Archive for
April 18th, 2009
Stories
Israel: What Happens when IDF Soldiers Testimonials are Taken Out of Context
On March 19th, Israeli daily Ha'aretz published a report describing the alleged incidents in a closed-door meeting of Israeli soldiers at a military prep program, where they described multiple accounts of immoral orders and actions taken by the Israeli military during the recent Gaza operation ‘Cast Lead'. Their testimony runs counter to the IDF claim that Israeli troops observed a high level of moral behavior during the operation, but falls in line with stories coming from Palestinians, describing multiple Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
Danny Zamir, the program founder, had invited combat soldiers and officers who graduated the program for a lengthy discussion of their experiences in Gaza. They spoke openly, but also with considerable frustration. The session transcript was published and quickly picked up by multiple media outlets.
Zamir: “I don't intend for us to evaluate the achievements and the diplomatic-political significance of Operation Cast Lead this evening, nor need we deal with the systemic military aspect [of it]. However, discussion is necessary because this was, all told, an exceptional war action in terms of the history of the IDF, which has set new limits for the army's ethical code and that of the State of Israel as a whole.
“This is an action that sowed massive destruction among civilians. It is not certain that it was possible do have done it differently, but ultimately we have emerged from this operation and are not facing real paralysis from the Qassams. It is very possible that we will repeat such an operation on a larger scale in the years to come, because the problem in the Gaza Strip is not simple and it is not at all certain that it has been solved. What we want this evening is to hear from the fighters.”
Amira Hass stresses the importance of these testimonials on the Democracy Now blog:
“the soldiers actually confirm what Palestinians have been telling for the past three months, and journalists who listen to Palestinians and believe Palestinians and know their work of taking affidavits and testimonies from Palestinians have done so during the last three months. This is the main importance.”
The chief army prosecutor, Brigadier General Avichai Mendelblit, announced the criminal investigation after the accounts became public. However, on March 30th he said he would not file charges, claiming crucial components of the soldiers' descriptions were based on hearsay. Mendelblit was quoted as saying: “the majority of the soldiers' descriptions were rumors, not told from personal knowledge”.
In his blog, Ori Heitner claims that mainstream media totally missed Danny Zamir's message:
Danny provides a complex message, dealing with a complex reality. The argument was tempestuous, ranging between the two poles of simplicity and extremity.
My critique for Danny is that he did not take the necessary steps to remove those who leveraged his message to slander and hurt the IDF's image - first and foremost Ha'aretz newspaper.
He continues on to publish Zamir's reaction to the Israeli uproar against his claims:
The need to investigate IDF's failures in order to preserve its spirit and ethical code cannot be considered an action “against” IDF. On the contrary, it is an action that comes from a place of responsibility and partnership with the events happening in the military, which is composed of use all.
The claims that this exposure of our soldiers actions will fuel Israel haters, is wholly improper. Those who hate Israel do not need specific descriptions such as theres. However, I have no doubt that a naiive, western civilian who is mulling over Israel's image, will see the acknowledgment and reaction to our failures as evidence to a healthy and very much alive democratic society, dealing with its difficulties.
Danny ends his essay with a final sentence: “Enough critique, enough hatred and lies. Morality is a strength - not a weakness.”
A thorough explanation written by Danny Zamir himself, was recently published in the Jerusalem Post:
It was as if the media were altogether so eager to find reason to criticize the IDF that they pounced on one discussion by nine soldiers who met after returning from the battlefield to share their experiences and subjective feelings with each other, using that one episode to draw conclusions that felt more like an indictment. Dogma replaced balance and led to a dangerous misunderstanding of the depth and complexity of Israeli reality. The individual accounts were never intended to serve as a basis for broad generalizations and summary conclusions by the media; they were published internally, intended for program graduates and their parents as a tool to be used in the process of educating and guiding the next generation.
….
THE GUIDING principle that directs IDF combat soldiers, both in their planning and conduct in combat, encompasses a balance between two needs: to defend soldiers' lives and to minimize harm to the civilians behind whom terrorists try to hide. This is expressed in the tension between the necessity of opening fire when the soldiers' security and battle conditions require, even when there's a danger to civilians (providing advance warning to the extent possible), and the absolute obligation to hold fire and to act with due compassion toward civilians when it appears that they have no evil intent. In addition, basic respect toward civilians' belongings and their religious and spiritual property is part of this moral code.
…
IF IT'S possible to learn something from the real Israel - and not that which the media (including Israeli media) makes such efforts to portray - it would be from the uproar of emotions and the frank discussions that have taken place within Israeli society in the wake of the soldiers' accounts. It is out of their commitment to the moral code that the soldiers spoke and their accounts were submitted; purity of arms requires continuous examination of our actions and intentions.
Tal highlights the fact that as a moral society, Israel must make an effort to dig even into its own dark regions:
Lately we've heard the testimonials on inappropriate actions taken by soldiers. There's no need for me to repeat the claims which include unnecessary killing of men, women and children. If this is true, it is a severe and grave issue, so severe it shakes the whole system.
But first, we need to mention that ever since the testimonies were published, we've heard claims against the validity of their source - meaning: there is a stream of rumors on the soldiers actions. Human rights organizations have called out to create an international committee which would research the claims. They have mentioned that Palestinian testimonials from their research match these Israeli soldiers' claims.
So where is the truth? Usually the truth lies somewhere in between - and should not wait for anyone to research this for us - but we need to dive deeply into this issue.
This story can wander and disappear in a time when explosive headlines appear every week. This matter can be dealt with on an international level if we will not deal with it on a national level - and dealing nationally does NOT mean giving “discounts” or silencing soldiers. It means that the truth will come out from us and we will not need someone from the outside to come and tell us if our society is broken.
