[Opinion] Harsh Talks of President Bush

“…I understood why close people stopped even your press conference with two months of campaigning left. They feared what you would answer on question. One thing which is sure is that people don`t understand what you say. It was cute when you used to speak mixing words and sentences.

However, gradually I started to be concerned….” This is one paragraph among letter to President George Bush in the book of `stupid Whites` (published by tree and forest, translated by Kim Hyun-Hoo), which the U.S. movie producers and writer Michael Moore wrote.

Recent speech of President Bush in which he defined the North Korean leader Kim Jeong-Il as `pigmy` which is a small tribe as well as` kid who behaves on the dining table` was published in `Newsweek`

If people are American citizens like Mr. Moore, they could overlook saying, `he spoke exactly like President Bush`. However it is different matter for us. It is heard as `harsh talk` which can`t be digested simply as just a joke

At first, it is absurd. Now, how is relationship of the North-U.S? Dialogue is likely to take place as special aide of the U.S. might visit Pyongyang for the first time since resumption of Bush administration. It is also a situation in which the North is giving hand to the U.S. by itself.

President Bush gave the most insulting speech than any other thing towards the North.

Words that the North always talks to the South personnel are, “ please let the U.S. not speak out what touches our regime”. Nevertheless, President Bush spoke words, which were extremely insulting to `great general` and cannot be compared to like touching the regime, therefore, we can imagine feeling of the North.

It was been revealed several times that President Bush has negative view of leader Kim than any body else. He had spoken, “ I have little skepticism on the North Korean leader ” (March, 2001) and “I am disappointed at leader Kim as he is too doubtful and in secret (October 2001).”

However, it is first time for degrading leader Kim plainly. Making things worse, the U.S defined the north still as terrorism supporting nation recently. In this situation, would the North set out the North-U.S. dialogues as if there was nothing. I wonder what President Bush has in mind. I don`t know whether it was calculation to drive the North into the corner so that it can`t say anything`, or whether he made excuse to avoid dialogue intentionally. It can be a speech under unconsciousness, too.

However, no matter in any case, speech of President Bush is below common sense.

Although it is such a small nation, make them surrender “so that it can`t say anything` is only war. It doesn`t need to speak out artificial words such as `gate for dialogue is always open” or “the ball went towards Pyongyang”. Even if speech of President Bush is not by rational judgment but by immediate expression, the problem is serious.

Firstly, it is doubtful that consciousness of U.S. President is only to such level.

As the paragraph in `stupid whites`, is it because of `educational impotency` of President Bush? How can we entrust leadership of the World to such President?

Secondly, frankly speaking, it is unpleasant. Tribe `Pigmy`s` average height is not even 150cm. It is the tribe which doesn`t get advantage of civilization among present mankind. Comparing leader Kim to `Pigmy` is, isn`t prejudice over colored racial operating under consciousness?

It is same case for our government to get embarrassed, too. However, we are not the person concerned, it is hard to request President Bush to cancel the speech and apologize. But, this speech of President Bush is inadequate in various aspects for the North-South dialogue or settlement of Korean Peninsula.

Why, friendly nation, U.S President spoke out like `pouring cold water` repeatedly?

It doesn`t mean that our government should come out on behalf of the North. It is not clear how we should express regrets to the U.S, however, it has to state our opinion more confidently and inquire into the reason. Why should the co-operation of the Korea-U.S be emphasized?

Considering reservedly the speech of U.S. President, which might influence badly to the North-U.S. dialogue, may not be a substance of co-operation. If we keep silent as if nothing to do with us, wouldn`t we get criticized that we are having submissive foreign policy towards U.S?

Nam Chan-soon (Editorial Writer)