The following rant was posted on Indecline.
I was on the subway today heading home, when five very loud, very annoying Americans packed into the already crowded car with a Korean girl I assume was their guide.
"I know a bit of Korean," said one. "Hello, thank you, and retard."
Listening in but trying not to look like I was part of their group, I learned they were from the air force base and they wanted to see if Koreans know how to party.
The day after I got here, I've made sure I have a Canada flag on me at all times. I've heard stories about Canadians being spat at because they're mistaken for Americans. Even though I usually go around the city in a flight jacket and parade cocks, everyone treats me with respect, but that's because I treat them the same way and I do my best to understand their language.
There are a lot of foreigners here, most of them probably being American, and I'd think the majority of them know how to keep from being spat at. The difference with these guys is that they think they own this country and that everyone's grateful they've kept the communists out for 50 years. But Koreans are tired of being pushed around by Americans; they want to reunite with the north and see long-lost relatives, but every time Bush opens his mouth the North Koreans break off all diplomatic contact. Anti-American sentiment is popular here, probably about as much as it is in New York (which is a lot, if you don't know because you only get your news from CNN).
We get CNN here, and every once in a while they give travel warnings for Americans to stay indoors on certain days. While walking through a subway station last Friday, some guy handed the girl I was with a brochure she told me was anti-war material. She gave it to me because she knows I love that shit.
There is pressure here for the Korean government to send troops to Iraq, I think partly in "repayment," and also because two Korean workers were killed by terrorists recently when trying to do business in Iraq. I say, like it or lump it. The Koreans got no comeuppance when an American tank rolled over a couple Korean girls earlier this year; in fact, the boneheads responsible are in all likelihood still posted in this country.
As soon as I figure out when and where they have these rallies, I'm gonna try to attend. Everybody says it would be dangerous, but I think the people here would like to know that they're not alone.
