Sunday, September 17, 2006

Traitor

My favorite individual subject of Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro's terrific documentary Murderball concerns Joe Soares, an American wheelchair rugby legend who, after being cut by the US team, later becomes -- partially out of spite -- the head coach of the Canadian paralympic squad. Thenceforth, Soares's former colleagues mock him and call him a traitor.

And in a strict patriotic sense he is; In a realistic one, however, he certainly isn't. The bottom line in Soares's case is that he assumed head coaching duties for Team Canada because he needed a job. Am I or any other of the tens of thousands of foreign workers in Korea a traitor to his or her respective nation because we work here? Furthermore, is a person who sacrifices his or her citizenship and decides to become a Korean, an American, a Canadian, an Uzbek, etc. a traitor to their homeland? Of course not. Only an overly patriotic jackass would think so.

It is one thing to live and work in a foreign land or change one's citizenship; to completely and shamefully disregard one's own country, however, is another matter. Case in point: Jeanette Lee (aka The Black Widow), who this past Saturday competed in Korea, as part of a Korean team, against a team from The United States -- a member of which, in a scenario mirroring a television sitcom, was Lee's own husband, George Breedlove.

Jeanette Lee is an ethnic Korean, yet she was born and raised in the US and currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana. Why, then, would she represent Korea? Sure, she no doubt fattened her pocket, but at what cost? How must she feel knowing she has betrayed her country so?

The answer to that last question is likely "not too bad," because I doubt most if any sports fans outside of Korea are aware of the awkward situation in which Lee placed herself.

I might possibly understand were Lee invited to play on a Korean team against a group of, say, Chinese. Or Croatians. Or Vulcans. She is ethnically Korean, after all. But to invite her to play on a Korean team against her home country is offensive on the coordinators' part, especially considering the extent of South Korea's, shall we say, "complex" in regards to American athletes (see: Apolo Anton Ohno). What's even more ludicrous however is that Lee accepted the invitation, and that her husband was part of the opposing team. Not only were the offer and Lee's acceptance foolish, they mocked the concept of sportsmanship and, particularly, marriage. I'd expect such a scenario from a WWE show, not professional pool.

As the father of a bi-racial daughter who possesses both Korean and Canadian citizenship, I would, should she become a professional athlete, have no problem with her representing either country, so long as she didn't compete against the other. And even if she did, despite my discomfort I'd support her regardless of which side she chose to play for. But that's considering she were a dual citizen, which currently, to my knowledge, only lasts until she turns eighteen, after which time she is required to decide between Korean and Canadian citizenship. Yet even then, I would unwaveringly support her whether she chose Canadian citizenship and played for Korea, or chose Korean citizenship and played for Canada, for at least she has lived in both countries.

Jeanette Lee, to my knowledge, has lived solely in the United States of America and has never been a Korean citizen. Her profile states that she grew up in a bi-lingual household (in Brooklyn, New York), yet these days her Korean, particularly her pronunciation and embarrassing use of familiar speech when a situation calls for the honorific tense, is just shy of terrible. She is Korean only in the sense that she looks like one, which apparently is enough for the organizers of the tournament of which she was the main draw. Meanwhile, many bi-racial and non-ethnic Korean children and adults who are in fact Korean but don't "look the part" struggle every day in a presently losing battle (unless they're Superbowl MVP or a kickass PRIDE fighter, I suppose) to justify, to the general Korean populace, that they belong.

The onus to correct most Koreans' myopic vision vis a vis race and nationality isn't Jeanette Lee's responsibility of course, but her decision to compete for a nation of which she is not -- nor has ever been -- a citizen, against fellow sportsmen from her homeland, solely for a paycheck, was crass and unprofessional.

Upon the match's conclusion on Saturday, Lee, after shouting the Korean rally cry "hwighting" to -- strangely -- little fanfare, exchanged trash talk with her husband and quipped that the married couple would spend the evening sleeping in seperate rooms.

