English 100 Spring 2019 Blogs

Feb 5, 2019

Page 84

Can’t help to notice the descriptions of landscaping of North Korea and the beautiful healing natural of the country.

“The road crossed over a small stream with sandy banks and turned sharply to the left, where it open up onto the Onpho hot springs resort, known as the only place on Korea where the alkaline Water gushed out from the sand, and a temperatures of 130 degrees ( Fahrenheit) they were reputed to cure ills from indigestion to infertility.  

Think About It! Chapter 1 Page 12

The title, “Nothing to Envy,” are the words of North Koreans, it is the children’s songs, it the message from their leaders, it is on their billboards, and it is a message coming from their own language, culture, and identity. Barbara Demick took this “link” of connection from the North Korean culture and continue to make profit off of it. This is why Demick is a threat to their culture. Not only did she take these words, but she also cut the message short. The North Korean message is suppose to be, “ We have nothing to envy in this world.” This makes the meaning of this message different to their own culture and their daily lives. This situation is similar to the Hawaiian culture. As the Hawaiian Motto, “Ua Mau Ke Ea ‘O Ka ‘Aina I Ka Pono,” which means, “The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness.”  These are the words of our own culture and leaders, our keiki’s songs, and is written upon our land. These words are sealed in our hearts and it is already established. Barbra is the threat to their culture this is the economic crime . I am excepting that a royalties of the profit is given back to the North Korean hospital to have food and antibiotics to feed and treat their patients.

Dr. Kim’s is a loyal workaholic who ultimately becomes immensely harmed by the North Korean Regime in the following ways; financially, personally and emotionally. Dr. Kim’s monthly salary was “186 won”, which is the equivalent to about “$80” American dollars. Once North Korea’s economy crashed, “her salary disappeared” entirely. She had been at the top of her classes, she worked selflessly and only cared to serve her patients and her country. However, her blind loyalty came at a huge price, because in the end she lost not only her heart, her power to heal and her father, but ultimately herself.

Beyond the walls of North Korea, most people would perceive the death of North Korea’s dictator and oppressor Kim Il Sung as a joyous moment full with freedom. Out with the bad, this would be a clean slate and a glimpse of hope, right? However, it was just the opposite. People were devastated, ripping their shirts, starving themselves, even jumping off buildings. In their view, they had not lost their ruler but their god. His death revealed how effectively he brainwashed his people into fall in love with him. For those who didn’t cry, they were forced to make themselves tear up or else they could be singled out. As one girl said, “Mom said if I don’t cry I’m a bad person.” The people wept at the loss of their supreme leader, but Oak-hee cried for her loss of hope. Upon discovering that their leader was to be superceded by his son (who was said to be even worse than his father), Oak-hee saw her second chance of new life crash before her eyes. She understood. The demise of a life worth living weighted far greater than that of any one person, a pure reason to cry.

Children have minds that are easily influenced, so what they learn in school at an early age is very important. In North Korea, teachers are told to incorporate information to “revere leadership and hate the enemy” into the lessons they give to the children in all of their subjects (math, science, reading, music, art, etc).

"One of the songs taught in music class was "Shoot the Yankee Bastards":

Our enemies are the American bastards
Who are trying to take over our beautiful fatherland.
With guns that I make with my own hands
I will shoot them. BANG. BANG. BANG."

(Nothing to Envy, Pg. 121)

These young children’s minds are being filled with such negative thoughts and stories about their “enemies” in their everyday school life.

I think that North Koreans that share the similarities as Dr. Kim, who is motivated and passionate, may be threatened because surveillance might start to notice their knowledge in doing good, and is possible to fall out of North Korea’s “line” of seriousness. You know? Like say for instance, Dr. Kim gets tired of the pain she feels with the children dying from starvation, and she tries to make a big difference within her hospital or the nation itself by, I don’t know.. SAYING something. Complaining of the issues that are being caused and she gets punished for it. Others like her, begin to notice shit wrong with North Korean policies, and it makes them sick. And who knows? They might have the same mentality as Dr. Kim, and would want to stand up for what’s right as well. Especially now that the nation is falling completely apart, she/they now have to fight for their lives as well.

To whom may North Korea’s leaders pose the greatest threat? As of my personal aspects, I believe that leaders pose the greatest threat to the Korean citizens that are easily brainwashed. I feel this way simply because they don’t know what’s better for them. In Barbara’s book, it is obvious they don’t know how great and beautiful life can be. They believe lies, such as that their leader is a “God”. From when they are children, they are trained and taught to be robot-like humans. It’s like the leaders have total control over their complete mindset. Can’t think for themselves.

After reading “Nothing to Envy” I think the most threatened person in the book by North Korean leaders is Dr. Kim. I say this because her family is of high ranking in North Korea and she’s highly respected. Even though she seems well off she has seen so many people die like her father, child and other children due to starvation and illnesses. She is now faced with the toughest decision of her life leaving everything she worked so hard for behind and escaping North Korea or staying and continuously feeling helpless and scared for the rest of her life.

In North Korea, all eyes are constantly searching for anyone who may think differently. The people of North Korea are taught from an early age to always be on the look out for anyone who shows signs of being against the regime. If you say one wrong word or joke, or even make one wrong facial expression without realizing it, you are immediately vulnerable to being caught, turned in, and sent to a prison camp. The independent thinkers in North Korea are the most harmed especially because everyone around them, even their neighbors and close friends are looking for them.

Those certain to receive the most harmful impact from the leaders of
Northern Korea are the ones who have yet to be been born…..

The Children of Northern Koreas future, the innocent, these yet to-be bright
 beings of light, full of love and potential. Anyone currently alive, subject
to the miss-guided fear based, actions of North Koreas Leaders. already suffer
needlessly.

Any given moment in the space time continuum, the human species can completely
change direction with a simple choice/ action. N-Koreas Unborn beings, of love-light,  will have that potential ripped form the souls before they ever have a
chance.