What I did for a bit before was to have ‘articles’ that I wrote interspersed with personal blog entries. I’m not really sure how much I want to write articles, and be thinking about other issues. I think I right now I would really like to take a look at myself, re-evaluate where I am, and set some goals for myself. Hopefully I’ll be able to use this blog to do this.

First goal, study my butt off for the GRE which I’m taking in 6 days. Second goal, keep running at least 3 miles a day. Third goal, be more productive at work.

I think that should keep me occupied for a while.

Iranian protesters defy rally ban

Iranians have been defying a ban on protest and media to protest the 2009 Presidential election results which most claim were rigged.  The results showed 64% of the vote when to Ahmadinejad, the far right populist incumbent, while only 33% went to Masouvi, the reformist.  These protests seem poised to forever change how the Islamic Republic works.  What even inside sources (of the regime in Iran) seem to suggest though, is that the results are fabricated, and that Mousavi received 19 million votes compared to Ahmadinejad’s 8 million.  Iranians are protesting en masse this fabrication, and these street protests could very well turn into revolution.

United Korea

Recently North Korea (N. K.) has been acting very belligerently.  I personally believe that Korean unification must happen as soon as possible, and that reunification would ultimately be extremely beneficial to South Korea, North Korea, and the preservation of Korean culture.

Many South Koreans, and other economically minded persons, believe that reunification should be a slow, drawn out process that ultimately ends in a federally united Korea.  I believe that this is a dangerous mindset, one that could potentially cost the Korean people a united homeland, full rapprochement between the North and the South, and the most possible economic benefits that could come with reunification.

There are a couple of logical conclusions that need to be pointed out.

First, a long term federal solution is not advantageous to the more populous part, South Korea. In this way South Korea will continue footing the bill well into the future whenever N. K. slips behind (and you can be sure they will take a long time to reach S. K. standards, this has much to do with the cultural and social mentality of North Koreans, especially their lack of individual initiative that has been forced on them by the authorities).  This in turn will keep N. K’ans and S. K.’ans into distinctly separate entities even after ‘reunification’, which would hinder the development of a single national identity, and the re- development of social and cultural ties.    The federal solution is a non-solution, it actually reduces South Korea’s influence over North Korea, and keeps the two nations distinct, while not actually easing the burden on South Korea.

Comparison of the two Korea's

Second, by forcing N. K. to live separately (after fall of dictatorship), S. K. gives off the impression that it does not want to be fully unified, which might have the unintended consequence of spurning N. K. and inadvertently causing them to set up a separate (albeit capitalist) state (post dictatorship). This would also be in China’s favor, keeping the two Korea’s separate, since it would be better able to control them then.

For S. K. to avoid this fate it must immediately show N.K. the path to full union with the South. Not even a European style integration would work, since N. K. will not be able to just reform, it would have to recreate its political process from the ground up to become a modern capitalist state. For North Korea to develop its own successful political system will take years, if not decades. To let them take part in the Southern political system will be much faster and more politically expedient for Southern political parties looking for new voters.  But in the spirit of European integration, S. K. would assist with funds the developing statelet, while reminding constantly itself, N. K., and the world, that N. K. is a vital part and incontrovertible part of a fully unified Korea.  One could even argue that the fiscal cost of keeping the two Korea’s separate is too high to justify the initial comfort of a federal solution.

Time for Reunification?

Third, the mass exodus of N. K.’ans into S. K. might not happen. S. K. is very crowded, especially around Seoul. The first N. K.’an defector has publicly stated how hard it was for him, how unused to the big city he was, how now, he would rather be living in N. K. still. That has to do with the fact that N. K. simply isn’t as crowded. One might also hope that N. K.’ans simply would prefer to let development come to their cities, and help build N. K.’s success.  The question becomes, if free trade between the two halves of the Korean peninsula becomes reality, how much will South Korean firms pay North Korean firms for their goods and services? Will it be enough for North Korean firms to pay their employees more than they would receive in manpower-rich Seoul where competition keeps labor prices down?

