Entry 5

What concepts in the Sawi culture intrigued / reviled / saddened / angered / surprised you?
What reflections and connections can you make with this novel?

After reading The Peace Child, I learned that changes constantly occur and societies never stop evolving, even in the deepest location where people don’t even notice. Christianity was an unexpected factor in the realm of the Sawis where “fattening friendships” was occasionally practiced and ornaments represented their ranks. These natives in New Guinea considered head-hunting and treachery to be well acknowledged, resulting constant fear in their lives. I wasn’t able to stop thinking about this particular question while I was reading the book, “Wouldn’t they be scared of the fact that they themselves could be eaten or could be betrayed?” I’m sure at least one person from the Sawis has thought of this question; however, suppressing this idea from the culture seemed to be impossible. The preparation that was portrayed right before the stabbing seemed so calculated and well planned to the extent where it gave me a chill. The men were so deft in hiding their weapons and giving eye gestures, while the women and children were excited to see such demonstration.

I thought the idea of treachery existed from the beginning of this tribe, but it wasn’t. After having a discussion with my fellow classmates and Mrs. McAllister, I’ve discovered that the famine in the past has created this tradition for survival. It was exactly the same how Koreans began to eat dogs, when they didn’t have anything to eat under continuous foreign invasions and wars. It was a turning point of the cultures that had led everyone to fear and had brought the idea of the Peace Child, gefam ason, or waness. Then, another change was introduced to the Sawis: love and the outside world. The Sawis embraced Christianity and the new version of Peace Child, when Don Richardson came into the picture. The people accepted Christ as their everlasting Peace Child and exhibited significant changes among the tribes. The Richardsons brought different tools for the natives to use and medications to alleviate diseases that troubled many lives in the area. New buildings settled as strong shelters to the Sawis, physically and spiritually. Moreover, they developed strong faith that God would be their eternal shelter and protector.

Entry 4

What does God expect us to do for other cultures and faiths?

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:18

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Matthew 22:37-40

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Matthew 25:35-40



The notion of loving our neighbors is numerously addressed in the Bible both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. We, as Christians and humans, don’t have the right to see the primitive cultures in a different view, because everyone is the same in God’s eyes. Although many people do acknowledge this idea, we can’t deny that it is our innate nature where judging cannot be eradicated. Cannibalism is certainly an unfamiliar word to us, where it only comes out in historical fiction novels or movies. Also, it is quite comprehensive why people may want repel themselves from this gruesome tradition. However, just because they are different from us, we shouldn’t underestimate them, treat them as animals, nor attempt to train them to be “human-like” by invading their boundaries. We can't choose how we feel, but we can choose what we do about it. We should set our minds parallel to the minds of the foreign and challenge ourselves to scrutinize their lifestyles and characters even if it is different from our convictions. We should approach them with love, as Don Richardson has, as neighbors, and invite them or expect them to invite us in to their “world”. That is the way we can serve God at the same time by loving our brothers and sisters, who are in a serious predicament where life is easily triggered and where such profane act is continued. It’s morally wrong and biblically violated to destroy God’s creation with knives, blades, fire, and treachery. We have to learn how to love them, and they have to learn how to love each other. That is definitely what God wants and commands us to demonstrate.

blog #3

What should we do when we are confronted with other cultures?
When it comes to foreign cultures, my curiosity leads me to quite of an adventure to seek unless it’s perilous, although it’s really rare. I’m pretty tolerant of what approaches me. Maybe it’s because my beliefs are fragile and not that sturdy on a solid foundation. But I don’t blame my liberalism on anything, but rather take it as a result of my over-protected and limited experience, which inspires me to crave for something more than norm. Also, growing up in a multicultural environment maybe is one of the factors that made me reluctant to accept the fact that I’m stuck in one category and to feel that I’m obliged not to allow “the extraneousness” to permeate in me just because it’s unfamiliar.
However, the country that I’m living in presently and the culture that I claim to be in are still hesitant to accept the foreign, although it has its foot into the international realm for several decades. There are about 1,100,000 foreigners living in this country, but Koreans, who have not yet encountered or lived in a same lifestyle as ours (third cultured or international), are still astonished to see people with blue eyes and clear bone structures walking down the street. However, it is quite comprehensible if we look into its history where it has been so isolated to other countries, including close neighbors, due to the continuous foreign invasions. Korea hadn’t been independent for a long period until 1945 when Japan surrendered after the Second World War. Not only that, western countries weren’t even aware of the existence of Korea other than China or Japan. Maybe even till now. Foreigners were viewed cautiously and considered outsiders because Koreans didn’t have many opportunities to see a tall, robust physique, white soldiers interacting with them.
Although different countries’ participation during the Korean War alleviated the tension, the people were still unable to approach to the “international” because they were afraid if the statement “history repeats itself” were to come back at them. Koreans consider themselves as ONE. “We are ONE nation sharing the blood of the Chosun Dynasty”. That’s why it’s very common to see overseas Korean students bonding with another, but with few foreigners. I remember my German friend telling me, “Yah… what is up with you guys? It really bothers me when they are really awkward with other students and only get along among themselves.”
In a perspective of a person who has lived in the states for seven years and nine years in Korea, it is quite perplexing to see the reactions of people around me whenever they see foreigners: criticizing the third culture for not being patriotic, attempting to constantly remind themselves that they are better than the west to relieve the pressure of the competition, and brain washing the upcoming generation that they should acquire more academic reputation so they wouldn’t be underestimated. I personally don’t believe that this is the best demonstration of defense mechanism to intentionally exhibit their values.

