Nuke test a fitting memorial?

While South Korea grieves for its fallen former president, Roh Moo-hyun, the man that he supported throughout his presidency, Kim Jong-il, has conducted a second nuclear test.

An untimely and unwelcome tribute to the Sunshine Policy put in place by Roh's predecessor, Kim Dae-jung, and heralded by Roh himself throughout his term. The same Sunshine Policy that ended with U.N. inspectors being forcibly removed, and the world being in the dark as to what goes on in North Korea.

In the dark that is, until the force of an underground nuclear detonation pushes the needles on seismographs thousands of miles away from the blast.

Praiseworthy?

From a broader standpoint, I am surprised at the outpouring of sympathy to Roh Moo-hyun --a man who during his presidency accepted such large amounts of bribes, at one time saw his approval ratings dip as low as 20%, alienated the country's longest ally, and rode violent anti-Americanism to a narrow 2% victory to get into office in the first place. And then there is the 72 terabytes of presidential records "misplaced" when he left office --something that would no doubt tickle Richard Nixon were he still alive.

All of this, and yet he should still be so celebrated after ending his life and not answering to the people seems a bit odd.

It would be as if George W. Bush was on trial for his massive fraud to the American people over the illegal invasion of Iraq. Then, one day he just offs himself to avoid answering his accusers, and people suddenly felt he was worthy of honor.

I applaud Roh on his personal accomplishments, going from a humble farm boy with no university education to a noteworthy human rights lawyer to the presidency is a remarkable feat. But I don't see him as being a person that should receive praise for a bitterly divisive candidacy and presidential term that alienated so many. It reminds me of artists whose paintings rise in value following their death. The content remains unchanged, but up goes the value.

The Herald quoted a Korean novelist who said:

"(Roh) led the nation's reform drive for its democratic development. The inter-Korean joint declaration will be honored as a great achievement."

Democratic development? Roh was the guy that invited reporters out for beers as a diversion so he could lock them out of the presidential press room for several weeks because he didn't like how they were criticizing him. And the Inter-Korean Joint Declaration achieved what exactly?

Former presidential candidate and Roh opponent, Lee Hoi-chang, went to pay his respects yesterday to the fallen former president, but Roh Moo-hyun supporters rained eggs down on him. These are the same folks that beat up several Americans in 2002, (as if they were driving the military vehicle that mistakenly killed those two girls) during a time when many, including myself, were fearful walking in the streets. And, as has been reported in the Korean media, these are also the same folks that pushed the false claims of Mad Cow --claims that still have millions of school children terrified that they have a genetic predisposition to the disease.

So, I am at a bit of a loss as to why people are praising the father of this political element --one that he nurtured into prominence. There is no getting around it: He used the politics of hate to edge himself into the presidency. Is that something worthy of a positive memorial embrace? Especially at a time when Korea professes the desire to be "Dynamic" and open up to the world? It was the Roh followers that sought and still seek to shut the world out and make Korea only Korean.

I think it unlikely that the country whose flag you burn will continue to buy all your cars and TV's.

I express my deepest sympathies to his family and to the Korean people, but as someone that has lived several years in Korea and cares for its future, I find this to be the ultimate contradiction.

Roh's final words:

"I have owed to too many people. The amount of burden I have caused to them is too great. I can't begin to fathom the countless agonies down the road. The rest of my life would only be a burden for others. I am unable to do anything because of poor health. I can't read books, nor can I write. Do not be too sad. Isn't life and death all part of nature? Do not be sorry. Do not feel resentment toward anyone. It is fate. Cremate me. And leave only a small tombstone near home. I've thought this for a while."