Fourth, there is a language ‘barrier’ which would also prevent N. K.’ans from understanding S. K.’ans comfortably, and also prevent mass immigration to the south. Though N. K.’ans and S. K.’ans can understand each other, for any N. K.’an living in the South there would be discrimination (“You came here to take our jobs!”, etc.), which would definitely stop many people from immigrating.  North Koreans would be treated as second class citizens. The pride of the North Koreans is immense – many simply would not want to move somewhere where they would be treated second class when they know that economic prosperity will also come to their hometown.  Also, North Koreans might wish for better economic conditions; however, they remain very attached to their identity, culture, and homeland.

North Korean festival

I do think it is absolutely necessary that the free traffic of people between the two Korea’s be accomplished as soon as possible. The cultural, social, and language barriers need to smoothed out, if North Koreans and South Koreans are to remain ethnically akin. Free flow of people will ultimately benefit both Korea’s as well, through larger manpower, remittances to the North, etc.

There is a danger with the free flow of people, and that of course comes from the fact that the N. K. intelligence will probably find a way to exist after the fall of the dictatorship and will participate in illegal activities, as can be evidenced by communist Eastern European intelligence services.

United Korea

Let's understand each other, shall we?

I haven’t written in a while.  I decided to come back and see how this blog is doing.  WordPress has changed some of the software.. the inner workings look different.  Any way, I found this comment on one of my blog posts.  I let it show up because I want people to see an example of someone who did not read my post and posted utter and complete nonsense.  Let me remind you that the idea of that blog post, Macedonia’s name and the issue of cultural heritage, was to claim that really, on the Balkans, we should all get along, because we really are very very similar and can all claim to have been influenced by the great civilizations that have thrived on our small bit of the world.

I’m perfectly willing to listen, if you’re willing to listen to me.

Anyway, I’ve always wanted to tear apart nationalistic crap on my blog, so I’ll give it a go.

Go check igenea or other institutes for genetics
Macedonian DNA exist and its different than the “greek” one or bulgarian…

Since when is DNA a prerequisite to belonging to a certain nation or cultural entity?  Okay I give, my DNA stops me from calling myself Chinese or Korean, sure. (Really though, I’m sure if I wanted to learn their culture and be one of them, they would welcome me with open arms.)  But the differences in DNA of Balkan peoples are extremely small. Insignificant.  We’re all human beings anyway.

Stop calling us bulgars,slavs… fashist politics

Did I call Macedoneans Bulgarians?  No! Good job reading my blog post!

do you know my friend why the language we speak its called ”slavic” or macedonian???
learn some history before you post non-sense.
Have you heard about St. Kiril and Metodij???
that wikipedia stupid greek fashist propaganda can show to somebody else

Several inconsistencies here.  First, if you claim you are different from Slavs (see previous quote bit), then why are you defending your language as being slavic?  And why are you defending Macedonian (the idea) as being Slavic?

Post from iGENEA to 02.10.2008

Oh good! He’s bringing in an intellectual buddy to refute my blog post, which he didn’t read! Note: After reading through the next part, I realized that it had been ‘translated’ from German.  I wonder if the percentages were also translated as liberally as the words were?

A antic (from renovatio:  what does this mean??) macedonian genetic profile exists and has been discovered through the comparison of archaeological funds and persons with macedonian roots. These studies enable us to determine the macedonian roots of a person. We have 30% of macedonians in Macedonia, 20% in Greece an minorities in Bulgaria and Albania.

So 20% of Greeks do, or rather, 20% of Greek genetic ancestry is, have Macedonian descent?  You’re shooting a hole in your claim that you are the only descendants of Alexander.  Also, these presentations of archaeological DNA don’t impress me much.  How do you know that the person in what is supposed to be a Macedonian’s grave wasn’t an adopted Thracian or Greek?

