It has long been a dream of mine to travel alone in a "new world" - a world where I have never been to, where I do not have any acquaintance, where I am not at all familiar with the culture, and where I would feel totally isolated and alienated. I always became excited as I imagined meeting with some unknown indigenous tribes and trying my best to converse with them and assimilate to their way of living. The fascination of the dream mainly came from two sources; first, I wanted to be "unique" and have unique experience and second, I wanted to "feel the nature".
During the last winter vacation, the desire has grown more intense; the only and major reason for the intensification was Walden, written by the famous American writer and theorist, Henry David Thoreau. It is a very well known episode that Thoreau isolated himself from the civilized world for 2 years in order to leave himself, his "existence" and "being", away from all the artificial things and learn the true value of nature.
Before reading the masterpiece, my awareness toward nature was somewhat indifferent. Truly, I have read and heard a lot of literary works, sayings, and remarks about the value of nature - how peaceful, cozy, and motherly it is. Yet, for they never got into the deepest facet of nature and thus never reflected the truist aspect of it, they were just a trivial and repetitive words ; they never "came to my skin".
As I flipped the pages of Walden, however, I felt that my heart was beating with excitement, my hands were trembling with astonishment, and my hair was getting sweaty with the fabulous and evident insight of the author. Walden combines both the philosophies of the Eastern thinkers and the Western thinkers; such ideas like Mencius' "Zhung-yong [중용]" - an idea that a wise man should closely observe and realize the value and fundamentals of nature and follow the order without trying to commit extreme conducts that will harm the harmony- are appropriately connected to the author's own experience in the nature; for the Mencius' philosophy, it is combined with the Thoreau's experience with some farmer who had failed to successfully train a dog -because he, foolishly, thought that because dogs run faster than people, dogs could reach everywhere within several hours; becuase he, stupidly, thought that because dogs have more sensitive olfactory senses than people, dogs could smell and distinguish everything.
Sequence of such evident connection and proof of all the trivial texts I have learned with real life episodes that he himself experienced have led me to revive my old dream and be dominated by the excitement and satisfaction that the experience would give me.
Having watched the "Spring" part of the director Kim Ki-Duk's film, many of my classmates talked about how cute the boy is, how poor the fish and snake are, and how mysterious some of the scenes are. Throughout the movie, however, I thought of my dream; the dream that I had in my young elementary days, the dream that I reminded of as I was reading Walden, and the dream that I promised myself to achieve before I graduate college.
The setting of the film rests in some temple in the middle of a lake that is surrounded by mountains and that has no sign of human exploitation. Two Buddist monks - one old and one very young - live in the temple. It was the very setting I dreamed of, except for the fact that there were not much people to contact with.
Being able to live in the environment is such a fortunate gift for me. As seen in the film, any person would be completely liberated from the civilization and be able to cry at the death of a "small" fish and a "small" snake. These days, more and more I feel the arrogance of humankind - we assume that we are "big" compared to other creatures; we are NOT. I earnestly wish that I could, for one large fraction of my life, be able to find the life-yearned place and reflect myself, my feelings, and my life.
It was a sunny day with dazzling sunlight; so hot that anyone would take their shirts off when nobody's around. I, a painter living at the coastside for some kind of an inspiration that would lead me to draw a "painting of the century", called the host at the hotel to order a breakfast. "Get me a newspaper - California Tribune, if possible - and some toasts with jams and a glass of orange juice." 'What should I do today?' I was running out of money because I didn't have a fixed job yet. Then, a hotel worker brougdht me a newspaper and I naturally searched through the help-warranted ads. A psychology experiment caught my sight - "$200 per day for 3days", the advertisement said. 'Hmm.... that's a fabulous offer', I thought. It was about staying in a large sealed building in which the environment for this experiment was set; "No PHYSICAL HARM ASSURED", it sai. 'All right, I'll go for this'. And that was when my life changed unimaginably.
After having finished the meal, I headed toward the place mentioned on the newspaper. It was a battered building with 5stories.
I entered.
I entered with expectations.