It is reasonable to assume that these testimonials, even if all true, describe the actions of specific military units who did not follow the correct interpretation of the IDF protocol - meaning: even if all are terrorists, shooting a young child
Assume that not all the army behaved in one specific way. Assume that the majority of soldiers did not commit a crime. Assume that those who did commit criminal acts, were doing so under the intensity of war (that which those of you who have never fought will find difficult to understand). But… even if 10 percent of our soldiers who took part in the operation incorrectly interpreted an order and caused excess killing, this issue will be investigated - will rise up and will be examined from soldier to soldier.
Being a moral society means digging into even our own dark regions.
In a blog essay, Herb Keinon writes about the loss of context with regards to people's reactions over the published testimonies:
Obviously, everyone abroad who wants to accuse Israel of war crimes in Gaza will jump at these stories; every anti-Israel NGO will disseminate them as further proof of our evil.
What is lacking is context.
First of all, this type of testimony is legendary in Israel - there is even a phrase to describe it: yorim ve'bochim (shoot and weep). The most famous book of this genre, Siach Lochamim, came out immediately after the Six Day War in 1967, and was translated into English a few years latter under the title The Seventh Day.
The testimonials from the Rabin preparatory course have a similar feel: soldiers talking about their war experiences - what they saw, what they heard, what they felt good about, what they didn't feel good about.
It is important to note that none of the testimony was about what the soldiers did themselves, but rather of what they heard or saw other soldiers do. It is also important that what was reported seems to fall within the realm of aberrations by individuals during war against a cruel enemy hiding behind civilians, not a systematic loss by the army of its moral compass.
The second piece of context is Danny Zamir, the head of the program, who had the soldiers‚ words transcribed and published. A story in Haaretz on Thursday said that in 1990 Zamir, then a parachute company commander in the reserves, was tried and sentenced to prison for refusing to guard a ceremony where “right-wingers” brought Torah scrolls to Joseph's tomb in Nablus.
Zamir, in an interview on Israel Radio on Thursday, said that the soldiers from Operation Cast Lead who spoke at the meeting reflected an atmosphere inside the army of “contempt for, and forcefulness against, the Palestinians.”
In his blog post Tal Galili highlights some of the web-comments (talkbacks) that were submitted in Hebrew after the ynet article covering the IDF soldiers claims that they were given immoral orders:
- the media has spun out of control
- why is this published?
- lies!!!!!! It is appalling to read such lies. The person who said this should present himself and not hide behind a fabricated name
- when will you understand that its either us or them
- why does this need to be published in the papers???!!!
- and their target is only civilians?!
- our sons got back home. That is the most important
- these are homes which had specific intelligence and were filled with terrorists
- I've never seen a country that shoots itself in its feet like Israel
- Leave the IDF already and let us do our work!!
- IDF is the most moral army in the world
- because the story of one soldier we all believe?
- war. This was not a stroll in the park. It's war.
- where is the censorship and the media's discretion
There are numerous voices in the Hebrew blogosphere coming out against Zamir and his students' testimonials. One of them is highlighted in this blog post:
Not only are these “testimonials” untruthful, but also show that the left (Israeli political left wing) is seeking to bash the IDF's image and take any form of evidence to create an image it has been drawing all these years - a messianic, extreme and murderous army. Zamir expresses this in his essay.
Another perspective against Zamir criticizes his hidden political leftist agenda.
The Australian Jewish News blog posted a long reaction against Danny Zamir:
Whatever the merits of his political opinions, Zamir has a history of using the military as a stage for expressing them.
Ha’aretz, too, is guilty of obfuscation in this case. The newspaper depicted its “scoop” as the revelation of an IDF cover-up, but did not provide any evidence for it.
The entire story is told in language meant to convey large number of soldiers. But the semantics are hiding a simple fact -– the vast majority of the soldiers in the transcripts did not actually testify to anything immoral.
The more Israelis study the story, the more the culprit turns out to be lax reporting on the part of Ha’aretz. The banner headlines about Israeli military brutality turn out to be third-hand testimony filtered through Danny Zamir. Long before the Zamir testimonies broke, I heard from some good friends in the paratroopers a nearly opposite story.
They described walking among booby-trapped buildings, fighting an enemy that survived only by fleeing deep into the civilian areas into which they knew the IDF troops would not follow.
If there is truth to the yet-unproven -– indeed, un-investigated -– allegations that IDF troops committed crimes in Gaza, the soldiers responsible must be tried and severely punished.
But if the testimony, which is far milder than the media circus surrounding it, turns out to be untrue, who will pay the price? The lazy Ha’aretz editors who drag an entire nation’s name through the mud on the strength of a second-hand rumour? The international media that not only didn’t fact check against Ha’aretz, but most of the time did not even tell the Ha’aretz story properly?
Whichever scenario turns out to be the truth, the testimonies have shed light in some dark places.
While writing this post, I've been trying to make sense of the multitude of perspectives around this highly disputed story. As many bloggers suggest, the truth seems to lie somewhere in-between the formal Hamas and IDF claims. Once again, we witness the implications of having fast-paced, worldwide media coverage, that can easily spin stories out of their original context; precisely how a closed door session between school colleagues turns into a world-wide news sensation. I will end the post here, but please feel free to add links and opinions to the comments section of this important story.
Egypt: Filmmaker's struggle finally pays off
Egyptian cinema-goers will finally be able to watch Ibrahim El Batout’s film Ein Shams [Ar] (Eye of the Sun) as an Egyptian movie at the end of this month - after a long drama with censorship.
