The Pride Of The Poor
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Recently we came to learn more clearly that the economy of the Communist countries, including that of North Korea, have failed, and most of the people in those countries are virtually living in poverty. It is reported that they are suffering from the severe shortage of the basic commodities and necessities of life, which we have in surplus. Most of us feel secretly happy about the triumph of the capitalism we have, and gloat over the failure of Communism they have.
In the wake of the dramatic fall of the Berlin Wall and the Ceausescu's regime in Rumania, we are more hopeful and confident now in our effort to improve the ever-frozen relationship between the South and the North. We are out on the offensive to persuade the North to change their rigid attitude and comply with the terms we offer. The commodities we had used until now in dealing with them -- such as freedom, human rights, democracy -- proved to be ineffective. It seems that such goods are too expensive for them to buy. Now we offer a real thing : money. We are offering them economic aids or joint-ventures that promise sure profits and gains for them. We think they cannot resist our offer. The Minister of National Reunification looks more confident this time than ever before.
What if North Korea collapses tomorrow, and the people in the North and the South are permitted to freely visit each other? Would the people in the North flood into the South in order to breathe the air of freedom and liberty in the South? Would they flock to Seoul to see Hanyang Supermarket or Lotte World? Would they admire the tall buildings, shining cars, and all the luxuries that we have and are very proud of? I don't think they would. Not many of them have cars in the first place, and the distance between Seoul and Pyongyang is too far and mountainous to be covered on foot. And more than anything else, they are also very proud, although they are poor. Their pride would rather make them stay at home than visit rich brother's house.
On the other hand, many people in the South, especially those who had fled from the North will rush by car to their old folks at home. Many others will drive to the Diamond Mountain or to the famous hot springs and beaches, vaunting their big cars, luxurious clothes, and expensive video cameras. Most of them will carry a lot of presents with them for the poor relatives and friends in the North. They will try to be very kind, generous, and smug to the poor people in the North. They will try to play a rich uncle who left home poor and came home rich from abroad after many years of absence and try to be nice to everyone in the family.
The reaction of the people in the North to this friendly attitude will definitely be far from being friendly. You do not have to be a genius or a psychologist to understand it. It is from the pride of the poor. You do not have to cross the DMZ to verify this. We have plenty of poor people around us. We were ourselves very poor just three decades ago. None of us dreamed to own a car then, but, nevertheless, we were happy in our own way. We were hungry then, but we were healthy, probably healthier than now, and more than anything else, very proud. The poor are equally proud as the rich are.
The life of the poor is characterized by its simplicity: simple food, simple housing, and simple clothing. The poor are forced lead a virtuous life. They cannot afford to go astray. They are supposed to work hard, spend less, and help each other. They unconsciously feel that they are morally and ethically superior to the rich. They are very sensitive to and critical of the immoral conducts of the rich. The poor envy the rich, of course, but at the same time they scorn the rich for being morally corrupted, weak, idle, lazy, foolish, naive, wasteful, selfish, luxurious, and extravagant. The poor have their own way of enjoying being poor.
Whether the despotic Communist government of the North falls or not, there will be, sooner or later, more contacts of people between the South and North through various channels. Not only more government officials, but also more private citizens from every walk of life in our society will be able to meet more people of the North and spend more time with them. It will be a new era of confrontation, mutual change, and adjustment.
It will be a great mistake for us all, if we just take advantage of the economic failure of the North in order to achieve our goal. Through more and frequent contacts with the South and the outside world, they will open their eyes and realize the sorry economic situation they are in, and inevitably adopt our way of making money, whether they like it or not. And in doing so, they will also discover with their own eyes all the sordid, seamy, and chaotic aspects of capitalism, along with all forms of social evils and ills that we have. It will take them another decades to digest and accommodate what we take for granted.
It is not easy to help your poor brother financially. It could be one of the most difficult things to do in the world. Often you had better leave him alone, and let him help himself. Nothing can be more delicate and sensitive than this because the pride of your poor brother is at stake. Your goodwill and his pride rarely go unhurt. Your generous attitude will mostly be construed by him as 'overbearing', while his mute appreciation as 'thankless' by you.
If we really believe that we are living in a superior system to that of the North politically as well as economically, we must prove it by what we are, not by what we have. We should be more humble, caring, and humane than they who were born, bred, and educated in that inhuman atmosphere. We have to honestly admit that we have been no less obstinate, cruel, and narrow-minded than they who cannot be otherwise. It is we who should change first, and more.
(January 17, 1990)
(January 17, 1990)
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