I entered with expectations without knowing that the event will change me into a whole different being.
I entered a brave new world.
A doctor came and asked me if I came to join the experiment. 'Yes. I am quite interested.' The person made me to sign a contract - it said something like "This experiment may give big shock on your life. If you with to maintain a normal life, you may not participate in this experiment". 'Well, I am a strong person. Besides, I need this money'. And I signed the contract.
The whole experiment was about staying in a closed room for three days without any social contacts. I was not able to write letters, send e-mails, call my family, and even say hello to the gate keeper of the building. At first, I thought it would be easy - because I basically live a lonely life without much social relationships.
On the very first day, I sat in the empty room thinking about my past - my school lives, previous job experiences, fight with my parents, and so on. I tried to dig out every single memories in my brain that are memorable. I thought and thought and thought. Surprisingly, only three hours passed. Then, I slept. Only two hours passed. I suddenly found out that there was nothing to do. 'What am I gonna do for the remaining 67 hours?' Oh my God....
Before the second day, I was already thinking that I might become insane. What in the world should I do.... Then, I thought I may think about pictures. Since thinking was all I could do, I thought about renowned paintings by Da Vinchi, Rafael, and other artists. Then, I thought about how I am gonna draw a fabulous everlasting painting. What are the qualities that define a good painting? What should I draw about? I was turning crazy... Nothing came up and thus I was too lethargic to do anything...
On the second day, I wished I could die for two days and come back. I just lay on the floor and spent the whold day... thinking, intermittently, about my life's aim; drawing a picture of the century.
That night in my dream, I became a renowned artist. My paintings were priced higher than those of Da Vinchi's or Pollock's. I saw my drawing in the picture; it was drawn with a blood. At first I was very shocked. Then, I recognized; a drawing that reflects my life and my true feature is the one that would obtain perpetual influence.
I woke up thinking about the dream. 'It is the last day', I thought. Then, I suddenly recognized that I was sleeping in the hotel. 'What is happening?', I thought. In my hand, there was a California Tribune and on the table there were toasts and an orange juice. While eating, I knew I've gotten an inspiration.
That day, I started drawing a picture. That picture is the picture of the century for me. That is the picture of the century both in reality and in the dream world where I underwent the psychology experiment.
It was a sunny day with dazzling sunlight; so hot that anyone would take their shirts off when nobody's around. I, a painter living at the coastside for some kind of an inspiration that would lead me to draw a "painting of the century", call the host at the hotel to order a breakfast. "Get me a newspaper - California Tribune, if possible - and some toasts with jams and a glass of orange juice." 'What should I do today?' I am currently running out of money because I don't have a fixed job yet. Then, a hotel worker brings me a newspaper and I naturally search through the help-warranted ads. A psychology experiment catches my sight - "$200 per day for 3days", the advertisement says. 'Hmm.... that's a fabulous offer', I think. It is about staying in a large sealed building in which the environment for this experiment is set; "No PHYSICAL HARM ASSURED", it says. 'All right, I'll go for this'. And that is when my life changed unimaginably. (ME)
It was not very far away from the hotel, and I went there with few cigarettes and cards, just in case I make a frend there. Ad says that they will provide food and water, so I didn't bring any food with me. There were about 40 people waiting, and I said to a staff that I want to join and he tole me to wait with them for few minutes. After that few minutes, someone - I think it's the supervisor- came and gave few words and said to enter. Inside was not a bad environment. (HARAM)
"You will gonna live this building for 3days". "Can you please sign this paper for this experiment?" 'Sure, no reason to deny this chance'. There were bunch of warnings regarding the experiment. WE DON'T TAKE CHARGE blahblah~ Ok, I admit and gonna take the experiment. (SUJAE)
The entire building had a bad smell, I think it's the smell of rotting garbage. The supervisor calls out "There are rooms for sleeping and whasing on the top floor. It's first come - first served! Come quick!!" People started to run to find an elevator. However, I went straight to the stairs instead. I have strong legs. I can go faster than the others taking the elevator. When I stepped on the first stair, I was sucked upward by an invisible force and was immediatedly on the top floor. I got the best room, of course. It didn't even smell bad like the 1st floor. (BOOKYUNG)
What was that? I was curious and somewhat nervous at the same time, because I could not imagine where the force came from. However, as exotic and delicious cuisine was served, I completely forgot about all my worries, I ate, ate, ate, and ate until my tummy was about to explode. (CHAERIM)
And, to my surprise, my tummy really did explode. Oh, my God! I naver thought a stomach could burst the food its taken few minutes ago. (HYUNGSEOK)
And I died.... guessing what the intention of the experiment was. Was it to experiment whether a person's tummy can explode or to experiment how many idiots apply for experiments if posted an advertisment on it? (ME)
Rachael, one of the three main children in the documentary, is crying as she preys
Levi, one of the three main children, smiles just before she leaves her house heading for "Kids on Fire"
Tori, one of the three main children in the documentary
"Evangelical indoctrination is given an unflinching, even-handed look in this utterly worthwhile documentary."
