I hate saying things like that because I hate tu quoque retorts, but when some problem — like opposition to interracial marriage or the children of interethnic or interracial unions — is held up as something that is especially a problem in Korea when in fact it's a fairly global phenomenon, it just makes me want to pull my hair out. Even more so when we see an anecdote about one Korean then applied to all Koreans. (If being regarded with stereotypes of Whites or other non-Koreans is a source of irritation, it's more than a tad hypocritical to then proceed to bash Koreans as a group based on individual cases, but that's a matter for another time.)
[above: In addition to running the country, Richard Milhous Nixon deejayed the White House's amateur radio station every Wednesday morning in the 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. time slot.]
At any rate, thoughts like these were going through my head when I heard our illustrious 37th president, Orange County homeboy Richard Nixon, had said on one of his infamous tapes, released yesterday, that abortion was not only justifiable but "necessary" in certain cases, like those of interracial babies:
On Jan. 22, 1973, when the Supreme Court struck down laws criminalizing abortion in Roe v. Wade, President Richard M. Nixon made no public statement. But the next day, newly released tapes reveal, he privately expressed ambivalence.Nice. He was our twice-elected president, you know. (And there go my plans to have John Wayne Orange County Airport renamed Richard Nixon International Airport.)
Nixon worried that greater access to abortions would foster “permissiveness,” and said that “it breaks the family.” But he also saw a need for abortion in some cases — like interracial pregnancies, he said.
“There are times when an abortion is necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white,” he told an aide, before adding, “Or a rape.”
Sure, sure, none of that compares with the dirty looks one gets when some blond guy dates a Korean. That's super ultra racism! Nixon was just being a Tricky Dick and we all know that.
Besides, if you really want to see racism among the Korean elite, take a look at former ROK President Rhee Syngman. That guy was so opposed to interracial babies that he and his Austrian wife refused to have children at all! Bigoted monkey fu¢ker.
I would like to read more than just that small excerpt. Perhaps, it was taken out of context. He might have meant black and white couples having children out of wedlock.
ReplyDeleteI made a pilgrimage to Nixon's home in Yorba Linda. It is a facinating museum to visit. They even let you walk through his house.
Too bad Watergate happened and too bad it was found out. Other presidents have done far worse and did not get caught. (remember the Maine).
If Watergate had never happened, Nixon would have gone down as one of our greatest presidents. But what do you expect from a guy named Dick.
There is a scene in the movie "Frost Nixon" which alludes to Nixon's anti-miscegenation attitude. Which is hardly surprising for that era. Even the mathematician John Nash was reportedly anti-miscegenation even though he was gay.
ReplyDeletenb, follow the links in the article. It may be difficult to Wade through, but I believe your context is right there.
ReplyDeleteI have also visited the Nixon Library and Birthplace and admit I have a better impression of him for it. But meaning Black and White babies out of wedlock is hardly a mitigating factor. If the tables were turned and it had been a Korean head-of-state saying that, few would buy that as an excuse.