El Batout, considered among the most distinguished Egyptian independent directors and filmmakers, struggled with the censor back when he first started working on his second feature film. The director decided to swim against the tide and start filming without acquiring the required permits. He explains his reasons in an interview with the Art Review Magazine as follows:
The film was made in a different way. Without the censors' Permission. I filmed it and am asking them now to see it so that I'd screen it. They don't want this. They want you to inform them of the film from the point of just thinking about it
As demonstrated in the film’s Facebook group Ein Shams has acquired many reputable awards. They include:
Winner of The Golden Tauro Best film Award in Taormina Film Festival.
Winner of Best First Film Award in Roterdam Arab Film Festival.
Winner of Special Jury Mention in Carthage Film Festival.
Nevertheless, the censors decided to allow the film into Egypt under the condition of having it screened as a foreign film - a compromise the director objected to.
In a article posted in the film’s blog, Joseph Fahim exclaimed:
But apparently that won’t happen now. The film's trailer has already been aired on Egyptian TV channels and cinema lovers in Egypt, who are thirsty and looking forward to El Batout’s next thought provoking film, will be able to watch it in a cinema near them soon.
Global Recession: The world is talking. Are we listening?
There is no lack of online articles about the various aspects of the global economic crisis. Many of them are written by economic experts and policymakers. What about the perspectives of ordinary bloggers? What about those who do not write in English? This global roundup of blogs gathers stories of people around the world who are struggling to survive the economic downturn. This article will highlight the views of bloggers about the recession, identify the different manifestations of the crisis in several countries, and illustrate how the deteriorating economy is affecting the global society as a whole. This post complements the five other articles of this series on the global crisis.
Crisis indicators
The recession in the United States and Europe is affecting the garments industry of Bangladesh. Many factory workers were laid-off because of reduced production. Another industry which is suffering is the shrimp sector, the second biggest export item of Bangladesh. The economic problems of other Asian nations are also causing a problem for Bangladesh. As the shipping business weakens in Singapore, many of its Bangladesh migrant workers are sent home. Malaysia has also decided to hire unemployed local workers first before recruiting foreigners. This is bad news for Bangladesh migrant workers whose main country of destination is Malaysia.
In Kazakhstan Alim-atenbek writes about a crisis last winter in the industrial town of Stepnogorsk where heating, electricity and water supply were cut off for nearly a week.
It is a pity to read such things about the once prosperous town. Instead of investing in reconstruction of the obsolete infrastructure, we had been building glazing skyscrapers in [the new capital of Kazakhstan] Astana, which are now standing empty. Seemingly, after the financial crisis, the infrastructure crisis is looming - and, eventually, the political one.
Kazakhstan’s currency was devalued last February. The economic impact was immediately felt by its citizens. According to blogger Katelka
We became 25% poorer. Lately the salaries of budget-paid employees and pensions were increased by 25%, and now this raise is eaten up. I have friends who get paid in KZT, but their mortgage is in dollars… Many shops change their price-lists. In large food supermarkets people were running around with trolleys and sweeping away everything: cereals-butter-pasta, informs
The collapse of the dram is also a major sign of the global economic crisis in Armenia. It has created a lot of panic in the country.
In Hong Kong the financial crisis is blamed mostly on Financial Secretary John Tsang. There are 20 Facebook roups protesting against him. The biggest group (with more than 10,000 members) is asking John Tsang to receive a HKD4000 salary per month because of his subsidy plan encouraging companies to hire university graduate with a minimum wage of HKD4000.
In Cebu province of the Philippines, the DYAB Abante Bisaya's radio program, Pulso, asked its viewers about their thoughts on the financial crisis. Here are some of their answers:
Kaniadto, mag-awto gyod ko. Karon mag jeep na ko. Seven rides gud ko padulong sa trabahoan. Kay ang akong suweldo kuwang ra man. Mahal baya ang maintenance sa awto. Mag-awto na lang ko kon kusog kaayo ang uwan. Gikan ni Chona sa Lapulapu City;
Ang krisis dugay na gyod nako nabatyagan kay kani-adto moingon ko nga way kuarta, akong pitaka naa pa nay tinipigan nga bag-o ug way pilo gikan sa P20 ngadto sa P1,000, pero kon moingon nga way kuwarta, aw sus as in wala gyod,. Gikan ni Rollie sa Talisay City;
Krisis na gyod kay sa pag-abli namo sa tindahan nag-una ang utang kay sa cash. Gikan ni Oslec;
Nakabatyag na mi sa krisis kay daghan nang bakante sa boarding houses diri sa Opon. Gikan ni Mr. Baguio.
I noticed the crisis long ago because before when I say there's no money, my wallet still have new P20 to P1,000 bills, but now when I say there's no money, there really is nothing. From Rollie of Talisay City;
It's really crisis because when we opened the store the debts came first before the cash. From Oslec;
We already experienced the crisis because there are many vacancies in the boarding houses here in Opon. From Mr. Baguio
Struggling migrants
In a previous post, I mentioned about Brazilian migrants who are living in the streets of Japan. A video clip from a Fuji TV news report narrates the story of Sidival Furuzawa Pereira, a homeless man in Hamamatsu, Japan.
Below is a summary of the video:
Mr. Pereira spends his days checking trash heaps for aluminum cans and junk he can bring to recycling centers and exchange for money. At the beginning of the clip, he takes a full bicycle load of old appliances and exchanges them for 350 yen (about $3). Instead of using the money on himself, he saves it so he can send it to his wife and children in Brazil. As a result, Pereira eats food he finds in the garbage.
The clip ends with Pereira making a phone call to his family on January 1st. They ask him to come home, but he tells them he is determined to stay in Japan and earn money to help them.