Why can’t we just be a one big happy family? What am I talking about….

http://www.quartermaster.army.mil/OQMG/professional_bulletin/2003/Spring03/Images/History-Page16c-Korean%20War%20-%20Using%20A-Frame.jpg

Entry #2

What should the society do for “uncivilized cultures” like the Sawi?

Frankly, it’s really none of our business to interrupt the circle of life of a group, where traditions were kept over a long period. Both sides of the opposite world are reluctant towards change and aren’t expecting those changes any time soon. What can we do to pluck out a rock stuck on the side of a stream? Who are we to categorize a human being “uncivilized” besides their skin colors? What is the definition of “uncivilized” and what can we, as “civilized people”, do for them to be like us? Also, it isn’t our responsibility to neither take care of them nor support them to be advanced, providing as much education. Statements may seem a bit cynical, but really what I’m exhibiting is a characteristic of pragmatism. When it is so clear that there are enough people suffering from anarchies in Africa or other parts of the world, why should we feel obligated to search for the uncivilized to help them, when we are in such major predicaments? What’s the point of helping the uncivilized when we aren’t civilized enough? What is the difference between slaughtering human flesh and pointing a gun to an innocent child? This entry would just be seen as a wall of rhetorical questionnaires, but these are the shimmers that were compelled as I was pondering about the issue.

What should the society do for “uncivilized culture” like the Sawi, in order for to acknowledge our own “uncivilized culture”?
This would be a better question for me to answer to the expected response.

The Peace Child is more than a simple collection of non-fiction events for it urges the readers to look behind their backs, relating to the world we live where we consider as civil. I was judging the book by its cover literally considering the culture of Sawi as uneducated and limited. But I realized the stupidity in myself where I was being immature not capable of comprehending the larger perspectives that I am ought to acquire. Uneducated person educating another uneducated person. How well would it work?

My culture #1

What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view? Explain the impact of these factors

It is just utterly amazing to see my parents being such faithful Christians despite their rigid family backgrounds. My mother’s side of the family is composed of non believers and my father’s side of the family is composed of devoted Buddhists. One thing both families have in common is: they are extremely conservative and depend on the traditions that were handed over for several generations. Etiquettes and manners were strictly demonstrated such as kneeling in front of the elders, cooking during the holidays, holding the spoon after the elders held their spoons first, and using appropriate word choices. Although these were some of the barriers that impeded my parents from encountering Jesus earlier, they have found truth amidst of all the disadvantages. They were the black pearls among the whites, which brought them several difficulties because of the clashes between their traditions and their religion; however, now because of the experiences they have gone through, they were able to give me more opportunities to explore in both perspectives. I wouldn’t call myself a Christian just because my parents are, but because of my understanding of limited beliefs and freedom. If my parents were just as same as other family members, I would probably be forced to worship the pictures of my dead ancestors on the table. Religion is more than God worshipping, but it is a liberty that is given to every human being to depend on. Imagining the people who weren’t able to escape their traditions of their cultures saddens me because the limited choices they have in front of them. I hope my relatives would open up and acknowledge the fact that religion is a form of freedom, not a revolution opposing to the conventions nor demonstrating disrespect towards them.

Luke 9:58-60 ‘He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Families are important. Yes, we know that. We clearly understand, because that was how my parents and I were taught. However, when it came to the choices where God was presented as an option, we had to stand up for our conviction even though it sent us to the point where we couldn’t go back or make reconciliations between our loved ones.