Hub of Bigotry

I think Andy Jackson, a/k/a the Flying Yangban, has more work for the Human Rights Commission:

When my wife and I went up to the loan officer and asked about it. He politely informed us that foreigners can’t get loans. He was so confident in that assertion he didn’t even have to consult anyone. Because my wife isn’t working (baby due in January) she couldn’t get a loan either.

I’m dead serious about this. I hope he files a complaint, right after he puts this up at The Marmot’s Hole (which is inexplicably down). How can a society like this expect to become the hub of anything? (Congratulations on the killing that rabbit, by the way.) Now, as you will soon see, the HRC won’t do a thing about it, but at least we can wave the HRC’s hypocrisy before those who will read this.

I should also mention another piece of related news: the HRC has cemented my suspicions that it’s nothing but a sword for far-left social policy, first by its shameful distancing from its own report on human rights in North Korea, and now, by denying a reader’s complaint on behalf of U.S. military personnel in South Korea. Brendan Brown, picking up on my request here, filled out the HRC’s form and submitted the following complaint:

My name is Brendan Brown, an Australian citizen who has lived in SouthKorea for the past nine years. I am filing this complaint not on behalf ofmyself but on behalf of members of USFK (United States Forces Korea.)

Members of USFK are barred from certain clubs, restaurants, stores andrecently even a soccer game in Taegu. This racism and discrimination directed at USFK, many sent to South Koreawithout any say in the matter and away from family, I find deplorable. What I find even more abominable is nothing is done at a government level to stopthis blatant discrimination and may even have the tacit approval at thehighest levels of government. One example would be the then presidential candidate and now President Roh Moo-hyun campaigning at an election rallywith a “Yankee, Go Home” banner prominently visible.

If the HRC is indeed serious about the violation of human rights in SouthKorea I believe you must condem these actions and try to ensure that similarinstances won’t be tolerated in the future.

Of course, I specified the same facts and linked to the same photographs when I submitted my own complaint. Unlike me, however, and as required by the HRC’s statute, Brendan resides in Korea. Along with his complaint, he submitted this August 2005 photograph from a soccer match at Taegu, just to make things completely clear (“No U.S. soldiers allowed!”):

Of course, no small impediment by facts, no matter how clearly stated, could budge the HRC out of its unseemingly stable combination of nationalist hubris and moral sanctimony:

1. This answer is for your letter received on September 2, 2005.

2. You have sent a letter, titled “US soldiers stationed in South Korea were not allowed in some of clubs, restaurants, stores, and soccer stadiums in Taegu.

They didn’t even bother to read the letter.

3. According to Section 2, 4, and 30.1 of NHRC law, the following cases shall be investigated: national agencies, municipal organizations, or imprisonment facilities or probation agency violate human rights specified in Section 10 or 22 of the Constitution or make any discrimination (provided, excluding legislation of National Assembly or judgment of any courts or Constitutional Court); Any legal entity, group or private entity make any discrimination in employment, supply or use of any goods and services, and education, based upon sex, religion, disability, age, social status, birthplace, nation of birth, nation or ethnics, appearance or any other physical features, marriage status, pregnancy/delivery, family type or background, race, skin color, ideology or political opinions, invalid criminal records of no force, academic background, or status of military service; and sexual harassment in the conduct of job or employment.

4. If you want to bring a formal complain (sic) on the subject of your letter, prepare and submit a complaint, noting the information on person making discrimination (name and his/her workplace) and detailed discrimination including dates when the affair happened as specifically as possible (who, when, where, what, how, and why). Thanks. The End.

President of NHRC

Proxy 09/09

final decision

Person in charge: Kim, Hyun-jung

As I say, worthless. Brendan’s complaint was specific, clear, and met the requirements, but the HRC chose to act–without any rational basis, or even a clear statement to that effect–as if the complaint had not been sufficient. Which it was. When confronted by devastating facts, ignore them. As they say, “Human Rights for All.”*