I am wont to suggest after Lee's poor display of familial loyalty and national allegiance that she consider residing in another country, namely Korea.

I'm sure she'll be welcomed with open arms.

13 comments:

  1. My particular distaste on this subject goes to an MMA competitor (Dennis Kang) who also markets his own ethnicity (rather xenophobically, actually) when, in reality, he speaks Korean like a toddler and has spent less time in the country than I have.

    You never go broke pandering to the lowest common denominator and, unfortunately, in Korea that means playing to the national pride/inferiority complex dynamic.

    Whack.

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  2. The onus to correct most Koreans' myopic vision vis a vis race and nationality isn't Jeanette Lee's responsibility of course, but her decision to compete for a nation of which she is not -- nor has ever been -- a citizen, against fellow sportsmen from her homeland, solely for a paycheck, was crass and unprofessional.

    I disagree. The whole point of pro-sports is to make money. Otherwise, no one would leave their little league teams.

    If the Lithuanian team was somehow able to toss Kobe or whoever enough money to go play with them, they'd be on the first jet out. She just did what anyone would. Hell, that's what got us all here: helping Korea for money

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  3. Playing a sport for a professional team in Korea or anywhere else is fine, but playing for the Korean "national" team does not make sense if you are not a Korean "national." If a citizen of a particular country can play for the national team of a foreign country, what is the sense in having "national" team competition?

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  4. Playing a sport for a professional team in Korea or anywhere else is fine, but playing for the Korean "national" team does not make sense if you are not a Korean "national." If a citizen of a particular country can play for the national team of a foreign country, what is the sense in having "national" team competition?

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  5. "As the father of a bi-racial daughter who possesses both Korean and Canadian citizenship, I would, should she become a professional athlete, have no problem with her representing either country, so long as she didn't compete against the other. And even if she did, despite my discomfort I'd support her regardless of which side she chose to play for."

    If you have no problem with your daughter representing either country then surely you would no problem with whoever she would represent her country against. As a representitive of whoever it would be her duty to be available and to give 100% against whatever opponent.

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  6. "If you have no problem with your daughter representing either country then surely you would no problem with whoever she would represent her country against. As a representitive of whoever it would be her duty to be available and to give 100% against whatever opponent."

    I'd support her, sure, but like Archie Manning watching Eli and Peyton, it'd be uncomfortable for me to watch her play against either Canada or Korea.

    But let's say she played for England -- a country of which she has never been a citizen, yet has ancestral ties -- against Canada or Korea. I'd pretty much have to disown her in that case.

    But that's just hypothetical, 'cause Daddy don't raise no traitors.

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  7. Does Jeanette Lee have the ability to be selected on a regular basis for a the US team?

    If yes then maybe you have a point.

    If not then is it wrong for her to try and play international standard pool for a country which according to the laws of the pool govening body she is allowed to play for?

    Eligibility to play for any given country seems to stem from the following - Passport, Place of Birth, Nationality of Parents....and if your Irish (Irish Soccer team circa 1994) as long as your great grandmother spent a fortnight on holiday there.

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  8. Maybe I'm getting Freudian. It seems to me that the deeper issue that's upsetting is Koreans' propensity to give foreigners who look Korean more "Han" cred than bona fide Korean citizens of mixed blood.

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  9. "Ethnically", you could say I'm French (and I identify myself as such). My family's ancestral castle still stands in a town that bears my surname. I speak the language far better than most, including French citizens. I've even traveled to the country half a dozen times. Nevertheless, it would be totally ludicrous of me to participate in any activity as a member of the French team. But, I'm not sure that anyone should be offended by Ms. Lee's decision. Was this a sanctioned tournament? I doubt it was, as she wouldn't have been able to play for the Korean team. In that case, it's probably safe to say that it wouldn't have occured had she not played for the Korean team. It was an exibition game, something created to cash in on her fame in Korea. As TMH and William G. pointed out, her decision to play for Korea was a financial one. She knows who her fans are.

