Words of Faith / 이한중

May 7, 2017, Sunday

On the eve of presidential election in my fatherland

Status of South Korea

In face of nuclear threats from the North,

Steady, insidious, unrelenting economic pressure by China,

Confrontation, unpredictable signals, tweets and bold statements by Trump,

The rising tension and threat of war

Yet look at the people of South Korea

Full of vitality and energy

Engaging in the most lively discussions of politics everywhere 

Participating fully in the process of democracy in every corner of the country

Enjoying to the maximum what the true freedom brings to them

O, how proud this observer, one of Korean-Americans, is of

Our fellow country men and women back in his fatherland.

In my life span of 77 years I have never seen

Any country on earth where every member of the society is

So focused, so absorbed, so opinionated, so fully, in the democratic process.

You see that, hear that, and feel that around the clock, 

Day in day out, week after week and month after month.

Do you see what I see

Korea is growing by leaps and bounds

Yesterday seems like a long time ago

Yesteryear seems like a light year ago

Surely Korean democracy has come a long way

Yet it started only decades ago when I was young.

O, do I have faith in my fellow country men and women back home?

O, do I believe in their collected wisdom in electing their leader?

O, do I have such a strong faith in their collected brains

In face of all those external adversities.

I can hear the clear voice from above

My heart feels the vibration of the affirmative roar from above

"Your people are going to be OK

Your country is going to be safe

Your fatherland will continue to prosper

The peace of your Land of Morning Calm will be forever."