The remark is what critics from Rotten Tomatoes had given about "Jesus Camp" after having watched the film.(http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jesus_camp/)
"A documentary on kids who attend a summer camp hoping to become the next Billy Graham."
The remark is what critics from IMDb had given for an explanation of "Jesus Camp". (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486358/)
"I have to admit that part of me really hoped I would like “Jesus Camp,” the new documentary from Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, before I even saw it. I am, after all, actively involved in the Children’s Ministry at my church, teaching Sunday School every week and having the opportunity to help serve our church’s wonderful children’s pastor. I also had the great opportunity to spend a summer working at an equally wonderful Christian children’s camp in Washington a few years back. So, a movie that follows a children’s pastor and her ministry, as well as takes us on a trip to her Christian summer camp really was something I wanted to be able to get behind."
The remark is what a critic named Jonathan Rodriguez had written on a christianity-related website after havng watched the film.(http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2006/jesuscamp2006.html)
Becky Fischer, one who hosts "Kids on Fire"
Having read some of the comments on "Jesus Camp", I now recongnize that there ARE some people who actually like or admire what the documentary is featuring. Some say that they want to join the "Kids on Fire" camp, a summer camp in Devils Lake, N.D. that grooms and brainwashes participant children to become soldiers in “God’s army", some say that the documentary has objectively mirrored bright features of the "Jesus Camp" and some even say that the children will become "Billy Graham"s, an evangelical priest who had gained fame through his profound piety and sincere sermons and who is currently ranked at number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for the 20th century, by participating in the camp.
My ONLY RESPONSE to these remarks is "Are you people insane?"; the documentary is totally antisocial, agitative and arational. The documentary HARMS the society.
The overall plot of the documentary revolves around a summer camp named "Kids on Fire". Becky Fischer, a pastor who runs the camp, is a firm believer of the political and moral importance of a Christian presence in America - hence, children in the camp are encouraged to repudiate sin, hate abortion, pray for George Bush and re-dedicate themselves to spreading the word of God. Through out the film, what Becky says are very all of a same sort; for God is the only valid being, you children should seek only after him, not considering what society is like, what is morally wrong or right, and so on. She puts the phrase "- in the name of God" at all her words - even those that are ridiculous. For example, she says "President Bush is a great wise man in the name of God", "We should not eat meal today in the name of God", "You should not go out in the rain in the name of God" - how in the world do the statements make sense? She also says quotes like "Prey urgently so God's will could be done", "God can do anything. Let's fix the world", "Because Muslims train children to be able to sacrifice for Islam religion, we should open campls as well and make children focused solely on Christianity", "Stand up, and take our land back", "God is only possible answer to all questions", and so on. Children at the prey conference perform barbarian like wierd dances as if they are some indians in primitive region. They repeats preyer over and over again which sounds like a magical spell from an Egyptian myth and cries insanely!! Becky might say that the tears are streaming from the children as they are filled with the Holy Spirit, but would anyone cry as he or she davens the Lord's prayer? They are simply affected by the atmosphere - the very ironical atmosphere that "God is giving you His spirit just because you have participated in the camp and now you are His servant and can do anything."
