Showing posts with label North Korean Defectors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North Korean Defectors. Show all posts

Monday, January 23, 2017

Perspective Gained From Others' Quest For Freedom + #MyPostMonday The Week's Best Original Content

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This past weekend I read an amazing book called The Girl With Seven Names: A North Korean Defector's Story by Hyeonseo Lee. It was fascinating and I couldn't put it down!   We can learn a lot from North Korean defectors. From childhood they are lied to, made to believe they have no choice, are made to be afraid, to not ask questions, told to betray their neighbors and friends, and watch public executions for things like complaining about rations, not dressing like the rest of the citizenry, or consuming foreign literature, entertainment, and music. They are taught that the Kim regime is all-knowing and beneficent. Religion and free-thinking are absolutely not allowed.
Some of them are actually brave enough use logic and reason to form different opinions than what they are indoctrinated with, and dare to think there is something else out there. Most of these "truth-seekers" go through extreme risk and hardship in order to defect to neighboring countries like South Korea, China, Taiwan, Laos, etc. If they do succeed, they find such a stark contrast, compared to the fictitious things that were fed to them. They realize that their country is 3rd world compared to the neighboring countries and that their supposedly mighty military power is weak at best. They certainly didn't conquer South Korea or China, as they were told. Nor are the Americans and other Westerners savages that kill children in the streets.
When many of the defectors first come into their host countries after many hardships, their problems aren't over. They have adjustment problems. They are usually very suspicious, vindictive, ready to fight and rat out their fellow citizens. They are hesitant to help another human being. It's what the regime has turned them into! It takes patience and a period of tutelage to help the new immigrants to adjust. Thus, the journey to one's freedom is more than mere distance!
Image - kw Wood