Mako explains why he left Paraguay for Spain
En mi caso particular me vine a España porque estaba totalmente arruinado económicamente; de tener una bodega, un bar y una despensa, en pocos años terminamos en ruina, cada vez se vendia menos, la venta callejera que vendia mas barato sin pagar impuestos, el pago de alquiler, personal y las ventas cayeron a pique, y los servicios
públicos cada vez mas caros…Claro que los extraño, extraño mi casa, mis parientes, mis perros, y extraño mucho el tomar tereré sin la menor prisa bajo el mango, como si el tiempo no existiera, extraño a mis parientes en las navidades, cumpleaños, bodas o el simple hecho de reunirnos a comer tallarin con pollo un domingo.
Of course I miss (my family), I miss my house, my relatives, my dogs, and I miss drinking tereré (herbal water) under the mango tree and having no hurry, as if time did not exist, I miss my relatives during Christmastime, birthdays, weddings or the simple act of getting together to eat chicken with noodles on a Sunday
Unemployment
Job losses continue to worsen throughout the world. The rising unemployment rate is the most familiar sign of the global recession. Even profitable companies are shedding jobs. Barbados Underground sees this trend in Barbados
There is something very strange which has started to unfold in Barbados and around the Caribbean in recent weeks. Many of our leading and PROFITABLE companies have been sending home workers.
It borders on criminal that PROFITABLE companies would cut loyal employees who would have contributed to the success of these companies.
Why would profitable companies in Barbados and in the Caribbean rush in indecent haste to dismiss employees? Over the years when the times were good would it not have been caring for those PROFITABLE companies to set aside a reserve to provide for employees in less profitable times like now?
Bloggers around the world are also providing suggestions on how to overcome unemployment. Charoenchai Chaipiboolwong, an economist blogger from Thailand believes that nurturing creativity is important for individuals seeking jobs
The best solution is not the pricing war since it will harm everyone in the market but to find the “value added” in our products. If you are just employee, then find the “value added” in your skill instead.
The only way to “add the value” is via creativity. Creativity brings differentiation from competitors
In South Korea a letter written by a father to his son who is encountering difficulty finding a job today has inspired other netizens. This letter has been linked and cited by many bloggers in the country. An excerpt of the letter:
“…원망하고 질책을 하기엔 너무 늦어 버렸다…
성공한 사람일수록 진실 되어야 후환이 없는 법이다
부디 명심 하거라—평생을 살아온 경험에서 얻은 이야기니—
경제 어려운것 열심히 노력 하면 반드시 좋아질 날이 있다
하지만 그것은 여러 사람들의 노력이듯 자신들의 몫이기도 하니까…”
As it is from efforts from many people, it is also from your own effort….”
A labor activist in Taiwan criticizes commentaries which blame unemployed individuals while ignoring the shortcomings of the social system:
台灣的失業工人之所以會獨自走向貧窮、燒炭的命運，很大部分正是因為我們長期把失業當成個別勞工的錯誤與罪過，卻錯失集體面對、思考制度結構嚴重缺損的問題。如何透過這次因權貴階級把玩資本遊戲，而讓無辜勞工承擔痛苦的大失業潮，讓大眾至少能在「失業不只是我的錯」這個共識下，思考並推動妥善處理失業創傷的制度療法，才是一個正確的理絡，絕對不該再走回高唱勞工自我調適、增值的老路上。
Dissent
In China workers who lost their jobs in state-controlled factories are organizing protest actions. In Baoding, Hebei, about 6000 workers are on strike, as their factory was sold and they would be soon laid off. They marched to Beijing to present a mass petition. This action worried others because it might heighten political instability. Blogger 阿丁 (A-Ding) commented on this attitude
有人担心工人们冲动而打砸抢，就别鸡巴瞎操心了——罢工不过是工人们为了自身权益采取的诉求方式，工人们比你们理智。几乎每一次暴力事件，都是统治者高高在上，不肯疏浚民怨、强奸公正和暴力压制的结果
Conclusion
This completes our initial series on the global economic crisis. The first post deals with the crisis in general and the discontent it is creating around the world. The second post reviews some of the bailout and stimulus plans of select countries. The third post identifies some survival tips and business opportunities related to the recession. The fourth post highlights the impact of global job losses and the situation of returning migrant workers. Countries which claim to be unaffected by the financial crisis are the focus of the fifth post.
Readers may notice that the articles in this series rarely mention recession stories in the U.S. While recognizing the serious economic challenges faced by the U.S., this series invites the public to study how the recession is shaping and reshaping societies in the world. We want our readers to appreciate how the recession in the U.S. is creating old and new problems around the globe. Many bloggers are providing alternative and insightful views on the crisis. Part of solving the problem is to encourage a global conversation on the economic crisis. This series is a contribution to jumpstart this global conversation.
Argentina: Cleaning Up the Riachuelo
La Matanza River, better known as El Riachuelo (The Little River) divides the Argentinean capital city Buenos Aires with the rest of the province that shares the same name. El Riachuelo runs through the Boca neighbourhood, one of the most visited by tourists, as it houses Caminito, a famous landmark in the history of Tango. Caminito offers dance and music in the street and it is a very colourful little street. Visiting Buenos Aires, one can imagine listening to an intense performance of a Tango orchestra on a summer night and finishing the evening with a romantic walk by the river. Unfortunately, in reality, this might not be a good idea. This watercourse is the most contaminated in the country, its waters receives industrial waste from the numerous factories along the riverside, especially tanneries.
Photo by FJTU and used under a Creative Commons license http://www.flickr.com/photos/fjtu/2531429872/
However, not all is lost. The ports of Buenos Aires are welcoming the Arctic Sunrise, a Greenpeace icebreaker that will be supporting the campaign [es] for the cleansing of the river. This ship is arriving from Brazil where it became involved in a similar campaign in the Amazon.