"Jesus Camp" is brainwashing the children
Interviews of children participants in the camp
The camp is brainwashing the children. No nominal muttering of preyers gives a person to take offense at Muslims, no irrational dismissal of Evolutionism and other scientific advancements gives a person to become God's servants, and no crying carried along by the weird atmosphere of the camp can redeem a person. How in the world being educated to not be shy when talking to strangers, to answer that the reason an object falls is because of its will to return to God, and to worship President Bush and becoming young soldiers for Republican Party have anything to do with Jesus' words?
Currently 25% of Amerians are Evangelical Christians, and 10% of the American population are in the very same denomination that is featured in "Jesus Camp". They are growing in power and people must become aware of their influence and try to stop such inflammatory camps from being held.
If any of the Evangelical Christians are reading this text, I suggest you to reconsider whether what God is saying matches with what you are doing; what the Bible says matches with what you are saying. The definition of "good parenting" is another's definition of "abuse." Some people think spanking a child with a wooden stick was considered a standard tool of child disciplining. In contrast, some consider corporal punishment to be unacceptable. The very same issue looms over "Jesus Camp" - it brigns up a question whether the indoctrination of Levi, Rachel, and Tori - the main children characters who show most extreme bursts of emotions in the camp - falls under the definition of "good parenting" for their parents. I suggest you Evangelicals and all other people to watch over the film again and seriously and objectively think about the issue again.
Bill Maher Discussion about "Jesus Camp"
Shall the children participating in "Jesus Camp" meet salvation through the camp.......?
I SAY "NO"
Before I stary, I assure that for this writing is a brief summary of the documentary, I shall not analyze the 'three ways to persuade' factors here.
<Brief synopsis of "Jesus Camp">
- The documentary starts with a scenary of a grey, cloudy village featuring with a gloomy background music. Inflammatory quotes- clamoring out as if every thought of theirs is what God says (even when the points are unreasonable and ridiculous) - such as "Pray urgently so that God's will could be done" flow out. And a radio station interviewer ardently claims that they- the people who are clamoring for such nonsense- are just adding " ~in the name of God" on all their conducts; that is not what the Christianity teaches!
- The next scene tapes a Children's Prey Conference hosted by Becky Fischer. Children participating in the camp do a barbarian-like, weird dance performance that reminded me of primitive tribal dances. Everyone says that "God can do anything. Let's fix the world". Children are brainwashed and excited by the instigative ambience that they even cry. They also mutters prayers that sound just like what an Indian magician would murmur in their ceremonies.
- Becky Fischer says that because muslims train their children to be able to use arms and sacrifice for Islam without hesitation, people should open camps and make their children focused on Christianity so that they can fight back to muslims. She says, "Stand up, and take our land back"
- Saying that "God is only possible answer to all questions", Fischer makes all chilren delude that they should view the world in the sight of what she tells them. [However, what she says is NOT what the messages of God!]
- The camp, that was initiated in 2001 with a name "Kids on Fire", ties education with religion and politics. Thus, kids cannot learn proper science, nor can they develop proper ideologies or views.
- I completely agreed with the Mike - the host of "Radio fire" show - that those people do not understand the fundamentals of Christianity and that they are doing HARM.
It was a great SHOCK for me that such people like radical evangelicals exist and I think they are complete idiots....
Photo with Mr. Julian Assange :) (Sorry for the mismatch.... no photoshop in my pc.... ;p )
Some photos of him....
-> coooooooooooool "hi" pose
-> asking, "Am I handsome?"
-> in front of Nilli restaurant; nice garden :)
Date: September 11, 2011
Day: Sunday
Weather: Sunny
Hi Kitty~ how are you doing? :)
How was your day?? I assume that it was a great day for you since it was a very sunny day with clear sky and snow-white clouds.
Today, I had a wonderful day; I had lunch with JULIAN ASSANGE!!
