Well told, as always. Total respect for you and the local journalists who were doing it everyday. I remember one who was the main union rep. with whom I had to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. While we were talking he showed me the burn marks on his legs from his latest confrontation - presumably from an excess of pepper spray but may have been a beating. What a tough but honorable character he was...I only whiffed the gas from a distance but it was horrible. The armed presence in the city and the scary night time road blocks stay with me.
interesting, Patrick. Until I saw your comment, I had forgotten about South Korea and unions. I'm fairly pro-union, but those guys could be pretty difficult to deal with. Fortunately, I didn't need to- I just did the fun stuff.
All I have to say is I LOVE your stories. Please keep them coming, and if they're like this one, I'll read them twice. I was so glad to hear that "Tokje tado!" worked, and I plan to remember it, just in case. Bravo, Bob.
Great testament to the effectiveness of civilian protest movements even in the face of chemical weapons deployment by tyranny. Thank you. Cheers, Daniel
I'm sorry you missed out on the fun, John. Still, I'll bet during your time in Asia you flew on a plane where someone had a durian, and it's not too different.
“I did not want to deal with this, so I just let my hair grow long. On the other hand, another visiting colleague was so delighted by this opportunity that he would ask for his living allowance in cash, each day. He was the best-groomed guy in the bureau.”
The worst thing about the gas masks was that you often couldn't quite recognize certain of your fellow journalists in time to avoid them. I'm looking at YOU, Bob!
Doug and I were in Chicago during the Democrat convention in 1968. We went to a friend’s wedding but stopped to visit a favorite restaurant near Grant Park. We did look like hippies, got swept up in a crowd and gassed.
As always, very well written on very difficult subject matter.
I broke my leg and artificial knee two weeks ago and was in the hospital and now rehab so I look forward to your posts even more as a diversion from a personal bad situation. Thank you.
Well told, as always. Total respect for you and the local journalists who were doing it everyday. I remember one who was the main union rep. with whom I had to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. While we were talking he showed me the burn marks on his legs from his latest confrontation - presumably from an excess of pepper spray but may have been a beating. What a tough but honorable character he was...I only whiffed the gas from a distance but it was horrible. The armed presence in the city and the scary night time road blocks stay with me.
interesting, Patrick. Until I saw your comment, I had forgotten about South Korea and unions. I'm fairly pro-union, but those guys could be pretty difficult to deal with. Fortunately, I didn't need to- I just did the fun stuff.
Thanks to Marty and yourself for sharing!
That was great! What an experience. This is what I love about your stories, I wasn’t there, but it feels like I was.
All I have to say is I LOVE your stories. Please keep them coming, and if they're like this one, I'll read them twice. I was so glad to hear that "Tokje tado!" worked, and I plan to remember it, just in case. Bravo, Bob.
I’m going to start looking for gas masks for us right now. Then I’m going to renew our passports.🤯
David's National Guard training will finally come in handy....
Great testament to the effectiveness of civilian protest movements even in the face of chemical weapons deployment by tyranny. Thank you. Cheers, Daniel
Excellent piece, Bob! Made me glad I never had to deal with teargas in all my time in Asia (never in Seoul).
I'm sorry you missed out on the fun, John. Still, I'll bet during your time in Asia you flew on a plane where someone had a durian, and it's not too different.
Ooo! scary stuff. I had a Mickey Mouse gas mask in WW2. ps I was very tiny then!! Donald Duck one now??
Among my favorites so far.
thank you, Deborah... Means a lot to me....
“I did not want to deal with this, so I just let my hair grow long. On the other hand, another visiting colleague was so delighted by this opportunity that he would ask for his living allowance in cash, each day. He was the best-groomed guy in the bureau.”
I miss Cooney …
Me too, but he wasn't the guy...
Well, I tried.
The worst thing about the gas masks was that you often couldn't quite recognize certain of your fellow journalists in time to avoid them. I'm looking at YOU, Bob!
come on, you could tell my cargo shorts and crocs a mile away, Maggie....
Doug and I were in Chicago during the Democrat convention in 1968. We went to a friend’s wedding but stopped to visit a favorite restaurant near Grant Park. We did look like hippies, got swept up in a crowd and gassed.
Well, I have to admit you and Doug looked quite a bit like hippies in 1968...
We really looked like art students 😊
"Down with the dictatorship." Indeed.
Which brand gas mask do you recommend?
I don't know any brands. I just used the ones they gave me. If you join the U.S. Army, they have pretty good ones...
Perhaps your unwelcome lachrymator exposure explains your consistently fiery prose?
Matadors aside…
Here’s the explanation proffered by Wikipedia, the bastion of all knowledge:
“Tear gas, also known as a lachrymatory agent or lachrymator (from Latin lacrima 'tear'), sometimes colloquially known as ‘mace’…”
My lackey matador what?
As always, very well written on very difficult subject matter.
I broke my leg and artificial knee two weeks ago and was in the hospital and now rehab so I look forward to your posts even more as a diversion from a personal bad situation. Thank you.
Yikes! Take care of yourself, Lee Ann. The Goldens need you!