The Arctic Sunrise’s visit represents a form of pressure and a reminder to the general public that after nine months of the National Court resolution for the cleansing of the river, none of the specified steps has been taken [es]. In spite of the lack of action from the authorities and the overdue expected results, Francisco Isla Montoya, an Argentinean blogger expresses some hope in his blog La Communication no es Ingenua [es]:
Hoy los esfuerzos comienzan a dar resultado, hay nuevas generaciones, cambio social y leyes que pretenden resguardar el planeta o al menos intentarlo. Greenpeace, su rompehielos, está en Buenos Aires, esto no es inocente, es la voz de ambientalistas, ecologistas y ciudadanos conscientes de cuidar la casa.
Photo by Albริ and used under a Creative Commons license http://www.flickr.com/photos/_alby2_/318242785/
Hernán Nadal, coordinator for new technologies for Greenpeace, shares in his blog Listao [es] a video of the NGO campaign for the Riachuelo.
A week before the arrival of the Arctic Sunrise, Greenpeace opened a telephone line that allows people to give information about industrial waste in the area. According to a note on the blog Protagonistas [es], the data will be used to create a map of contamination in the river basin and would give a better sense of how many industries are responsible for the pollution.
Despite of the inefficiency of the authorities, environmentalists and other conscientious citizens may help bring about the long-awaited result for a river that could return to be what it used to: a place for families to gather, tourists to enjoy and life to blossom.
Korea: Is teachers’ physical punishment toward students a crime?
A second grade student at a primary school was struck 27 times by her teacher because she gave the wrong answer to a math question. After her mother put a photo of her daughter’s bottom with bruises on the internet, parents’ associations and other netizens criticized the teacher’s behavior. In the end, the district education office gave her 3 month probation period disregarding the first decision that her qualification as a teacher was taken.
This scandal has become a hot argument on the Internet. Teachers’ whipping has traditionally been regarded as ‘sarang ui mae’ (whipping of love) - teacher’s love and careness toward his or her students. However, there are more people who don’t agree with the traditional thought anymore.
Here is a teacher’s writing. He or she argues that physical punishment is from teachers’ love toward their students. Irresponsible or lazy teachers who aren’t concerned with their students’ futures even don’t have passion to put their energy into their students. He or she also emphasizes that it shouldn’t be judged with different values.
교육 현장에서 체벌이 반드시 필요하다는 말은 하지 않겠습니다. 저 역시도 체벌을 긍정적으로 보지는 않습니다. 교육학에대해서 공부한 사람들은 알겠지만 교육에서의 육체적 체벌을 긍정적으로 본 교육학자들은 없습니다.하지만 여기서 주의해야할 부분은 외국의 예를 들어 우리나라 학교에서의 체벌을 두고 아동학대 운운하는 것은 매우 위험한 발상입니다. 서양인들이 지닌 관점을 기준으로 우리의 교육 현장을 봐서는 안되기 때문입니다. 체벌이 없는 유럽의 국가들과 미국 등 많은 선진국들의 시스템을 먼저 보면, 한국 학교와는 달리 매우 엄격한 룰을 적용하고 있습니다. 학생들의 비행이나 수업준비 태만, 지각, 과제 미제출 등 학생들이 범하게되는 잘못에 대해서 학칙을 적용해서 학생들을 처벌하는 통제 시스템을 가지고 있습니다. 올해부터 우리 나라 학교에도 적용되는 그린마일리지 시스템이 이러한 외국의 제도를 도입한 유사한 사례가 될 것입니다. 결과적으로 학생들은 유급, 휴학, 징계 등 다양한 처벌을 받게 되고, 고등학교를 졸업하지 못하는 학생들도 우리나라에 비해 현저히 높습니다. 프랑스에서는 약 30% 정도의 고등학생들이 졸업을 하지 못하고 대학 진학도 못하고, 또한 취업을 못해 거리를 배회하는 학생들로 만들고 있습니다. 이게 외국의 엄격한 규정을 적용하는 시스템에서 발생할 수 있는 문제입니다. 반면에 한국도 학생선도규정 등은 모두 있지만 이를 엄격하게 적용해서 학생을 징계처리하는 경우는 흔하지 않습니다. 고등학교 학생들이 가장 흔하게 범하는 비행중에 하나인 흡연을 예를 들어보겠습니다. 한 학생이 흡연에 적발되었습니다. 바로 징계받습니까? 학교에 따라 바로 징계를 받을 수도 있겠죠? 그럼 2번, 3번, 4번… 계속해서 흡연에 적발되었습니다. 학교규정에는 상습적인 흡연은 퇴학까지 가능하다고 되어있습니다. 하지만 퇴학당하나요? 아닙니다. 그런데 외국은 같은 규정에서 적발이 되었다면 퇴학을 받는 경우가 한국보다는 높습니다. 선생님 앞에서 욕하고 말대꾸하면서 대드는 행위…. 종종 발생합니다. 아마 웬만한 고등학교에서 1년에 약 3회 정도는 발생하지 않나 싶습니다. 비슷한 정도로 학생들이 교사지도에 불응하고 대드는 행위를 했을 때 외국에서는 가차없이 학생에게 가혹한 징계를 내립니다. 하지만 한국에서는 보통 이런식으로 지도하죠. 그 선생님에게 찾아가서 무릎꿇고 잘못했다고 용서를 빌어라. 또 그러면 그런대로 넘어가는 경우가 대부분입니다. 그런 상황에서 선생님들이 용서못한다 무조건 징계내려야 한다. 그렇게 끝까지 고집피우는 선생님은 제가 알기로는 없습니다.