My first impression? Umm... he was... quite nice-looking (though not as good as I am :D )
He had a white hair finely styled with wax and an angel-like smile - this pretty much surprised me because I couldnot believe that this bright gentleman disclosed so much confidential secrets worldwide without sympathy. He was 10minutes late to the appointment, and he said that he had to give the slip to paparazzis and reporters.
We had lunch at Nilli; he ordered Funghi pasta with a potato soup and a cup of coke; I had Bolognese pasta with corn soup. He refused to talk while eating, so we had to silently eat our dishes - without a single question!! Then, I was very worried because he was a busy man and I had to ask so much questions. After swiftly finishing all the food, I poured tons of questions on him! Here are the questions and answers... (I'm not sure I got all of his points... I couldn't adjust to his Australian accent and speaking style ;( )
Me: Tell me about your earlier life.
JA (Julian Assange):
Okay.... I was born in Townsville, Queensland though I spent significant years of my youth in Magnetic Island. I grew up under a step father who ran a touring theatre company but when my mother got divorced once again and remarried to a musician. Though I suffered very much from sudden change in my environment, I surmounted the accident without much backlash. It was in 1982, however, that the worst event in my life occured. My mother broke up with the musician AGAIN; and this time, she was in a very bad situation in which I and my step brother might have had to live with the singer - who I did not know and who was not nice to me at all. In a desperate hope, my mother escaped from home with us and we had to live 5 years hiding secretly from then: I moved 30 times before even turning 14 and live in 50 different towns and attended 37 different schools. It is explicit that my earlier life was not that happy and bright but I think that is the root of my persistent challenge. Also, it is then when I firmly decided that I would try my best to form a healthy, transparent society.
Later, I found out that I had a talent in computer programming and thus, I studied the field and attained professional degrees with many distinctions and honors.
Me: How did you start studying computer programming?
JA:
In 1987, when I was 16, I first formed a hacking community named International Subversives. I hacked others' computers under a fake id of Mendax. Though I recklessly hacked and obtained information, I followed strict rules that reflected my life-long aim: that my computer work should be devoted to form a better, cleaner society. My rules were,
1. Don't damage computer systems you break into (including crashing them)
2. Don't change the information in those systems (except for altering logs to cover your tracks)
3. Share information
I was caught by the Australian Federal Police while hacking into the Melbourne master terminal of Nortel, the Canadian telecommunications company. I pleaded guility to 25 charges of hacking because I was proud of my conducts and had a firm conviction that my hacking had no victims. I paid 2100 Australian dollars and was let go for, according to the judge, "there is just no evidence that there was anything other than sort of intelligent inquisitiveness and the pleasure of being able to—what's the expression—surf through these various computers". Also, my disrupted childhood helped me out a lot.
Me: What are your motivations for founding WikiLeaks?
JA: As I said, it has been my dream to establish a medium that would create an open society. As I became a hacker and a computer programmer, I decided to challenge the governments. Thus, in 2006, I founded WikiLeaks under a firm philosophy; "To radically shift regime behavior we must think clearly and boldly for if we have learned anything, it is that regimes do not want to be changed. We must think beyond those who have gone before us and discover technological changes that embolden us with ways to act in which our forebears could not." The more secretive or unjust an organization is, the more leaks induce fear and paranoia in its leadership and planning coterie. Since unjust systems, by their nature, induce opponents, and in many places barely have the upper hand, mass leaking leaves them exquisitely vulnerable to those who seek to replace them with more open forms of governance. With this belief, I devoted my whole life to WikiLeaks during the past 6years; and I will continue my work until my time in this planet allows me to do so.
Me: What does WikiLeaks do?
JA: WikiLeaks is an international non-profit organization that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Launched in 2006, WikiLeaks has revealed more than 1.2million classified documents.
Me: How does WikiLeaks work?
JA: Classical whistleblowers release the documents and send such documents to WikiLeaks. The methods to hide their identities are
1. We sometimes use state-of-the-art encryption to bounce stuff around the internet, to hide trails, and to pass through legal jurisdictions like Sweden and Belgium. We get information in the mail, and check the credibility of the stuff. When the truth is confirmed, we format them and release them.
