North Korea and its troubles are often the last thing we want to be focused on right now. The United States is struggling to climb out of a financial crisis, the world is a scary looking place as other countries are beginning to step up and call out the U.S. government. Yet North Korea is another thorn in the giant's big toe.
Never far from the face of the media, North Korea continues to threaten South Korea and the United States alike, pushing back against demands and any perceived threat displays from the two countries. They have locked up their own people under guns and policies that are isolationist and militant in fashion. Kim Jong Un has been quick to make threats and displays with the eye of the world on him. We decry his actions as a dictator to be selfish and evil.
But then, maybe he's getting it right.
Recent public sightings of the Korean leader's wife have changed the mind of the media as they continue to try and find out more about her, sparking rumors and speculation on what she is like and where she came from.
George Orwell's 1984 is a consistently forgotten novel talking about a dystopian society. Much like Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, the story is dark, dry and dismal. The government controls the world that the characters live in, but they are aware of the control. One of the important illustrations of these novels is the perception of the people towards the ruling body. This is something that seems to be far more important to the people of the United States now.
North Koreans are consistently aware of the control of their government. There is no false sense of security, so there is nothing to be "worried" about as long as they follow their rules and continue to work their jobs. Yes, there are people in poverty there, people that cannot support themselves. This is an issue everywhere, not just in southern Asia.
People in the U.S. have been focused now on the public spying that has been going on that NOBODY KNEW ABOUT. Anger over that as well as the failure of the new health care site has skewed public opinion of the Obama administration as well as the American government. People are angry and fearful for their jobs, their health, and whether or not they are being watched.
In North Korea, Kim Jong Un is beginning to display a fatherly/human side, where the people will be able to identify with him as the country moves forward. The people KNOW they are being watched. They KNOW the government is shaping their lives, and they do not rise up against it, instead focusing on improving what they can in their stations.
This isn't the freedom we want as Americans. This isn't the kind of government we believe in for all humans. So may I point out a few things over the history of our species' rule of this planet:
1. A Jewish man tried to revamp Judaism, proclaimed peace, was killed, and unintentionally started a new religion. That religion, claiming peace, would kill millions of people for thousands of years.
2. At the height of the Roman Empire, policies and procedures were literally bankrupting the people, causing them to no longer be able to maintain their armies. Barbarian hordes invaded this powerful first world nation and destroyed sciences that plunged the world back into dark ages.
3. Using an economical argument, such as tax on tea, 13 colonies united to fight against a sovereign nation for which they no longer wanted to be part of. Their belief was that they were no longer being treated as equal to their cousins and family members that lived in the homeland. Less than a hundred years later. During an economic war, the North declared all slaves free. In a country that sought to cast off their dependence on England for similar "reasons." Those "freed slaves" were continuously discriminated against for another hundred years and continue today.
4. More people frequent horror movies and action movies than documentaries, love stories, and comedies. This points towards the attraction of the human psyche towards excitement, aggression, and death.
5. The amount of money poured into various charities around the United States would be enough to employ the homeless if it was being channeled through businesses. It would not however be enough to aid their health.
What a messed up crazy world we live in. So far the North Koreans have screamed bloody murder at the sightings of warships and combat air craft off of their coast. They have threatened to create nuclear facilities. They have stopped and started their factories and their warehouses.
They haven't killed anyone that we know of. In fact, with the media trying to "call their bluff" North Korea isn't even getting the headlines they were generating before. People are more interested in George Clooney's new girlfriend.
Kim Jong Un hasn't been assassinated. Looks like he's becoming a beloved figure in his country, the son of a "god" and becoming a "god" himself. His wife gives him a human face and his people are not necessarily thriving, but they're not dying either.
"The innocent are blind to their leaders as they do evil things in the name of good, and every side thinks they're right" -unknown