우리나라의 공교육이 지닌 근본적인 훈육시스템이 외국과는 다르다고 봅니다. 또한 한국인들이 지닌 기본적인 정서 자체가 다릅니다. 일부 학부모들은 자신의 아이가 체벌을 당했다면 대놓고 전화해서 따지고 저항합니다. 하지만 아직도 대부분은 부모들은 네가 잘못해서 그런거다. 똑바로 해라 라고 하면서 속은 상하지만 아이에게 혼을 냅니다. 만약 학부모의 의식이 완전히 변해서 그 수치가 뒤바뀌는 날이 온다면 우리 나라 교육에서 체벌은 없어지겠죠. 그리고 학생들을 통제하기 위한 수단으로서 외국처럼 엄격한 학칙을 적용하겠죠. 한국 교육에서의 체벌을 인간적인 행위로 간주할 수는 없습니다. 하지만 그 체벌이 무조건적으로 없어야 하고 아동 학대다, 범죄다라고 규정한다면, 근본적으로 우리나라 교육시스템이 변하고 교사들과 학생 학부모의 의식이 모두 바뀌어야 합니다. 개인적인 생각으로 그렇게 되기를 바라지는 않습니다. 한국사람들이 지닌 가치관과 의식의 문제인데…. 무조건 외국 사람들이 지닌 대로 가는 것이 바람직하지는 않습니다.
한국사람들이 가지고 있는 행동의 기대치와 가치관이 서양인들과는 다른데… 그러한 관점에서 체벌하는 것이 아동학대다? 그러면 그사람은 한국에 살면 안됩니다. 외국에 가서 자신과 비슷한 가치관과 사고방식을 지닌 외국인들 사이에서 섞여 살아야죠. 국민들의 의식과 문화적 차이 그리고 교육적 시스템을 망각하고 무조건적으로 서양인들의 관점으로 한국교육 특히 체벌문제를 규정하는 것은 매우 위험한 발상이 아닐까요?
Values that Koreans have and westerners have are different…. physical punishment is all children harrassment? Then those people shouldn’t live in Korea. Go to other countries and live with foreigners who have similar values and thoughts. Disregarding cultural differences and education systems, acknowledging education values, especially about physical punishment, with westerners’ perspectives is very dangerous.
마지막으로 좀더 현실적인 문제로 다시 접근하면, 요즘 선생님들 아이들 무자비하게 체벌하지 않습니다. 학교 자체적으로 체벌용도로 사용할 수 있는 회초리를 규정한 학교도 많고, 매의 횟수도 정하고 있는 학교가 많습니다. 그리고 교육청에서 체벌금지 관련한 공문이 자주 내려오고 있습니다. 학생들도 이젠 예전처럼 순진하지 않아서 교사가 감정을 갖고 폭력수준으로 체벌을 하면 동영상으로 찍거나 교육청에 글 남기고, 심지어는 경찰서에 고소까지 합니다. 교사들도 물론 그런거 다 알고 있지요. 그래서 선생님들이 자신 몸 사려가면서 체벌하지 않고, 말로 벌주고 심하면 학생부에 징계요구하고 뭐 그런상황입니다. 오히려 그런 상황을 알면서 학생들이 심각한 잘못(학교 기물파손, 주 및 흡연, 학교폭력, 금품갈취 등)을 했을 때 심할 정도로 때리고, 타이르면서 가르칠 부분은 가르치려고 노력하는 사람이 더 자질있는 교사가 될 수도 있는겁니다. 때리지 않고 규정에 따라 징계하고 결과적으로 징계 이외에는 학생들에게 가르침이 전혀 없는 것은 솔직히 교사하면 안되는겁니다. 까놓고 말하면 그렇게 하면 교사도 편합니다. 자기 자식도 학교 보내는 입장에서 학생들 때리면서 맘 편하지 않습니다. 결론은 체벌 좋지는 않은데, 이를 심하게 사회 악으로 규정하는 것은 한국인들의 의식과 교육시스템을 전혀 염두하지 않은 잘못된 시각이라는 것을 말하고 싶을 뿐입니다.
Another teacher is writing against the previous one.
체벌 없이도 정상적인 수업과 지도가 가능하며 교육현장에서 쓰이는 다양한 방법의 문제행동 제제 방법이 오히려 체벌보다 더 효과가 있습니다. 문제가 되는 학생에게 맨 처음주는 가벼운 제제는 ‘Time Out' 데 이는 수업에 집중을 하지않고 주의가 산만하거나 수업의 진행에 방해가되는 행동을 하는 아동에게 내리는 벌로서 의자를 따로 교실의 벽면이나 다른 학생들과 간격이 떨어진 곳에 두고 홀로 앉아서 수업을 참관하게 하는 벌입니다.격리되는 상황에 아이들이 수치를 느겨 문제 행동이 진정되는 효과가 있습니다. 이 타임 아웃은 그러나 한번에 5 -10분 이상 더 길게 하지 않는것을 원칙으로 하고 있습니다. 그 이후에도 같은 수업중 여전히 문제 행동이 두번 이상 나타나면 이번에는 의자를 돌려 뒤를 보이고 앉아있게 합니다. 체벌은 물론 언어적인 폭력, 심지어 선생님이 학생에게 ‘말썽꾸러기'라는 의미의 ‘naughty' 라는 말도 사용하지 못하게 되어 있습니다.
