I have been down with the flu, but unless you live on Neptune, or are very wrapped up in the American Idol Finale, you have no doubt heard that the beef issue has been resolved for now. Those protestors in tents can go home now.
The way my American eyes see it is as follows:
1. It's a small victory for the democratic process. The public outcry over the deal hastily made by leaders reminds us all that leaders work FOR the people, not above the people. Leaders should have consulted their constituents further before jumping into a revised trade pact. (Editorial Note: My president, Bush, and especially his evil henchman, CHENEY, could stand reminding of this. You work for the voters. Not the other way around.)
President Lee admitted as much with his recent public apology. The papers describe his statements as follows:
"The government lacked efforts to seek sufficient understanding and collect opinions from the people," Lee said during a nationally televised address. "I humbly accept the point that the government neglected to fathom the people's mind. I feel sorry."
So, good job voters and angry teens, you organized, and made yourselves heard. Remember that process next time some big environmental issue comes up, ok? :)
2. Obviously, it is a victory for Korean farmers and cattle owners, who can continue to sell their beef without fears of losing out to a "lower quality" product. The cows outside my school, however, don't look any more or less excited. Pretty much they look languid. Australian cattle companies, who now mark their beef products with a sticker that says "Australian Beef-clean and Safe," also win out. I am sure that it is clean and safe. It is just ridiculously expensive. Hamburgers aren't supposed to cost 10,000 won to make, "mate."
3. Unfortunately, it may in the end be a loss for science. There is no mad cow disease in American beef right now. I saw on-line that they found ecoli germs (spelling?) in a few boxes of processed beef products in certain American states like Massachusetts, and that certain types of processed beef products were thus recalled in those specific places. E-coli is e-scary. Certainly. But it's different from mad cow disease. So, nope, as far as I've read, no mad cow.
Yahoo is reporting that a Korean TV show host said that Koreans are more susceptible to mad cow related illnesses that Westerners. I'm no geneticist, but that sounds like a crock of...well, cow poop.
Enough for now...I have to go make some 20,000 won meatloaf! :)
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