It is very important to differ between politics and genetics, we are a genetic institute and we don’t have politic aims.

Presenting your evidence as nonpartial when it really is provides a clue as to how verifiable the evidence is. Note: I still don’t think genetic percentages are ‘evidence’ of any sort.  It’s grasping at straws to show how different you are from others.

Albania:
30% Illyrians
15% Phoenician
14% Hellenen
18%Thraker
2% Vikings
20% slavs

Albanians are more slavic than Bulgarians.  They also have no Macedonian genetic influence.  Huh??

Greece:
10% Germanic
10%illyrians
20% slavs
20% phoenician
5% macedonian (in north more than 18%)
35% Hellenen

Let’s just say that this is ridiculous.  First off, Greeks are more slavic than Bulgarians.  Secondly, it doesn’t even correspond to the presented Macedonian descent of Greeks given in the first article!

Bulgaria:
49%Thraker
11%macedonian
15%slavs
15%hellenen
5% pheonician

Great!  Who cares in today’s world?

Macedonia:
30%macedonian
10% illyrian
15% hellenen
5%phoenician
20% germanic
5% hunnen
15% slavs

20% Germanic??? Did Germans colonize Macedonia while I wasn’t looking??  Also, according to this, Macedonians are more hunnic than Bulgarians! Why are you calling Bulgarians Tatars??  And why do all of Macedonia’s neighbors except for Serbia have Thracian ancestry, but Macedonia doesn’t?

Bosnia
50% Illyrer
4% Thraker
20% Germanen
6% Hunnen
15% Slawen
15% Kelten

I’m getting tired of this.  German (non)-translation obvious here.  Bosnians are more Albanian than Albanians are?

Serbien:
30% Slawen
9% Phönizier
21% Illyrer
14% Kelten
8% Hellenen
2% wikinger
18% Germanen

I’m tired.  This genetic ancestry crap doesn’t even matter in today’s world.  It only matters where people are more concerned with history than with real life dynamics.

your opinion is a result of the fashist politic of greecce, stop calling us slavs cause the greece is more slavic country than MACEDONIA!

Whew, I got to the end of it.  What I was doing was claiming that the Balkans are cultarally similar.  We all have the tendency to bite each other where it most hurts and to plant our little flag and shout how great we are.  Except that most of us don’t.  Only the vocal ones are heard though.  Most of us, myself included, just want this nonsense nationalism to end, and to move on to a brighter future where we all help each other achieve and prosper.

Long live the men of goodwill who can get past nationalism, pride and past glories!

Let's work together!

SpaceX is also developing the Falcon 9 and Falcon 9 Heavy, which would both be launched from Cape Canaveral, unlike Falcon 1, which was launched from the Kwajelein Atoll, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Falcon 1 Launch 4

And the video:

Let the Space Age begin!

I think it would certainly be an interesting experiment, anyway.  As long as the two countries enter into such a union willingly and for good reason.  Here’s what it says on the article: “It is interesting to note that widespread rumors for an eventual “Federal Union” between FYROM and Bulgaria are beginning to circulate, an event that will have ramifications probably more important and intense than Kosovo independence.”  Not to mention that it might be the only way for Macedonia to get into NATO and the EU in the near future.  That is, if the recent trouble between Russia and Georgia doesn’t force Greece to be more lenient with its northern neighbor.

I personally think it’s in the regions interest if all nations work at building closer ties and develop more economic links.  What would be very interesting is if the idea of a Yugoslavia sees a rebirth, stemming from the creation of such a union.  This time, though, Bulgaria would be included.  I think later on I’ll examine how and why it was a mistake and detrimental for Bulgaria to not join (since after World War II Stalin meant for Bulgaria Yugoslavia until Tito took a more independent course) the old Yugoslavia, both for Bulgaria and Yugoslavia as a whole.

