Reading global news, it would appear as though society is full of hate, terror, and violence. There does not appear to be any hope. Many cases around the world reflect this reality. Last March in New Zealand, there was a shooting, killing 51 people in a mosque. The assailant targeted Muslims. In August in the US, a mass shooting in El Paso resulted in the death of 22 people. The assailant targeted Latinos. In Japan, a Japanese company published a hate speech that denounced the nature of Koreans. The list goes on. Each of the cases differs in consequences, but all of them originated from hate towards a specific group of people. How about domestically? Is Korea free of hate, terror, or violence? While the nation may not have mass shootings, people show their hate with words and attitudes. Victims are usually minorities such as women or immigrants, and the type of expressed hatred varies from murder to blunt remarks by influential people or decisions based on hate. With hate around us, we are often tossed into despair and feel depressed listening to the news. Maya Angelou, a poet and a civil rights activist, however, offered these words that encouraged me: “You may shoot me with your words. You may cut me with your eyes. You may kill me with your hatefulness. But still, like air, I’ll rise.”
To show SMT’s determination to do its best for its readers and to show that there is still hope in the world, SMT reporters have worked hard on the October edition with Maya Angelou’s words in mind. For FOCUS ON, reporters photographed Sookmyungians standing alongside the “peace statue” to show hope staying strong in times of hate. For PEOPLE, SMT reporters met Ahn Lee Jeongseon, a representative of Heeum, who works for victims of sex slavery during the Japanese colonial period, and writes about the victims’ message of ‘blooming hope’. Hate, terror, and violence will never fully disappear from the world. However, people are raising their voices and standing up to hate just like a large number of Sookmyungians who rise above hate each day of their life. SMT reporters support everyone battling hate by giving them a voice with our pens and papers. We are rising with Sookmyungians so that society moves towards respect, the opposite of hate. Sookmyungians, you are the means of hope and peace, and SMT is standing proud with you.
저작권자 © 숙명타임즈 무단전재 및 재배포 금지
