• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Human Rights Abuses in North Korea

Celebrity

DP Veteran
Joined
May 13, 2016
Messages
5,257
Reaction score
761
Location
VT, USA
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Undisclosed


I watched this short video about what defectors think about the situation surrounding the North Korean Socialist regime. They didn't say, but it seems like the defectors are having the discussion in South Korea. The troubling stories include human rights abuses and might be disturbing for some. I found two points to be of interest in the video, along with the discussion from the point of view of two former citizens of North Korea, who might be considered North Korean "experts."

These expatriates discussed the black market in North Korea. Because of the limitation on foreign goods, it is illegal to consume articles such as drama, pornography, or music. In order to watch a South Korean drama, or make a phone call on a foreign phone, one must isolate oneself in order to avoid being reported to the authorities. It seems odd for plastic bottles to be a rare Chinese commodity in that country, because they are so common in America and around the world. The easiest way for us to discuss limitations on liberty is in economic terms, regarding the availability of goods in a free market, although curbing liberties may also take the form of very personal human rights abuses.

At least one of the Koreans spoke about the rise of capitalism in the form of businesses. Apparently, North Koreans do not know that a business is a unit of a capitalist economy. I found this interesting for two reasons, based on my understanding of government owned business as well as businesses in historical socialist countries, and because it reminds me of commentary regarding socialist policies in America. Social programs in America are commonly attributed to the downfall of America, whereas capitalist programs in North Korea would be similarly regarded as the root of evil capitalism. Indeed, one of the main topics in recent years has been the evil that is a national health care system, and many people will point to failed socialist policies as proof that capitalism is better. Even though it is clear to me that no such comparison can be fairly made, given the differences in economic scale and cultural mores, I think that the detractors of capitalism in the North Korean state are similar to the detractors of socialism in the American private sector.

I thought it would be prudent to compare the military executions of enemies of the state, from border crossers to thieves, to the American presidential elect's cabinet, which I have read described as a 'junta.' The young woman in the video said that she thinks North Koreans are still happy, despite abuses by the state and despite being poor, and that citizens in richer countries worry too much. But, maybe we are right to be worried, for example, about the rise of demagoguery in a free society.
 
Last edited:


I watched this short video about what defectors think about the situation surrounding the North Korean Socialist regime. They didn't say, but it seems like the defectors are having the discussion in South Korea. The troubling stories include human rights abuses and might be disturbing for some. I found two points to be of interest in the video, along with the discussion from the point of view of two former citizens of North Korea, who might be considered North Korean "experts."

These expatriates discussed the black market in North Korea. Because of the limitation on foreign goods, it is illegal to consume articles such as drama, pornography, or music. In order to watch a South Korean drama, or make a phone call on a foreign phone, one must isolate oneself in order to avoid being reported to the authorities. It seems odd for plastic bottles to be a rare Chinese commodity in that country, because they are so common in America and around the world. The easiest way for us to discuss limitations on liberty is in economic terms, regarding the availability of goods in a free market, although curbing liberties may also take the form of very personal human rights abuses.

At least one of the Koreans spoke about the rise of capitalism in the form of businesses. Apparently, North Koreans do not know that a business is a unit of a capitalist economy. I found this interesting for two reasons, based on my understanding of government owned business as well as businesses in historical socialist countries, and because it reminds me of commentary regarding socialist policies in America. Social programs in America are commonly attributed to the downfall of America, whereas capitalist programs in North Korea would be similarly regarded as the root of evil capitalism. Indeed, one of the main topics in recent years has been the evil that is a national health care system, and many people will point to failed socialist policies as proof that capitalism is better. Even though it is clear to me that no such comparison can be fairly made, given the differences in economic scale and cultural mores, I think that the detractors of capitalism in the North Korean state are similar to the detractors of socialism in the American private sector.

I thought it would be prudent to compare the military executions of enemies of the state, from border crossers to thieves, to the American presidential elect's cabinet, which I have read described as a 'junta.' The young woman in the video said that she thinks North Koreans are still happy, despite abuses by the state and despite being poor, and that citizens in richer countries worry too much. But, maybe we are right to be worried, for example, about the rise of demagoguery in a free society.


comparing trumps cabinet to north korea? its almost as if the hillary crowd is out of things to talk about
 


I watched this short video about what defectors think about the situation surrounding the North Korean Socialist regime. They didn't say, but it seems like the defectors are having the discussion in South Korea. The troubling stories include human rights abuses and might be disturbing for some. I found two points to be of interest in the video, along with the discussion from the point of view of two former citizens of North Korea, who might be considered North Korean "experts."

