Just for your own good, you probably should know that you are a moron.

Admit the problem, that’s the first step…

Just remember that NK has 200,000 people in those camps, which is about 1% of its population. The US has about the same proportion in jail.

Wow, Sad Story has reappeared as Danielle.

So lemme get this straight….

When Michael criticizes South Korea’s chicken-shit stance on North Korean mass murders, forced starvation, execution of the religious and the megalomaniacal madness of KJI, he is guilty of the same thing, because of course…he is an American and some Americans once did something really bad to the black folks.

And, I’m sure in your detailed sociological survey of American black people you’ve noticed a growing mass movement to migrate back to Africa. Why in only a few more years America won’t have any black people left at all because they will have all returned to the African paradise from which they were all kidnapped by those evil American bastards oh so long ago.

Americans should just shut their traps about North Korean mass murders because in 1693 an American sailor bought a load of human cargo from an African tribal chieftan [oh, the irony!] near the Ivory Coast and that settled America’s moral position forever and all eternity.

Sorry, but I don’t buy it. And you’ll have to do better at changing your username in the future. Surely, you are in fact, “sad story”, the same person who once stepped in poo in New York and was forever emotionally scarred and blames all Americans for all evil in the world. Time to get a new name. We’re on to you now.

I’m disappointed in your apparent inability to distinguish between past and current human rights issues, and what has been done by others in the past and what is still being done today. I couldn’t disagree with you more when you state “I am disappointed by many of the readership’s inability to discern the difference between keeping an open mind and demanding change” There is not justification, “keeping and open mind” among them for overlooking human rights abuses. If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem. South korea is full of people who are more than happy to turn a blind eye (aka. “keep and open mind”)

No, North Korea is not justified for their acts of human cruelty and, no, South Korea is not justified for being a chicken and staying on the down-low. There is no question to the fact something must be done. Unfortunately, history has long proven real radical action usually comes at the last possible minute - this is not a justification, this is a fact.

An example:
Following the above format: No, America is not justified for slavery. How many years did it take for America to state in a legal fashion that the slave market was illegal? Then how many years did it take for blacks as individuals to become equals in the eyes of law (voting)? Then how many years did it take for blacks to become in equals in the eyes of society (segregation)? For how many DECADES were the American people silent in the face of racism and hate (aka were “morally bankrupt”)? Finally, we have arrived — America can finally say we are a land of true acceptance and diversity. FINALLY, we admit that slavery a bad idea. It took is us well into a century to really act as a nation enough to make a difference in the everyday life of the common people. We can’t expect another country what we did not and cannot do ourselves and criticize them in the same breath. It’s simply hypocritical and embarrassing to America. “Failure of communication?” I guess that’s what happened when M. Luther King Jr. was assassinated. King just wasn’t communicating with James E. Ray. And if blacks had given up then - where would America be today?

And in more general terms - what does America stand for? Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. How has America always achieved this? Through the words and the constant hounding of the government by VERY FEW PEOPLE. Every nation, including America, must admit that when it comes to radical action - well over 50% of the people become disturbingly silent. As political polls show, most people are quite ‘moderate.’ It took years and years of the FEW to finally accomplish what all the generations afterwards take credit for - e.g. With an exception of the truly racist, I am sure there aren’t many of you that will stand up in the middle of the Metro and yell, “Nigger, tie my shoes!” Indeed, it would be morally repulsive to even consider it for most people. And how will America continue to live up to everything we stand for? By doing exactly what the courageous few did decades ago. Continue speaking out with a logical, open-mind in despite the ignorance, indifference and shallowness of the general public. One person who ’sees the light’ is worth 100 ignorant people.

To Michael: “Wow. If “sad story” (what an appropriate name!) is really Korean, it gives you some frightening insight into how far some Koreans go to rationalize their inaction/indifference to other Koreans in the North who are being starved, tortured, and killed. Those are your relatives in North Korea, “sad story.” America may have some problems, but at least our government spoke out on the horrible human rights situation in North Korea, while the South Koreans stay silent.” You sound amusingly self-righteous and I take it you are American. How embarrassing for all other Americans. So, it’s okay, right, since blacks were never actually from America (you had to kidnap them from another continent) much less your “relatives” - goodness, this gives me some frightening insight into how far some Americans go to rationalize their inaction/indifference to other Americans in their own backyard (oh, wait! Blacks weren’t ‘really’ American) who were being starved, tortured, and killed. Yeah, it’s easy for America to “at least speak out” about Korea just as easy it is for Korea to “at least speak out” about America. You are committing the same crime you are accusing someone else of. Neither ‘Sad Story’ or you are above each other - don’t be so proud, it’s pathetic. You two are both incapable of looking at your own flaws. And out of curiosity, since you seem like the ideal person to ask, just when was America speaking out on “the horrible human rights situation” in the 19th century?

I heartily endorse this blog for shamelessly addressing painful issues that Korea must deal with but I am disappointed by many of the readership’s inability to discern the difference between keeping an open mind and demanding change. We should never give up saying what we believe needs to be done. Hopefully, this blog will help enough individuals to speak out one at a time and so Korea can finally take meaningful action with North Korea and one day also reach the point America took a century to reach, as well.

Glad to see you are coming out of your depression.

I agree with your logic implying that a bold statement against human rights violations in North Korea — in such a Rosa Parksian manner — morally aligns one with “good” world citizenship.

Rosa Parks was not a simple seamstress whose lonely act of defiance in 1955 sparked the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. In fact, she was a trained Communist Party (CPUSA) activist.

Her refusal to move to the back of the bus wasn’t a spontaneous gesture, but a provocation organized by her longtime employer, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Recently, Rosa Parks’ body lay in state under the Capitol Rotunda; an honor accorded only 29 times in US history, to people like Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, and most recently Ronald Reagan… the most honored communist in American history.

Your encouragement for South Koreans to take a stand in the example of Rosa Parks reminds me of President Clinton’s eulogy for Rosa: President Clinton said her action “ignited the most significant social movement in American history.”

Jeff, Koreans are half-way there in emulating Rosa Parks — they are natural communists — they just need encouragement from you to take a stand.

Carry-on brave comrade in Republican clothing!

Jeff…all I can say is…’right on’ good stuff.