TRACE OF MANNAM _ 66th National Liberation Day Celebration

MANNAM

When Light meets Light there is Victory

This blog will save my memory with MANNAM.

As one of MANNAM members (MANNAMERs), I will post about my life with MANNAM.

 

 

 

 

66th National Liberation Day celebration

 

 

  In Korea, there are several national holidays; New Years day, Chuseok, the anniversary of the Independence Movement of March 1st etc. Among them, for me, the most important day is National Liberation Day of Korea!!! Why? Because that Day is my birthday :P (I'm very proud of it. Many people who are born in August 15th will agree with me haha) So, many of my friends couldn't forget my birthday. In one part, my birthday is really good because many people can remember and celebrate my birthday. However in another part, my birthday is not good because it is national holiday and I can't go school on that day. (It means I can't have happy birthday party in school ;( ) 

 

  So, today's topic is National Liberation Day of Korea!!! Especially the festival held by MANNAM celebrating 66th National Liberation Day. Below is the introduction of 66th National Liberation Day of MANNAM (from mannamintl.org )

 

   "Among many 66th National Liberation Day celebrations, a festival with the hope of world peace and remembering the true meaning of the restoration of light was held on Aug. 15th, 2011. The global festival was hosted by MANNAM Volunteer Association (hereafter MANNAM) inviting ambassadors of different countries, distinguished guests and foreigners to Yongsan War Memorial.
The 4th National Patriotic Citizen’s Festival expressed special love for its country and people as well as its special volunteer spirit. The event not only served to celebrate the independence of Korea and wishing for a quick reunification of the two Koreas, but also as a global festivity where the light of peace is shed on the war-filled world.

 

 

 

<66th National Liberation Day Celebration of MANNAM>

 Like the word “the restoration of light,” foreigners from all over the world participated in the event celebrating the returned light of Korea by singing the Korean national anthem. The event brought everyone at the scene together. Moreover, as the title of the event suggested “World Peace, Festival of the Victory of the Restoration of Light,” the event started with the commemorative ceremony of the National Liberation day. The day continued with various performances, cultural booths, Korean and other countries’ traditional booths and more.
During the closing ceremony, there was a laser show where a small beam of light enters and enlightens the entire world, expressing the true meaning of the restoration of light."

 

 

  Although I couldn't go this festival but I'm sure it must be really amazing. Why? Because It was held by MANNAM :D !

 

 

 

 

MANNAM Story _ Spinning top

MANNAM

When Light meets Light there is Victory

 

This blog will save my memory with MANNAM.

As one of MANNAM members (MANNAMERs), I will post about my life with MANNAM.

 

 

MANNAM Story – spinning top

 Yesterday, I met my close friend. Because we had some time to talk between schedules, I asked him about the peace. I asked him “what do you think the peace is?” Can you guess the answer? Right, as written in the title, he answered “Peace is like a top”. Of course I asked him why and he explained to me “Not tilting to any direction like spinning top is the peace.” That was a great answer. The top spins when the force is applied to on both sides (or every sides).

 

 Peace is the top. Regarding religion, race or country, all the problems (or conflicts) happen because the top is not spinning but tilting. Because all people pursue their own interests and do not care other’s situation, because all politicians make laws which is good only for them and do not think in other people’s place, because all people think they are the only good race and do not think other people are also equal human, because all people only accept their own values and do not understand other people’s thoughts, all imbalances are made. We have to know and recognize that we are not alone. We live in the world and there are many people in the world. All different people are sharing the world!

 

Few weeks ago, I talked with my friend (same friend) about the tough reality. We talked about the expedient. I said to him ‘I will not employ any expedient. If I follow the tendency of the society (where expedients are prevalent) and adopt expedient, I would be the one who makes other people frustrated about the harsh society.’ I don’t want to be the one who settles for the reality. But my friend said to me, “It is inevitable. Without being selfish, we can not survive. I have to protect myself from others who protect themselves”. He also thinks nobody cares anyone. The reason of existence of expedient is because it is needful. Why? What makes us to employ expedient. It is because people only think about themselves. In society where we live with others, we have to keep the balance. Not tilting to my side, let’s make the spinning top.

 

Then, is there any way to carry out the ‘spinning top’? Of course there is. MANNAM can make the world ‘spinning top’. How? MANNAM do many things like volunteering or holding the peace festival. In this case, volunteering include many things. Volunteering is not just helping others. Volunteering is sacrifice. By reducing my benefits (it can be my time, my money, or something) I can improve another people’s benefits. Push my side and up the other side. Not tilting to my side but make it balanced. I think volunteering is to make parallel. By giving my things to another who needs ‘the things’, we can be equal. It is cool. Without employing any expedient, we can survive, if all people do not employ expedient. I’m really sad when I heard my friend’s opinion. Because other people employ expedient so I do employ the same expedient? Nonsense. It is a selfish thinking. We have to try to stop the irrationality and not to follow.

 

MANNAM is a way to make ‘spinning top’ to me. Actually I can’t do anything for fixing the irrationality of the society. It is so prevailed. The only thing I can do is just not following them. It is very passive. If there is any active way, that must be participating the MANNAM. By attending many volunteering works and many festivals aimed to peace, I can make the top spinning. How about you? If you are the only one and nobody agree with you, come to MANNAM and find the reliable friends here. Thank you!