D.M.Z.

It is hard to fight the ridiculous. - Garrison Keillor

Confucius said, “If we don’t use the correct words, we live public lies. If we live public lies, the political system is a sham. When the political system is a sham, civil order and refinement deteriorate. When civil order and refinement deteriorate, injustice multiplies. As injustice multiplies, eventually the electorate is paralyzed by public lawlessness. -Analects 13:3


I guess I now understand Oxymorons better. 

Jumbo Shrimp

Airplane Food

Bankers Trust

Pretty Ugly

Clean Dirt

and now ... drum roll, please: 

The Demilitarized Zone

First of all, all the soldiers I saw were armed. I saw allegedly live mine fields. I witnessed people ready-to-go into action at the first sign of danger. I guess if one calls it a De-Militarized zone, by this softening of language one can get away with all kinds of things, and maybe sleep better at night.

The classic exposé of soft euphemistic language is here: I hope you will be able to invest the 10 rich minutes this experience will ask of you:

R.I.P., George Carlin.

My last visit to the DMZ was June of 1980, a quiet affair arranged for a few foreigners by the USO in Seoul. One bus at a time, spaced out over hours, or by days. Its highlight was the village of Pammunjom.

(Image from Globaljuggler, via WikiMedia Commons) 

At this sensitive place, no pointing, no noise, no laughter. As in 1980, so in 2015. Bus-after-bus-after-bus-fulls of tourists is hardly the desired situation by players who maintain the world's most "militarized zone."

So my recent visit was very different. Mind-full readers, I neither complain about, nor downgrade the hospitality Ewha Womans University has extended me, to be part of the learning community to visit the DMZ. I do report on how the experience of the visit over 35 years has dramatically changed!

With 1000s of visitors each day, there is a now a tourist-friendly section of the DMZ: Large parking lots designed for many buses, restaurants to feed their occupants, gift shops and coffee shops and ice-cream boutiques to cater, fun-parks for the little kids. Photo-ops - even/especially with soldiers - abound. (It was hinted that the troops stationed here are those deemed especially photogenic! I have no opinion.) There are no stop-overs at Pammunjom.

So, here is my photo report. Thanks for reading, as always.

Along the way, barbed wire and outposts show up. Mountains in the distance are bare b/c of firewood scavenging.

Was this real, or for show?

Some of my fellow visitors

Getting ready to go down into Tunnel #3

One needed the safety helmet provided!

This and following pictures: Looking over into North Korea.

At right of picture, developed area is an economic zone provided by key South Korean corporations.

White "needle" structure in middle is a statue to Kim Il-Sung.

Do you see both North Korean and South Korean flags?

The spirit of and soul behind the Summer College program at Ewha, AHN, Mi Mi

This is rare.

Photo Op with a soldier, #1

 

Photo Op with a soldier, #2

Photo Op with a soldier, #3

End of Freedom Bridge

Wishes and Desires for Reunification #1

Wishes and Desires for Reunification #2

Getting ready for the "Family Portrait"

Family Portrait. Blogger is to the right of the word "College".

Next topic: a visit to the uncipherable description of the Korean character at its heart: Jeong (정).

Keep it real. Marc