Me: What is your stance on 9/11?
JA: I am constantly ANNOYED that people are distracted by false conspiracies like 9/11. I am utterly disappointed with the obviously faked conspiracies told by governments and also am very willing to reveal all the documents that I am aware of. I actually published more than 500,000 intercepted pager messages on November 25th, 2009. Since the WikiLeaks is constantly working on intercepting even more detailed information from the Pentagon, I assume we will very soon be able to uncover the whole picture of what 9/11 is all about.
Me: How are the governments' responses to your actions?
JA: Well... I didn't expect them to be "GOOD" of course.... (smile)
umm.... the United States vice president referred to me as "high-tech terrorist" at the beginning of this year.... and the U.S. government is always trying to block me from releasing secret information. The Secretary of State has been kind enough to send black mails to me with all the threats.... the government hacked the cctv cameras located in front of my house.... which is clearly a conduct of spying....However, it is not only the United States government that tries to block me. The British government had been kind enough to freeze all my cards and bank accounts - even that from the Swiss bank - with a broadscale threat on the institutions. It banished me from their country and is always looking for an opportunity to arrest me. But, I WILL NOT GET CAUGHT. I have an obligation to uncover all the dirty and unnecessarily hidden information to the public because the public has 'right to know'. I'd like to thank all the supporters of WikiLeaks here for their help.
Me: All your properties were frozen? How did you overcome the difficulty?
JA: Then, I was utterly thwarted. However, I thought that there was always a way to solve out things.... so I sought for a solution and thought of a system of 'donation'. Currently, WikiLeaks is completely operated by donation; information are donated and funds are donated. Again, thank you dear advocates!
Me: What are your and WikiLeaks' future plans?
JA: I am definitely gonna continue my job in the WikiLeaks. My future goal is to feature more on public speeches held in universities, famous squares, and so on. I hope more people recognize the existence and the significance of WikiLeaks and at the same time send more information for the sake of universal democracy.
Me: Thank you so much, Mr. Assange.
JA: Your welcome young man~ :)
[Interview Clips]
-> part of the interview.... soooo memorable!!
What a day.... right?
How does it sound? Pretty exciting huh?
It was a fabulous experience and I can't go to bed for I fear that I might lose even a little fragment of this wonderful recollection!!
Invitation to the Lunch with Gyutae Park at Nilli, an Italian restaurant
Dear Mr. Assange,
On behalf of all Americans who are commemorating the 9/11 terror incident, it is my great pleasure to invite you and WikiLeaks to the lunch on Sep. 11th, next Sunday.
I must first say that I am deeply impressed with the momentous contribution that WikiLeaks is making to the modern society. Especially, your recent report of the Iraq war logs and the Guantanamo files. While searching through such shocking materials, I have came upon your remark about 9/11 affair and the "conspiration theories" that you proposed. Especially your interview with the Belfast Telegraph reporter Matthew Bell piqued my interest a lot. Thus, if your time allows, I'd like to personally meet you and discuss more about the truth hidden behind the 9/11 terror and explain more about the following media report; "From 3AM on Wednesday November 25, 2009, until 3AM the following day (US east coast time), WikiLeaks released half a million US national text pager intercepts. The intercepts cover a 24 hour period surrounding the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington."
The place for lunch is set to Nilli, a very renowned Italian restaurant in Korea, for I've heard that you enjoy Italian food very much. I believe that our conversation would cover various range of your life - both your personal life, ideology and your public standing. I really look forward meeting you!
The ensuing list of questions I give you to enjoy more fluent and gay conversation with you
1. Tell me about your earlier life
2. How did you start studying computer programming?
3. What are your motivations for founding WikiLeaks?
4. What does WikiLeaks do?
5. How does WikiLeaks work?
6. What is your stance on 9/11?
7. What are your and WikiLeaks' future plans?
<rest of the questions I assume would come out as we talk>
