Kim Jong-Il is dead.

[jens_attacks]

 

[craig1985]

Meme time!

 

[Cobblestones]

He also has the record on a golf course with his 38 under par on his first day as a golfer. Impressive! Invented the burger and made the whole country quit smoking. Born on the mountain Paektu where rainbows and stars shined in the exact moment of his birth.

This is really sad news for those of us that took haircut and fashion cues from the Kim Jonger.RIP you super cool dude. You were a pioneer

Days like this make me wonder on which side the propaganda is worse. Is it just laziness that stuff like this is repeated obsessively by the presumably free press? Dismissing Kim Jong Il because of the hairdo, the heels and the stupid folklore surrounding him and his family puts a person intellectually on the same level as those who believe in this sh!t it in the first place. (I'm not saying you do, I just quote your posts as examples for what is hostly highlighted in the media today).

I think it is much more fruitful to approach Kim Jong Il and North Korea through the eyes of people who have met and negotiated with him. See what Madeleine Albright and Goran Persson had to say about him, for instance.

Similarly, it would be foolish to dismiss Kim Jong Un because of his age. There are several children, and clearly, Kim Jong Un has been selected as successor not because he is the most pampered kid who can throw the greatest tantrums.

The scary thing is not the transition from one dictator to the next. The scary thing is that both are painted as caricatures, just like Gaddhafi, Ahmedinejad, and Saddam Hussein (after he wasn't our ******* any more) were/are. This is never a good sign. The other scary thing is that he died on Saturday (Friday in the US), and apparently no one outside NK even knew before it was announced in the news today morning. That's how little anybody knows about NK. No intelligence gathering ground game deserving the name.

 

[Maxiton]

Days like this make me wonder on which side the propaganda is worse. Is it just laziness that stuff like this is repeated obsessively by the presumably free press? Dismissing Kim Jong Il because of the hairdo, the heels and the stupid folklore surrounding him and his family puts a person intellectually on the same level as those who believe in this sh!t it in the first place. (I'm not saying you do, I just quote your posts as examples for what is hostly highlighted in the media today).

I think it is much more fruitful to approach Kim Jong Il and North Korea through the eyes of people who have met and negotiated with him. See what Madeleine Albright and Goran Persson had to say about him, for instance.

Similarly, it would be foolish to dismiss Kim Jong Un because of his age. There are several children, and clearly, Kim Jong Un has been selected as successor not because he is the most pampered kid who can throw the greatest tantrums.

The scary thing is not the transition from one dictator to the next. The scary thing is that both are painted as caricatures, just like Gaddhafi, Ahmedinejad, and Saddam Hussein (after he wasn't our ******* any more) were/are. This is never a good sign. The other scary thing is that he died on Saturday (Friday in the US), and apparently no one outside NK even knew before it was announced in the news today morning. That's how little anybody knows about NK. No intelligence gathering ground game deserving the name.

There is truth in what you say. I've noticed the same thing and have the same feelings as you about it. But in the case of Dear Leader it really is difficult to distinguish what is caricature when the portrait itself so resembles one. This is a guy who would not be believable in a spy novel, or a cheap comedy. So he's an irresistable figure of fun, the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[Cobblestones]

There is truth in what you say. I've noticed the same thing and have the same feelings as you about it. But in the case of Dear Leader it really is difficult to distinguish what is caricature when the portrait itself so resembles one. This is a guy who would not be believable in a spy novel, or a cheap comedy. So he's an irresistable figure of fun, the gift that keeps on giving.

I do own the 'Team America' DVD so I get that part, but I doubt that a person coming even close to the caricature our 'media' makes of him could conceivably have steered NK through the past 17 years. The same is true for Gaddhafi who ruled for some 40 years, or Ahmedinejad who has been president for quite a while (I don't care enough to google the precise number).

 

[El Pistolero]

I do own the 'Team America' DVD so I get that part, but I doubt that a person coming even close to the caricature our 'media' makes of him could conceivably have steered NK through the past 17 years. The same is true for Gaddhafi who ruled for some 40 years, or Ahmedinejad who has been president for quite a while (I don't care enough to google the precise number).

