I Hate War.

Several of my Korean friends are starting to serve their required military time. All Korean men have to serve at least 2 years in the military. If they are not physically fit for service, they do factory work for 3 years. If their religion does not allow them to serve in the military, they go to PRISON for 2 years. It says something that a prison stay is considered equivalent to military service. (I hear prison is the better deal.)

Anyway, it’s so weird that all these guys are being equipped and trained to kill and survive – and they are walking all around. Before, they were just normal guys. After their training, they will be ready to take out anyone who threatens them, with the deadly combination of martial arts and grenade throwing. I walk among killing machines, whom, if they took the notion, could destroy me or anyone else.

I hate seeing my friends dreading going into the military. I also hate hearing the stories of what they did to them while they were there. I don’t like them talking about how they learned how to accurately throw grenades or use M-16s or listening to them describe what is like to be gassed. I know millions and millions of people do it all over the world, but I don't like it at all. It seems so backward and base.

Here’s an interesting tid-bit. Daegu is rumored to be the hot-spot for North Korean spies with an estimated 30,000. Also, one of my friends is a translator for a general. I think he might be a spy.