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  10. "Her profile states that she grew up in a bi-lingual household (in Brooklyn, New York)"

    A musing, is there a uni-lingual household in Brooklyn?

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  11. things haven't changed at all, eoin! you are still hilairious and brilliant.

    i internet-stalked you to let you know that i am going to be in the land of morning calm this winter, from dec 13-27th, and i would love to see you and your family if the opportunity presents itself.

    also, if you have any good ideas of viable (read: affordable) hotels, yogwans, hostels, or couches, def. let me know.

    you can email me at sookyoja at bcsbd dot com.

    hope to see you soon, and my best to wifey!

    luvpj

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  12. First of all, I'd like to stress that I'm not talking in terms of Jeanette Lee as this probably isn't the case for her.

    As a 2nd generation Korean, I'd like to explain my take on the whole citizenship thing.

    Unfortunately, we don't yet live in a dream world where prejuduce or stereotyping doesn't exist.

    Infact, it is only a recent phenomenm that Asian(looking)celebrities/Sportsmen are accepted in USA. Still a long way to go if you ask me.

    Of course this is a significant improvement compared to where 2nd generation African American people being made slaves to white people just because they were ethnically African even though mentally American hundreds of years ago.

    Sounds ancient?

    Why do we then like sexy girls? why don't we all go for the girls with big heart with fugly face instead?

    I don't think anyone is going to deny visuality doesn't play important part in the world we live in today.

    Park Jin Young recently produced some of the songs of Will Smith, Omarion, Tyrese and etc but even he said it is better to disguise yourself as unknown American composer than Famous asian music producer.

    Let's just say, you were born in Korea and lived all your life in Korea yet you have Canadian mother and father.

    It doesn't mean you don't get random stares or get started random conversations in English.

    The chances are, you will never be fully accepted as true Korean.

    You see a US born Chinese person walking down the street in Chinatown.
    Do you naturally consider him American?

    The chances are you may even feel more comfortable in Canada after spending a year or so than compared to Korea even though you were born in Korea.

    It is really different growing up as an 'Asian looking' kid in a western country compared to white kid.

    I have been living in Australia for many years and I've been legally Australian for ages.

    It does not mean I was not called names during my high school days such as 'Chink', 'Gook' etc. You ask a girl to the prom and later you find out the reason for the rejection was because you are 'not white'.

    Many of ethnic Koreans hang out with 2nd generation Koreans. They have a culture of their own, even though different from Korean culture nor US culture.
    Just look at LA Korea town. It's a city of it's own.

    Also you get to experience Korean culture one way or another whether it be Korean food, drama, music or Parents if you're ethnically Korean, which would've never happened in the first place if you were not ethnically Korean.

    I consider myself Korean. I've never cheered for Australia when it played against Korea even for 1 second in sports.

    Passport and citizenship is just a document. Where your heart truly lies count. Aren't we all, citizens of planet earth?

    In Japan, There are millions of 2nd and 3rd generations of Koreans who were forced to migrate to Japan from Korea close to 100 years ago which is similar to Korean migraion period in US. They are encouraged to change their surnames to Japanese but many still keep their Korean surnames even though it works as a disadvantage all the time.

    It's harder to get a job, harder to suceed etc.

    Funny it seems, as not many speak Korean fluently.

    Everywhere you go, ethnic groups get clumped up together and form a town of their own whether you're Greek, Chinese, Korean, Lebanese, Indian and so on even though many of them are 'born' there.

    Why? because they are 'ethnically' identical.

    It's similar with animals but I won't go into details as it's not much relevant.

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  13. Anything that puts Korea in the global spotlight is good for Korea. Hines Ward and Michelle Wie are examples. As long as they are successful stars, Korea will greet them with open arms. It makes no matter what their nationality is. Korea will still claim them as their own. They bring "pride" to "their" country.

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