We were hanging out at the beach last night wishing we had Christmas behind us when the news came across that The Dear Leader had kicked it. Having had quite a bit to drink the resulting discussion was somewhat animated. The consensus was that it was primarily an Asian issue, although the advocates of American involvement put up a spirited argument and did score some points. The coverage was fascinating although a bit repetitious, as coverage of things like this tend to be. Kim was a rare dictator. A human monster but one with genuine if somewhat pathetic comic value. Unintended of course. The scene of the newscaster in black traditional dress announcing the passing was classic. None of us speak Korean but it was helpfully translated. It really didn't need to be though. Kim had been unwell for a while but I don't think anyone had expected him to depart as soon as he did. My view, not widely shared, is that he had a little help. I think that rather than have him become increasingly enfeebled and perhaps even more capricious than he already was the movers in the military along with his brother-in-law and a few others in the clique decided that in the interest of stability it was time to pull the plug and install his easily controllable little butterball of a youngest son in his place. I do not think there is any particular danger here although there will almost certainly be a some muscle flexing on the part of the North in an attempt to discourage anyone from starting anything. We have to take it for what it is. Think of a cornered small animal. They are weak little country with a fearful and paranoid leadership and they attribute the worst motives to us. This is in part because they kind of believe it and mainly because they need the external threat. What the future will bring, I have no idea. But I don't think though that we can place much hope in the fact that the Boy Wonder was educated for a time In Switzerland. We are always making the mistake of thinking that non-Westerners who are educated on this side of the cultural fence have come to love us and accept our superior ways. The above is totally opinion and is not based on anything in particular.
I particularly am amused by all the myths and beliefs North Koreans have of their "dearly Departed Leader"... that his birth was foretold by a swallow and heralded by a double-rainbow and new stars in the heavens, that he spoke within days of his birth, that he walked within weeks of his birth, that one thousand birds (I forget what kind) wanted to bring him to Heaven or whatever after his death but his people's love for him kept him Earth-bound, etc. I find it necessary to point out how those beliefs can be applied to my current arguments about communism (ducks as stu throws his cell phone at my head, picks-up the phone, and after answering a call) ... here's you phone Stu, but why is there a $1305 charge to "Sugah-daddy" from someone called "Fluffin'-Bunny"? ...is that you? I thought your name was Stewart or Joe or something... and I'll refrain from guessing why you owe the money. Oh, and she sounded pissed. Anyway, my point is that the beliefs about the "Dear Leader" by the people of North Korea are a good example on how easy it is to brain-wash people. Repeat the lie often enough, and restrict accurate information, and that's what happens.
Well they've had the vast majority of these people from birth. But people will believe the most incredible things. Look at Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry and Mitt Romney, and Barack Obama. And how much was believed and how much was politically enforced is always an open question. Some of those people are crying because they are genuinely distraught, Other are crying for their own protection.
I think the next ruler of North Korea should be lil kim.When she wears clothes they tend to be red so she should fit in with the name and all.
I was an American in the soviet union when it was starting to end. The people were in shock. Especially the males who were also very angry. They were told how they had the best standard of living in the world. Then the curtain was opened and early MTV as well as other programing started to be allowed in from Finland. They were shocked.
It was. Putin is actually doing great things in Russia. Yes he can be brutal but he should be looked as a transition dictator. Before him and after the collaspe of the Soviet Union people were starving to death and young were selling themselves left and right just to survive. The nation was lost, had a major brain drain with the most intellegent leaving for opportunity elsewhere and there was no sense of direction. They still have a problem with the prositution but it is not as bad as it was and they having a big problem with the muslims selling drugs and you have to be careful who you speak out against. But now. The middle class is starting to grow and people are getting used to owning things. It will take awhile but democracy is slowly developing and yes Putin is a very dangerous man but he actually saved Russia.
