ID :
37800
Mon, 12/29/2008 - 10:33
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/37800
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(EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on Dec. 29)
Bringing hope
This winter emerges as season of giving
This December was marked by the disappearance of both the festive mood and the
sales boom around the Christmas holiday due to the global credit crunch and
economic slump. It seems that the ``Blue Christmas'' has become a universal
phenomenon around the world in the wake of the crisis resembling the Great
Depression. But we have to notice one exception ??? this winter has been much
more characterized as the season of giving than ever before.
We Koreans often say: Let's help others even in hard times. This saying reflects
the poverty and destitution of our parents and grandparents who went through
Japanese colonial rule, national division and the Korean War. They still remember
the spring austerity in the 1950s-60s when they suffered from an acute shortage
of food. Especially, in the past winter was the bleakest season for people,
mostly the poor and the underprivileged.
The country is now the world's 13th largest economy. But at this time of
worldwide financial turbulence with the economy slipping into recession, the
older generations tend to go back to the memories of the ``good old days'' when
they never gave up hope for a better future. They devoted themselves to hard work
to avoid leaving the legacy of poverty to their children. We Koreans have boasted
the fact that we have realized the Miracle of the Han River by becoming the
world's fastest growing economy in the past decades.
Despite the brilliant economic development, the country has still many social
problems to be tackled. There are many poor households with their children
skipping meals and living below the poverty line. There is a widening gap between
the rich and the poor. The country still has a long way to go to become a welfare
state. The government has to do more to firmly establish a social safety net for
the poor and the underprivileged.
There are lots of people who are waiting for help because of a lack of state
support for their livelihood. In this situation, the good news is that the local
Salvation Army collected 3.5 billion won during its Dec. 1-24 charity campaign,
up 14 percent from last year's sum. The increase is meaningful because
individuals were active in giving, despite the fact that corporations and other
organizations reduced their donations by over 10 percent this year due to the
credit crunch and the economic downturn.
It is really moving to hear that even poor people have participated in sharing a
penny with others. They are the real champions of love by practicing the true
spirit of sharing and giving. We hope this noble spirit will spread to every
sector of society so that we can bring hope and love to our neighbors in need.
The global financial turmoil was created by human greed for more money and
profits. It is time to reflect on our human nature and eschew the meaning of
humanism and philanthropism.
(END)
This winter emerges as season of giving
This December was marked by the disappearance of both the festive mood and the
sales boom around the Christmas holiday due to the global credit crunch and
economic slump. It seems that the ``Blue Christmas'' has become a universal
phenomenon around the world in the wake of the crisis resembling the Great
Depression. But we have to notice one exception ??? this winter has been much
more characterized as the season of giving than ever before.
We Koreans often say: Let's help others even in hard times. This saying reflects
the poverty and destitution of our parents and grandparents who went through
Japanese colonial rule, national division and the Korean War. They still remember
the spring austerity in the 1950s-60s when they suffered from an acute shortage
of food. Especially, in the past winter was the bleakest season for people,
mostly the poor and the underprivileged.
The country is now the world's 13th largest economy. But at this time of
worldwide financial turbulence with the economy slipping into recession, the
older generations tend to go back to the memories of the ``good old days'' when
they never gave up hope for a better future. They devoted themselves to hard work
to avoid leaving the legacy of poverty to their children. We Koreans have boasted
the fact that we have realized the Miracle of the Han River by becoming the
world's fastest growing economy in the past decades.
Despite the brilliant economic development, the country has still many social
problems to be tackled. There are many poor households with their children
skipping meals and living below the poverty line. There is a widening gap between
the rich and the poor. The country still has a long way to go to become a welfare
state. The government has to do more to firmly establish a social safety net for
the poor and the underprivileged.
There are lots of people who are waiting for help because of a lack of state
support for their livelihood. In this situation, the good news is that the local
Salvation Army collected 3.5 billion won during its Dec. 1-24 charity campaign,
up 14 percent from last year's sum. The increase is meaningful because
individuals were active in giving, despite the fact that corporations and other
organizations reduced their donations by over 10 percent this year due to the
credit crunch and the economic downturn.
It is really moving to hear that even poor people have participated in sharing a
penny with others. They are the real champions of love by practicing the true
spirit of sharing and giving. We hope this noble spirit will spread to every
sector of society so that we can bring hope and love to our neighbors in need.
The global financial turmoil was created by human greed for more money and
profits. It is time to reflect on our human nature and eschew the meaning of
humanism and philanthropism.
(END)