European Union

Right now there are political shock waves going through the country.  The European Union is poised to release a very critical report about the country.  The report is expected to freeze up to 640 million euros of aid to the country this year, bringing the total of frozen aid to 1 billion euro.  The bad part is that many small businesses have already taken out loans to cover their expenses for their projects (the aid was supposed to reimburse them).  On top of that, the President of the country is being accused of collusion with underworld figures by the European Union anti-mafia group (OLAF), mainly having received illegal funding for his electoral campaign. 

But I’m still getting the feeling that the country is moving in the right direction.  Hopefully with external pressure from the EU, the government and judiciary will manage to clean itself up.  Hopefully.

Dear Sir,

I understand of the need for closure for the families of the many victims.  However, what I do not understand is the need to constantly paint Bulgaria in such dark colors.  This article goes beyond its stated point, to avenge the East Germans killed in Bulgaria.  This article goes on to make a mockery of all citizens in Bulgaria, of all Bulgarian government institutions.  In fact, this article dehumanizes Bulgarians in a way reminiscent of Cold War propaganda.

Why not instead focus on Bulgarians, such as Rosi, who helped Germans maltreated by the Communist regime?  Or perhaps, we should take a look at why Bulgaria had a Communist regime in the first place; the country was invaded by Soviet soldiers after allying itself with Germany in World War II.  Perhaps we should also mention that Bulgaria saved all of its Jews from the Nazi regime as well.

We live in a different era now.  While there is need for closure, there is no need to stoke flames of hatred against Bulgarians.  And there is certainly no need to revive the Cold War today.  The majority of Bulgarians of today are good people.  Let’s not give them a reason to hate Germans.

Sincerely,

I’m not trying to claim that the deaths of the 18 East Germans at the Bulgarian borders is forgiveable.  However, 18 deaths out of ‘thousands’ of East Germans who tried to flee the Communist bloc seems to point that Bulgaria’s border patrol wasn’t quite as heavy handed as the Spiegel article claims.  Oh yes, the border signs were written in German as well as Bulgarian.  Incidentally, the Editor of the Spiegel that I sent my letter to will be on maternity vacation until January 2nd, 2009.

Anyway, I think Germany should be trying to forge new ties with Bulgaria, much as France is doing right now.  France just signed a strategic partnership agreement with Bulgaria, and Bulgaria is buying two corvettes (naval ships, not Chevys) worth $1.49 billion.

Speaking of Bulgaria, I think I need to write at least one blog post about the orphans in Bulgaria. Recently there have been quite a lot of international media outcries about the plight of the orphans in Bulgaria. The ‘original’ documentary was BBC’s ‘Bulgaria’s abandoned children’. Here it is, but I think all viewers should bear in mind that Bulgaria’s government is actively working to better conditions at orphanages, and many volunteers go to help these ‘abandoned’ (I think this word is way too strong for this case) children.

Recently, a French documentary also came out about the plight of Bulgarian orphans.

Bulgaria’s government, though, is trying to improve the conditions that the children live in:

The support for orphans, living in special homes is going up from BGN 3947 to 5961. The increase would become effective beginning July 1, 2008 and includes all 1461 children living in the specialized homes till they finish 12th grade, but are not older than 20 years of age.

Plus, the dedication of people like Hyeon make me very optimistic about the whole situation:

This summer, I will be going to one of Plovdiv’s orphanages, Rodopski Pansion, that have been significantly reformed since 2007 through a volunteer organization. The fact that it has opened up to receive help from international volunteers to stay with the orphans who have no relatives to stay with during the summer shows the significant extent of the reforms. Although I know that this is an opportunity for me to help these children who are in need of personal attention, I am still troubled by the thought that there are many more orphanages in more rural villages that don’t even have the bare minimum given to the orphans at Rodopski Pansion.

However, still more needs to be done.  I applaud those helping orphans in need, and I wish the best of luck to them.