Justinian I was Byzantine emperor for 38 years, but he still was an incompetent buffoon and arguably the most over-rated person in history.

Honorius was a Roman emperor for 30 years yet is one of the most incompetent Roman emperors(and that says a lot).

The length of their rule says little about their competence. Or in this case: incompetence.

 

[Maxiton]

We now interrupt this discussion to bring you

People who thought Lil Kim died:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/people-that-thought-lil-kim-died

 

[Maxiton]

I do own the 'Team America' DVD so I get that part, but I doubt that a person coming even close to the caricature our 'media' makes of him could conceivably have steered NK through the past 17 years. The same is true for Gaddhafi who ruled for some 40 years, or Ahmedinejad who has been president for quite a while (I don't care enough to google the precise number).

Justinian I was Byzantine emperor for 38 years, but he still was an incompetent buffoon and arguably the most over-rated person in history.

Honorius was a Roman emperor for 30 years yet is one of the most incompetent Roman emperors(and that says a lot).

The length of their rule says little about their competence. Or in this case: incompetence.

Back on topic. It is interesting that utterly incompetent figureheads can remain in power while the country they ostensibly lead hums along pretty much as it normally does (George W. anyone? Well, maybe not in his case). And I agree that it would be a mistake to underestimate them on the basis of their buffoonery. To some extent, too, it would be nice to see a country like North Korea in human and somewhat sympathetic terms - just as the previous South Korean administration seems to have done, or tried to do. But let's face it, this guy and his ilk are just flat out hilarious - until they start killing people, anyway.

 

[Moondance]

We now interrupt this discussion to bring you

People who thought Lil Kim died:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/people-that-thought-lil-kim-died

To be fair to Lil Kim, she probably could've done a better job of running North-Korea.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

last photo of him distributed before his dead

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/...ac.html?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

 

[Thomsena]

Did you watch the 'crying scenes' in the news? ****ing hell.. So fake but I guess they'd be jailed if they didn't cry.

 

[daveinzambia]

I do own the 'Team America' DVD so I get that part, but I doubt that a person coming even close to the caricature our 'media' makes of him could conceivably have steered NK through the past 17 years. The same is true for Gaddhafi who ruled for some 40 years, or Ahmedinejad who has been president for quite a while (I don't care enough to google the precise number).

I know a number of people in Africa that thought Gaddhafi was a great man who tried to push Africa's agenda forward in the world. it is very interesting to see the media view of some people as portrayed in the 'western media' and in alternative sources. I am not saying one or the other is correct (i had serious issues with both types of media) just interesting to be simultaneously be presented with both views

 

[The Hitch]

Did you watch the 'crying scenes' in the news? ****ing hell.. So fake but I guess they'd be jailed if they didn't cry.

They are real. There was a story a few years ago of people throwing themselves into a fire to save burning pictures of the dear leader.

Brainwashing is a powerful tool, and North Korea has taken it to an amazing extreme.

Also if hypothetically someone disobeyed such an order, getting thrown into jail would be extremely lenient. Death of entire family would be more likely outcome.

 

[The Hitch]

Justinian I was Byzantine emperor for 38 years, but he still was an incompetent buffoon and arguably the most over-rated person in history.
.

And yet it was only an act of God that stopped him from replacing Alexander the Great most important man in history.

 

[Moondance]

Oh, come on. This picture has more photoshop than the one where Angela Merkel would look sexy. Also those stats are really without any ground, I mean you can't tell how many N. Koreans are there, not how tall they are.

And I must say that I completly understand North Koreans, they are not slaves, in fact they know who and what they are, unlike their southern brothers which are Americas puppets(I'm not saying that it is bad, they seem to be doing exceptionally well ).

No, that picture is perfectly legitimate. Take a look for yourself, here is a collection:

http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/detail.php?id=55167

As for the height differential, that is also true:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1570677X04000516

Just another stat, infant mortality is estimated to be 12 times higher above the 38th parallel than below it.

