A number of years ago I noted this phenomenon: Go to the local 7-11 and you’d see a family of first generation immigrants – people from God-knows-where – working 12 on, 12 off shifts. Flying from the stultification of the old world’s expectations for them. Fully cognizant of the opportunity they’d earned, gratefully busting their butts. Their kids would go to state schools, get good jobs, contribute to society. Their grand kids would go to Harvard, maybe. Maybe Columbia.
Meanwhile I knew young people of enormous privilege who frittered it all way on drugs and booze. With parents who were congressmen, federal judges, captains of industry. People with every advantage of race and class. People who’d squandered it all.
This is what keeps us strong, the people who come here from far away, people believing that we are who we say that we are.
And then you see something like this:
A Korean immigrant whose family was killed when an F-18 crashed into his house returned home to survey the rubble and said he doesn’t blame the military pilot who survived the accident.
Dong Yun Yoon, 37, lost his wife, two baby daughters and mother-in-law after a Marine Corps fighter plane clipped a tree and plummeted into houses about two miles from base. The pilot safely ejected and was rescued hanging by his parachute from a tree.
“I pray for him not to suffer for this action,” Yoon said at a news conference, according to The Los Angeles Times. “I know he’s one of our treasures for our country.”
And I think about what the “average” native born citizen might have said. Who he might have promised to sue. And it’s not just Dong Yun Yoon. It’s also people like Sgt. Joseph Menusa, and Dawid Pietrek, and Rafael Peralta.
And then I wonder: Do we deserve these people? Honestly, ask yourself. Do we deserve them still?
Some of those who were born here seem to see the rights and privileges of our Republic as a birthright.
Me?
I see them as an obligation.
We might not deserve them, but I’m dang glad they chose to come to this country and in the case of the three young soldiers, I am humbled by their loyalty to this country.
This country is better off because all four men graced our shores.
Trying to pass that exact sentiment along to my kids.
Brian
No doubt Mr. Yoon’s in-box is jammed with lawyers prompting him to take legal action. His outlook is truly amazing especially when contrasted against the average attitude displayed by some of our own. It sure would be nice if we could deport Americans who really don’t want to be here anyway.
Of course the problem is that for every immigrant such as this one-you get three who would be more than happy to sue the government.
The issue has never really been about immigration-it has been about assimilating into an American culture. America can accept all the legal immigrants that can come- so long as they assimilate into what is essentially an Anglo Saxon culture.
The folks listed above did-but they are more the exception than the rule these days, aren’t they?
Besides-give it time. Some lawyer will come around and start the law suits going.
Actually, I’m with Lex. I think there are more of these hard-working types, who love the U.S., than we acknowledge. But they deserve us, not the other way around. Folks have always paid their dues to the melting pot, and we’ll always have airheads of privilege who’ll piss it all away.
I can’t say enough in praise of that impressive man.
On the other hand, certain politicians can’t resist the opportunity to grandstand…
This one is nice, too.
*self-edits*
Dang. I wish all possible good things and maximum condolences to Mr. Yoon. I have no idea what else to think, or say, about this.
Oh, I just read what Skippy wrote. Yup, I too like to beat people about the head and shoulders with my copy of “Albion’s Seed”, but I don’t think that this is the time to do that. It’s a good big thick book. You can whack ‘em with it at any time, and they’ll stagger.
Just not at this time, mmmkay?
I would fully expect Mr. Yoon to initiate some action against the government. After all, the government has deprived him of his home, and his family their lives. Some compensation is warranted. And I strongly suspect their first offer will not plumb the depths of generosity.
Having said that, he has shown no rancor to the young aviator behind this tragedy. He’s giving the man the benefit of the doubt that he did every reasonable thing to avoid the incident. That’s a pretty big leap of faith to make. I note that Mr. Yoon is a member of a Methodist Church. I hope and pray his congregation will continue to support him in this time of grief and pain.
There is a rule that Poli Sci types call “The Iron Law of Oligarchy” which is another way of codifying the Italian Pareto’s 80/20 rule that says in any organization only a select few (the 20% according to Pareto) will actually do the majority of the heavy lifting. It’s pretty been that way in regards the defense of this country also as far as I can tell. I
know that I personally was glad to see friends and fraternity brothers miss Vietnam with teaching, police and fire deferments, etc., because I figured that there were enough like me who WANTED to go that the others shouldn’t have to unless things got to the deep kimchi stage–which things were never in any danger of doing.
The only trick is to somehow ensure that there will be enough of us in the future to answer the call……….
For starters, we have to take back the secondary educational system from the ideologues led by the instructional “reform” movement led by William Ayers. I don’t think most who post here realize how far reaching and pervasive his influence over curriculum and instruction methods at the secondary level has become. Needless to say patriotism, knowledge about this country’s history and love of country is NOT at the top of the schoolhouse agenda these days…..
PS: I’m surprised at the actions of Duncan Hunter jumping the gun given his background. I thought better of him than that……
The man is honorable and a great man for his words and actions. It’s still a shame he had to suffer so much for it…I pray we may have more people like him now and for the future to come. May his family members’ souls rest in peace, and may he find peace.
My great-grandmother used to tell me that when you’ve lived in hell, everywhere else is as heaven. I’ve often wondered if that’s not what some of these immigrants think, and rather than sue they are just thankful for what they have?
She certainly did. I sometimes wonder if she meant Norway, the Dust Bowl, or Minneapolis when referring to hell.
