CONTAINING THE MIGRANTS

One of the themes of Jumong, the 81-episode Korean drama I have become addicted to, set several decades B.C.E., about the development of a major kingdom in Korea, has to do with the "migrants," mostly Koreans who have no home to call their own who are enslaved by the evil Han. Jumong's quest is to save them and establish a free Korean state.

Some things don't change. Beijing is establishing "gated communities" for its huge population of migrants, rural workers (not necessarily all Han Chinese) who have come to the cities to work. Where's Jumong when we need him? Freeing the slaves, no matter what nationality or ethnicity, is just an ongoing struggle.