외국에서 맨 처음 직업을 가진 유치원에서부터도 아이들을 한 인격체로 대우하며 아이들끼리도 상대방이 싫어하면 다른 친구에게 손으로 신체에 접촉하는 것도 엄하게 금합니다.상대에 대한 의사존중의 예의를 어려서부터 세뇌가 될 정도로 익히며 자라납니다. 어려서부터 공부보다는 질서교육 ,이를테면 실내에서 뛰거나 큰 소리 내지않기,반드시 자리를 뜨기전 자신이 보던 책이나 놀이기구 치우기,밖에서 놀다 들어모면 신발에 묻은 모래나 흙등을 털고 실내화로 갈아신기등을 화 한번 안내고 꾸준히 하루에도 50번도 더 넘게 조용히 그러나 엄격하게 주의주는 동료 선생님의 태도에 속으로 득도한 수도자가 아닌가하고 감탄했었습니다.하지만 오래 지나니 내 자신도 어느새 그렇게 닮아있는 것을 발견하게 되었지요.
[…]외국에서는 사소한 폭력도 거의 준 범죄처럼 엄격한 잣대로 처음부터 대처하고,학생들간의 가벼운 싸움도 반드시 부모에게 통보가 가고 학교에서 그에 대한 처벌의 수위를 결정하기 위해 담임교사,학과장,그리고 학부모가 함께한 면담회를 교감 선생님 주관 하에 일차 가지고, 그다음 결정을 위한 선생님들만의 사정회를 가집니다. 처음이거나 가벼운 경우에는 3일 ,1주,2주 등의 정학을 받거나 ,사례가 나쁜 경우는 다른 학교로의 전학이 권고됩니다. 퇴학은 학생의 장래를 위해 일반적으로 취하지 않습니다. 이상과 같은 방법으로도 교실내에서 교사와 다른 수업을 듣는 학생들에게 피해가 되는 행동이 금지되며 국민학교 교실에서조차도 꽤 엄격한 수업이 진행됩니다.[…] 교육 목적에 부합한 선생님의 언어와 태도도 가르치는 교과 내용보다 더 중요하다고 생각하며 문제 행동을 하는 교사의 태도가 알려지면 경중에 따라 교사의 자격이 박탈되기도 합니다.
More arguments. 1:
교사체벌은 이제 범죄행위로 간주되어야 합니다.
아직도 많은 분들이 교사의 체벌은 간혹 필요하다고 하는데…이러한 주장은 가장 무서운 주장입니다. 그리고 교육의 변화를거부하는 빌미를 제공하는 것이지요. 교육의 가장 중요한 지향점은 올바른 인간입니다. 그 바른 인간을 기르기 위해 체벌을 사용한다? 결국 그것은 폭력을 가르키는 것입니다. 체벌과 폭력은 구분이 되지 않을뿐더러 체벌을 하는 행위는 범죄행위로 간주되어야 합니다.
UN의 아동권리협약의 통계를 보면 학교나 가정에서 조차 법적으로 체벌이 금지된 나라는 16개국입니다. 그리고 대부분의 나라 140여개국이 학교에서 체벌이 공식적으로 혹은 법적으로 금지되어 있습니다. 다만 일본과 중국 등 아시아의 선진 주도국을 제외한 상당수 아시아 국가가 아직도 체벌을 공식 인정하고 있는데, 이들 나라는 아동학대국의 오명을 지니고 있습니다. […] “사랑의 매” 그것 역시 강자 혹은 어른의 체벌을 정당화 하기 위한 논리입니다. 사랑의 매는 세상에 없습니다. 변태가 아니라면 아픔을 느끼고 수치스럼움을 느껴야 합니다. 내가 삐뚤게 나갈때 선생님이 체벌을 하여 지금의 내가 있었다고 말하는 사람도 있던데… 그것은 교사의 보살핌과 관심때문에 지금이 있는 것이지 체벌때문은 아닌것 입니다.이것 역시 강자의 체벌론 그리고 강자의 힘의 논리에 세뇌되어 혼동이 발생한 것이지요. 폭력은 안되지만 아이들 통제를 위하여 체벌이 필요하다는 논리 역시 끊임없이 체벌권의 정당성을 조금이나마 지키기 위한 마지막 발악입니다. 세상 어디에도 사람을 때려도 괜찮다고 하는 것은 잘못된 것입니다. 사람을 가볍게 때려도 법적인 심판을 받아야 합니다. 그것이 정의입니다. 그리고 그것이 교육입니다. 잘못했다고 교사가 학생을 때리는 것은 범죄행위로 간주되는 것이 바로 교육입니다.[…]
Many people still think that physical punishment from teachers is sometimes necessary…. it is scary. They just don’t want changes of education. The most important part of education is to let students build up upright personalities. In order to raise upright humans, we need physical punishment? In conclusion, it is just teaching violence. Physical punishment and violence are not different and both of them should be regarded as crimes.
According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the UN, there are 16 countries that legally prohibit physical punishment at schools and at homes. Most 140 countries legally prohibit physical punishment at schools. Except Japan and China, most Asian countries still acknowledge physical punishment and could be regarded as countries having children harrassment.[…] “Whipping for Love” This is an excuse that the strong and adults try to justify physical punishment. There is no whipping for love in this world. If you are not a pervert, anyone feels pains and shame. There are some people who are fine now because there was whipping for love from teachers when they were disobeying at schools. You are manipulated by the powerful’s logic. Violence shouldn’t be allowed, but the saying that physical punishment in order to control children is necessary is also a pathetic atrocity in order to justify their behavior. Anywhere, beating others up is wrong. Even though you lightly beat others up, it should be judged legally. It is justice. And it is education. The fact that teachers beat students up because those students did some mistakes should be regarded as a crime. That is education.[…]
[…] 체벌이 옳다는 게 아니라 대안없는 반대는 그야말론 이상론, 산속에서 혼자하는 웅변에 지나지 않습니다.
오히려 세부 시행기준있는 체벌을 규정으로 딱 정해 두는게 이상과 교육현실의 갭을 줄이는데 도움이 되지 않을까요?