– Max
FYI, we can send cards/letters/notes to Mr. Yoon through his church. Here’s the address:
Dong Yun Yoon
c/o Rev. Kevin Lee
Korean United Methodist Church
3520 Mount Acadia Blvd
San Diego, CA 92111
Lex and friends … I don’t know how tall Mr. Yoon is, but as you all point out, he stands as a giant in this disaster. He has assimilated into our American society, and we are all the better for it.
There was a book published back in the 50s by Leonard Ross, entitled “The Education of Hyman Kaplan” which is both delightful to read and vividly depicts the ways immigrants assimilated into our society back in the first half of the 20th century. Kaplan came through our immigration gate at Ellis Island and immediately set about joining us, the citizens of the U.S., as quickly as possible. He took night classes in English and American history and joined with his fellow students in immersing himself in learning our ways. The book is a classic of sorts, not very long, but infinitely worth reading for what it reflects about our society as it was in those days. I just checked Amazon and it’s still in print, in paperback no less, at a modest cost.
It would make a good Christmas treat for yourself and your family. Mr. Yoon is a true exemplar of the classic emigre to our great country. He and Hyman would be comfortable together.
Marianne
I can’t attribute his forgiveness to his immigrant background. Nor could I consider any native-born in the same way. I attribute this solely to Mr. Yoon being a good person. Plain and simple, there are plenty more like him around here, as well as abroad. There are plenty of of the “other” type as well, and they come from all over the world, we havn’t quite cornered that market. Nope, in my mind, Don Yung Yoon comes from good stock, capable of tremendous grace in the face of tragedy. That’s how I see it.
Cheers to all the comments above. If such a tragedy ever befalls me, I can only hope I could respond with the same grace.
Great blog.
Great post, sir.
Don Yung Yoon comes from good stock, capable of tremendous grace in the face of tragedy.
He obviously practices what he preaches. That was his 15-month-old daughter’s name–Grace.
Lee, I would agree, to a point. I do find that legal immigrants (which is not to generalize and impugn all illegal immigrants) take far less of the freedoms and opportunities this country offers for granted than its natural born citizens.
My maternal grandparents were like the man in the book mentioned by Marianne. They came here from Sweden thru Ellis Island – learned English as fast as they could, working hard to make a new life. Same with both sets of my husband’s grandparents. It instills a work ethic into a family that is hard to get rid of – thank god.
I see what Lex mentions all the time here – people born to enormous privilege and circumstance who fritter it away all the while complaining about whatever is the rant-du-jour.
My heart and prayers go out to Mr. Yoon. A man of depth and extraordinary insight into the human condition. I hope at some point, months from now, someone follows up with him and lets the world know how he is.
Deepest condolences to Mr. Yoon.
Really highlights the difference between the typical American view of an entitlement culture and many (but not all) immigrant’s view of an opportunity culture.
Being a Taoist probably helps, too. Good philosophy, that.
Maybe Mr. Yoon can imagine what the pilot has to live with, no matter how hard he tried to avoid hitting a residential area.
Thanks for posting the address, Heather. I think I’ll send him a card.
Don Yoon is a better American than many that are actually born here.
I’ll continue to pray for him (and what’s left of his family) and for the Marine pilot. I’ll be sending Don a card, also.
While the mainline denominations are in deep trouble, their foreign branches are a much different case. Mr. Yoon shows the characteristics of a true Christian. I would welcome more like him.
The illegal variety, with no intention of assimilation (e.g. the La Raza types) we can do without. They start as criminals and many add to the record, alas. We supposedly believe in Lex Rex, but our government often doesn’t show it, alas.
“Lex Rex” – I like it.
Kris, I don’t disagree with your comments, but, consider this: I have an uncle whom transported hisself across our southern border at the tender age of 15 using his dead older brothers birth certificate to gain access. He was immediately drafted into the Marines and spent a year in Korea. Did his time, came back, built a business in Los Angeles, and raised a family wich includes a LAPD Detective. Now, I’d say he’s an exception to the norm, but, maybe not. Could be he’s exactly what I was implying in my post above, that a persons moral values and virtues have absolutely nothing to do with where you came from, your status as a citizen, or your class in life. Either you’re good, or you’re not.
Lex Rex. Never hurts to stroke to ego of the boss.
Of course, it is Latin for “Law is King.”
My eyes are wet for that guy and family.
Now, please, nobody hit me or anything, but yes it could be worse, and was in fact worse on one occasion.
Anybody remember when that private citizen in a civilly registered F-86 smacked it into a Farrell’s ice cream parlor in some town in SoCal? He wiped out most of three generations of one particular family. Oh, and he lived. Stayed with the jet, right into the mall. North American built tough airplanes.
I wonder where he is now, what he’s doing, has he changed his name etc.
And yes, that caused a change in the FARs
Umm, actually, it was in Sacramento, in ’72.
Here’s a site with the icky details:http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/Sabrejet_crash_site.htm
Hope that link works.
Lee, you remind me of one of my in-laws. Born in Germany back in the early 1930′s, by the time the Russian Hordes were at the gates he was in the Hitler Youth, slowly backtracking towards Berlin and hoping to find an allied soldier to surrender to.
Once Berlin fell, he applied and was rewarded with a visa to come to America. Joined the Army, so he’d have a job while he learned the language. Was sent to Korea.
Old age finally caught up, he passed away in the VA hospital. To the end it was his delight to respond to questions of “have I seen you before?” with “Depends, which side were you on in which year?”
Actually thought it a grand adventure, fighting Russians and then coming to America and building a business from what skills he had.
Wish we had more like him.
– Max