important, it wouldn't have occurred.

In conclusion, I think nationalism is necessary. But excessive national is harmful. Although I can't control nationalism, I am convinced we have to take a neutral attitude about this.

Jung Ji Eun's Essay: Nationalism Debate

Debate About Nationalism

By Jung Ji Eun

Nationalism is an ideology that thinks of nation as the best thing. What do you think about nationalism? I think nationalism is a good thing. Those who object my opinion say that one race can ostracize all the other races because races think only of their own profit. Also, nationalism can lead to intolerance of others, so in globalization, nationalism leads nations to cultural, economical recession,said counterparts. And they say that one race can kill other races, such as Nazis and Hitler because of nationalism.

But I think nationalism is a good thing. Nationalism makes a race unify for their goal. Without nationalism, we could not have achieved historical events such as the 2002 World Cup and so on. And without nationalism, our nation's order will break down.

Nationalism can be divided into two parts. One part is exclusive nationalism, another part is open nationalism. The latter regards harmony with each nation in the whole world as important thing. But people often think nationalism is only an exclusive thing, bad thing. That is not true.

Like this, nationalism has good points and bad points. But for the maintenance of a nation, nationalism should become nation's basis. Therefore, I think nationalism is a good thing.

Lee Yu Hyun's Essay: Schooling for Teen Mothers

Schooling for Teen Mothers
by Lee Yu Hyun

For most people of Korea, early pregnancy is not desirable.

It is regarded as a crime, if a teenage girl is pregnant, Koreans think she is immoral, blamable.

I think this perspective comes from Confucianism. It strictly discriminates between women and men. From long time ago -at least since Joseon dynasty- men have been treated as much more precious than women.

So, I think this influences bad ideas about teen's pregnancy. And basically, earlier pregnancy is not good for both the mother and her baby because teenagers' babies are not mature. So, teen mothers and their babies grow together. This may cause baby's deformation. Still, most people think earlier pregnancy is not desirable, but this is not only a stereotype but also worrying for teen parents' health. They are not ready and are not mature yet. I also think unwed pregnancies are not desirable because most of society will blame teen mothers and they will come ostracized.

So I think earlier pregnancy is not good for both mother and baby. Teenagers must careful about pregnancy.

4 Rivers Project

By Eun Byeol and Su Hyeon

Korea has 4 big rivers. They were big part of korean industry before. And now they represent korean nature.

The 4 Rivers Project is korean new deal project which has been pushed ahead by Lee Myeong-bak goverment since the second half of year 2008.

It harms an ecosystem : it is a project only for human being. So they only concentrate on the economic efficiency more than rare plants and endangerd animals.

The Goverment still progress it dogmatically.

Though 70% of koreans object this project.

We have to care more about the ecosystem.

The goverment`s dogmatic behavior retrogresses the times.

They must respect citizens and comunicate with them.

If we do like this, we`ll develop more and more.

People who object the 4 rivers project

Dokdo

Dokdo
By Lee Da Ham-and Park Su-Min

Dok-do, which means the island of isolation, is the Korean island located in the East Sea.
It is volcanic island near Uleoung Island.
This natural environment is pure and the view from the sky is pretty good.
Today, because there are many kinds of natural resources under Dok-do, such as natural gas, Japan started to claim that Dok-do is their land.
This is an obvious fact that Dokdo is korean territory.
Because we have a text which says "Dokdo is korean territory." And mark on the world map.
Therefore, Dokdo is part of Korea .