As for claiming that you can understand the North Korean... Well, I'm afraid noone can. Living in a Stalinist state, with no freedom whatsoever, is almost completely incomprehensible to a normal person. They're told they live in the greatest country on earth, and that they are the envy of the world. How could the average North Korean know otherwise. I'd at least hope that everyone in this world has a chance to be an 'American puppet' at some point in their lives. I certainly enjoy being it myself.

 

[auscyclefan94]

They are real. There was a story a few years ago of people throwing themselves into a fire to save burning pictures of the dear leader.

Brainwashing is a powerful tool, and North Korea has taken it to an amazing extreme.

Also if hypothetically someone disobeyed such an order, getting thrown into jail would be extremely lenient. Death of entire family would be more likely outcome.

Well if they are brainwashed to do it then that is hardly real emotion?

 

[The Hitch]

Well if they are brainwashed to do it then that is hardly real emotion?

They are brainwashed into thinking that this guy was responsible for everything that is good about their lives. That was thanks to him that they arent living in the west (which they are told is a horrid horrid place that wants to enslave them).

If you come to believe that 1 person is responsible for all this, you will feel a lot of emotion when you die.

 

[craig1985]

I'm surprised rhubroma hasn't been on here yet.

 

[auscyclefan94]

They are brainwashed into thinking that this guy was responsible for everything that is good about their lives. That was thanks to him that they arent living in the west (which they are told is a horrid horrid place that wants to enslave them).

If you come to believe that 1 person is responsible for all this, you will feel a lot of emotion when you die.

Yes but the way they turn the crying on when the camera is on makes you think that it isn't real.

 

[Martin318is]

this news has inspired me to watch team america tonight.

Amazingly, I actually watched it on Friday night - new house with no cable or internet so out came the old movies

 

[BroDeal]

I know a number of people in Africa that thought Gaddhafi was a great man who tried to push Africa's agenda forward in the world. it is very interesting to see the media view of some people as portrayed in the 'western media' and in alternative sources. I am not saying one or the other is correct (i had serious issues with both types of media) just interesting to be simultaneously be presented with both views

If a leader opposes the West's agenda then he is an evil despot and, the media will be happy to tell us, quite possibly the equivalent of Hitler. If the same dictator cozies up to America then he is a loyal friend who needs to be protected from the dictator next door, even though there is not a lick of difference between the two dictators. It's all very simple.

 

[BroDeal]

As for claiming that you can understand the North Korean... Well, I'm afraid noone can. Living in a Stalinist state, with no freedom whatsoever, is almost completely incomprehensible to a normal person. They're told they live in the greatest country on earth, and that they are the envy of the world. How could the average North Korean know otherwise.

Substitute communist propaganda with corporate propaganda and it sounds remarkably like America.

Orwell was wrong. An authoritarian state is not needed to control the population. The propaganda from a supposedly free press is just as effective, maybe more so because the people believe that they are free.

 

[Spare Tyre]

That's a lot of leader.

Or a lot of udder.

 

[BroDeal]

Yes but the way they turn the crying on when the camera is on makes you think that it isn't real.

It's easy to cry on demand when you can think about your child starving to death during the next famine or your mother starving to death during the last one.

 

[DenisMenchov]

No, that picture is perfectly legitimate. Take a look for yourself, here is a collection:

http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/detail.php?id=55167

As for the height differential, that is also true:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1570677X04000516

Just another stat, infant mortality is estimated to be 12 times higher above the 38th parallel than below it.

As for claiming that you can understand the North Korean... Well, I'm afraid noone can. Living in a Stalinist state, with no freedom whatsoever, is almost completely incomprehensible to a normal person. They're told they live in the greatest country on earth, and that they are the envy of the world. How could the average North Korean know otherwise. I'd at least hope that everyone in this world has a chance to be an 'American puppet' at some point in their lives. I certainly enjoy being it myself.

Those are NASA pictures, why would I trust them, USA hates N. Korea. Also those stats are from USA, not official.
And how about this, no one is without job in North Korea. How many poor people are there in USA? How many unemployed? And americans are not brainwashed, they have democracy? What kind of democracy is to have only 2 parties?

OK, I won't jude you for being an 'American puppet', but some nations have pride and honor.