‘교사체벌 = 범죄행위' 라고 말하는 이들을 보면 그 사람의 뇌 구조 및 정신 상태를 한번 검사해 보고 싶다는 생각이 든다. 만일 본인이 부모가 되었을때 자신의 자녀의 잘못된 행위를 개선하기 위한 수단으로 100% 구두로 된다고 가능한지 한번 묻고 싶다. 물론 선생이든 부모이든 자녀에게 체벌을 하는 것을 좋아하는 이는 없을 것이다. 하지만 단계적인 개선이 되지 않을 경우에는 그러한 마지막 수단이 바로 ‘체벌'이다.[…]
Azerbaijan: Youth activist expelled from university
According to information spread by the Dalga Youth Movement, Parviz Azimov, the head of its Southern Regional Office, has been expelled from university. Both inside and outside Azerbaijan, bloggers are concerned by the action taken against the student activist. Don Quixote from the Land of the Blind [RU] informs its readers about the incident.
Совсем недавно, в январе нынешнего года студент Лянкяранского Государственного Университета и представитель молодежного движения “Далга” в Лянкяране Пярвиз Азимов написал статью о коррупции в собственном университете. […]
Вчера “Далга” распространили письмо, в котором сообщается, что после продолжительного саботирования Пярвиза, его, под вымышленнным предлогом все-таки исключили из университета.
Yesterday, Dalga distributed a letter informing that after continuing efforts to undermine Parviz, he was finally expelled from the university under an invented pretext.
The letter distributed by Dalga was published by several blogs, and requested that people take action in Azimov's defense. The senior student was eventually expelled for his alleged involvement in a fight, but few believe the official explanation.
Some are even reminded of their own experiences at universities in Azerbaijan. Writing on my Frontline Club blog, for example, it almost felt like déjà vu.
Once I wrote an innocent piece for azadliqciragi.org, an Azeri-language version of Cato Institute's Lamps of Liberty and I don't know how, but my dean N.A. at university got aware of it (too old and conservative to surf in Internet). Later followed what my dean called “educational conversation” between us in order to persuade me to halt my “revolutionary” and “oppositional” activism in Internet, and there he told me “in a manner of father” that I should “cool down”, otherwise I can possible be expelled from university. Curious enough, I asked him on what formal grounds it can happen - I have a perfect attendance record, excellent results, in good attitude toward teachers and no criminal behaviour - after a few seconds of thoughts, he replied that there can be a sabotage against me, for example, an alleged fight, which can result in my expulsion.
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines is also reminded of a similar experience.
This incident reminds me of an event that took place few months back when I was asked to give a short presentation to a group of foreign exchange students on Azerbaijani culture. The conversation then turned into Q&A session, where we started talking about politics and general situation in the country. I answered each of their questions with honesty. Well, it turned out that none of the profs who were sitting in the room were pleased with my honesty (even though students were very happy). Nothing happened to me, well, except I was never asked to give another presentation by those people to another group of students.
Although Azimov was expelled at the end of February, it has only been in recent days that many found out. Writing on Thoughts on the Road, for example, one American journalist conducting media training in Azerbaijan remembers his former student.
Parviz was one of my best students while I was in Azerbaijan. He was the only one of my students to actually produce articles about corruption in the nation's education system. I had quite a few students who spoke about it - but naturally it was a very daunting subject to tackle. Many of my students were still studying at universities - so really digging into this subject could be dangerous for their academic careers.
As it was for Parviz.
When he first suggested writing about corruption at the university, I cautioned him about taking on the subject. To do it right would be difficult, and would certainly anger important people. Nonetheless, he was resolute - and for his final project he wrote both blog entries and a long newspaper article on the subject - an article that named names. I was more nervous than he about publishing the article.
I don't think it was one article that caused the university to finally kick him out. Parviz is one of those students that is challenging or infuriating, depending on your perspective. Once he grabbed hold of an issue, he didn't let go - the mark of really excellent journalist. This time, Parviz obviously infuriated enough people at the university to close that door to him.
He has great talent and energy - so I don't worry about him finding some position that suits his interests. But to be honest, I do worry about his personal safety. Azerbaijan is a dangerous place for journalists who challenge the system. A number of journalists have been mysteriously assaulted and murdered in Azerbaijan in recent years. Currently, Uzbekistan is the only European or Central Asian country that has more journalists behind bars than Azerbaijan, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
In conclusion, Don Quixote from the Land of the Blind is in despair.
А я больше ничего не скажу. Разве только то, что краснеть, поражаться, разочаровываться и терять дар речи начинаю уставать.
Incidentally, in order to form a better impression of the university where Parviz was studying, Dalga posted this photo reportage late last year. According to the official rating of Azerbaijani higher educational institutions published by the State Students Admission Commission, Lankaran State University ranks 16th.
Links for Sat, 2009-04
In Mutatione Fortitudo, the blog of Global Voices Online author Ali S. Novruzov, provides its readers with an update on the case of Parviz Azimov, the student activist recently expelled from university. The blog is concerned that the reason given for the action taken against Azimov is an alleged involvement in the drug business although no evidence has been presented.
The First National Bloggers Conference of Pakistan took place today at 5:00pm PST at Regent Plaza in Karachi. Teeth Maestro live blogged the event.
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Wu Wei Thoughts from the Tao comments on news that the pro-Putin Nashi youth movement attempted to cross into Georgian territory during last week's protests in Tbilisi. The blog says that such an attempt will do nothing to help the opposition in its attempt to force the Georgian president to resign.
Indian star blogger and columnist Amit Varma has been selected as one of the 50 most powerful people in India by Business Week. Amit responded with a typical witty remark: “I come between Sachin Tendulkar and Lalu Prasad Yadav, and am not quite sure how to respond to that honor. What have I done to deserve this?”
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