A corporal punishment in the home should be banned because of the possibility of misused such as a child abuse and if it is, it is hard for children to report the police.

First, children are too young to explain their opinions, so their parents inflict punishment on them automatically. Another thing to consider is that parents feel difficult to control their anger, so sometimes they loose their selves.

However, there are children who repeat the same misbehaves over and over in spite of parents’ advice, warning and other ways except a corporal punishment. In my experience, when I did something wrong, my mother used to spank me. After that, I couldn’t make the same fault because it was so painful. It’s common in Korea and many people might consider a corporal punishment in the same way. Most people think that it is necessary to punish children before ruining them by too much caring about their emotion. The purpose of a corporal punishment is somewhat appropriate, but it’s hard to know their emotion. That is, how much it damages children mentally and physically and how it will affect them as they grow. Even worse, it’s difficult to judge whether it’s a child abuse or not unless it is banned. Traditionally Koreans believe that one should not interrupt others’ family businesses. Still Koreans feel uneasy to report the police when their neighborhood behavior is suspicious. It should be banned in the hometo protect children from a child abuse.

These days, it seems like young Koreans try to follow and absord the western beliefs and values, especially American culture. The majority of young people think that traditional practices are old and boring, such anachronism should be thrown away. Therefore, they instead praises individualism, equality, and Materialism of the western. However, the beliefs and values in east asia including Korea, China, Japan, are sustained for a long time. It’s not a just tradition, it’s what shaped our society today. Not like the western values, so called orientalism forcus on community. This value is called as “share the life.” It might sounds dependable, but what it truely means that people should care and grade other persons interests as theirs. Therefore, that society will be healthier. It more focus on harmony than individual happiness. It’s impossible to compare which is good or bad, but just throwing out our traditional beliefs and values is irrational and foolish.

The hard tour of Olympic torch raised many issues by protests. There are many issues, such as environment condition, Tibet, and especially, in Korea, treatment of North Korean refugees. During the torch ran in Korea, some protest went on. North Koreans raised their voice on repatriation of North Koreans. Many of North Koreans refugees who repatriate from North Korea in order to escape from the hunger were sent away to North Korea again. Even they are doing repatriation during the torch run, which is far from peace and harmony. Two North Koreans tried to burn themselves, but they were stopped by the police. Sadly most Koreans, however, don’t pay attention to these protests including me. Perhaps, it’s because not related with our direct interest. North Korean refugees are doing protests because they care about their families, friend and people who left in North Korea. By doing so, they believe it can be better than before. I was ashamed of myself and wondered do I really want the ‘Re-unification’?

The first Mad cow disease are founded in England in 1985. After that, it has been founded more than 150.000 cows. Department of Agriculture in Korea said that it is 99.9% safe, if the SRM (Specified Risk Material) is eliminated. However, it has been discovered a little after the first stroke. It is earlier to say it is safe. Unfortunately, we cannot be safe by not eating cows. Gelatin which is used in many processed food, is made of leather of a cow. In the United State, one of the victims of Mad Cow Disease died, he/she was a vegetarian though. It’s everywhere. May be there is a reason that the government want to import American cow. However, more research and inspection should be made because it is directly related with the health of citizens.  

The review of  AP News about ‘collecting DNA for anyone who is arrected’

Federal government of the United States plans to expand the range of DNA collection for crimes from criminals to suspects. I strongly disagreed with their plan. Like an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union said, it surely has a possibility of being misused because the security system is not enough safe to be protected from hacking.

We can just simply imagine the action movie scene such as ‘Mission Impossible’ starred by Tom Cruise. Even though it doesn’t seem real at the moment, it’s possible to expect that something similar might happen in near future, since the amazing speed of development in technology. To prevent new type of advanced crimes, the security system should be more reinforced and well-established.

A few days ago, in Korea, the well-known online commerce market, Auction, has been attacked by hacker and private information of those thousands of the members has been stolen. This shows that developing security system has been overlooked and ignored because of the needs of technology.

The problem is we are not ready for thick barrier to keep our private information from leaking out. These days, DNA information is not being used in common, but soon we can expect it will be used in various field. There is wise saying in Korea: “be fixing the stable after the cow ran away.” Let’s take a deep breathe when something goes really fast, even if it seems perfect.

<AP News_ No.1600> source:  http://www.gohackers.com/eng/eng.htm?id=I_others_APnews&d1_idx=7&d2_idx=0

The equation of Happiness 

The development of technology, especially labor-saving machine, presented a lot of saving time skills to workers, but somehow they look busier than ever. Something is wrong in the measurement of happiness. These days, the main concern for happiness is how to save time efficiently to have more time for leisure. The equation of the happiness can be simply written as following:                         

Happiness = saving time               1.1

To save time, we need extra money to buy the labor-saving machines or extra time to take time management workshops. Therefore, saving time requires more money and time.

                           Saving time = money + time           1.2

So when we compare the two equations, 1.1 and 1.2, we can extract a new equation for happiness.

                           Happiness = money + time     1.3

The equation, 1,3 looks reasonable. The ‘happiness’ is increased when money and time increased. However, something is missing. ‘Money’ and ‘time’ in 1.2 are not saving, but spending. Therefore, 1.3 should be changed as following:

Happiness = earning more money + working hour increase   1.3

In conclusion, we need to work harder to achieve the ‘happiness’, but it does not make sense. We are very clear that the ‘happiness’ in 1.3 is not the happiness we want.

Unfortunately, in real life, most people follow this wrong equation. For example, according to the annual statistics report of OECD in 2008, Korean workers won the top ranking of the annual working hours, but in leisure expenses, they ranked as the 20th of 21 countries. They work harder for happiness, but there is no happiness.

 

People who get addicted to drugs claim their rights of individual freedom against the government. In case they achieve their right of freedom, somehow it still seems not 100% ‘free’. Excluding any other interferences, drug addicts face difficulties in enjoying their rights. In other words, they are free to start taking drugs, but rarely have the right to quit. Self-discipline is required in every parts of our life. It is not under the law, but the way to keep our freedom.    

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