These expatriates discussed the black market in North Korea. Because of the limitation on foreign goods, it is illegal to consume articles such as drama, pornography, or music. In order to watch a South Korean drama, or make a phone call on a foreign phone, one must isolate oneself in order to avoid being reported to the authorities. It seems odd for plastic bottles to be a rare Chinese commodity in that country, because they are so common in America and around the world.

At least one of the Koreans spoke about the rise of capitalism in the form of businesses. Apparently, North Koreans do not know that a business is a unit of a capitalist economy. I found this interesting for two reasons, based on my understanding of government owned business as well as businesses in historical socialist countries, and because it reminds me of commentary regarding socialist policies in America. Social programs in America are commonly attributed to the downfall of America, whereas capitalist programs in North Korea would be similarly regarded as the root of evil capitalism. Indeed, one of the main topics in recent years has been the evil that is a national health care system, and many people will point to failed socialist policies as proof that capitalism is better. Even though it is clear to me that no such comparison can be fairly made, given the differences in economic scale and cultural mores, I think that the detractors of capitalism in the North Korean state are similar to the detractors of socialism in the American private sector.

I thought it would be prudent to compare the military executions of enemies of the state, from border crossers to thieves, to the American presidential elect's cabinet, which I have read described as a 'junta.' The young woman in the video said that she thinks North Koreans are still happy, despite abuses by the state and despite being poor, and that citizens in richer countries worry too much. But, maybe we are right to be worried, for example, about the rise of demagoguery in a free society.


Yep. He is a really bad dictator. So is Assad. Duterte? There are mean men all over. Sudan? Persia? We cannot do everything and not having stopped the Syrian disaster, though we could have? Why worry just after we didn’t stop mass murder and real torture en masse?
 
I think we all knew that North Korea was an Orwellian Dystopia already. It serves us as something to compare one's political opponents to when we run out of Nazi and Soviet Union references.
 
Yep. He is a really bad dictator. So is Assad. Duterte? There are mean men all over. Sudan? Persia? We cannot do everything and not having stopped the Syrian disaster, though we could have? Why worry just after we didn’t stop mass murder and real torture en masse?

You can't seriously suggest you could have prevented Syria, there's no way of knowing that.
 
You can't seriously suggest you could have prevented Syria, there's no way of knowing that.

True. There is no way to know. But what we do know is that we did not even seriously try to stop it.
 
I thought it would be prudent to compare the military executions of enemies of the state, from border crossers to thieves, to the American presidential elect's cabinet, which I have read described as a 'junta.' The young woman in the video said that she thinks North Koreans are still happy, despite abuses by the state and despite being poor, and that citizens in richer countries worry too much. But, maybe we are right to be worried, for example, about the rise of demagoguery in a free society.

Umm WHAT?

Who called it a "junta" and for God's sake WHY?

JUNTA

1. a military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force.


Or is this another example of CELEBRITY-Definition.
 
comparing trumps cabinet to north korea? its almost as if the hillary crowd is out of things to talk about
What Hillary crowd? I read it on the closed captions on Fox News while I was at the gym. By the way, fire that guy, because he can't spell properly. It said they didn't want to hire so many generals that they would be compared to a 'Hunta.'

Yep. He is a really bad dictator. So is Assad. Duterte? There are mean men all over. Sudan? Persia? We cannot do everything and not having stopped the Syrian disaster, though we could have? Why worry just after we didn’t stop mass murder and real torture en masse?

I think we all knew that North Korea was an Orwellian Dystopia already. It serves us as something to compare one's political opponents to when we run out of Nazi and Soviet Union references.
Regarding this comment and the one above by joG, I used the words 'human rights abuses' in the title because that is the attention grabbing version of the story. If you watch the video, the two young Koreans discussed how people are now leaving the country for political reasons, not because they are starving.

A dystopia does not always begin with public executions and its abuses and neglects do not always include the government rationing program failing. We need not necessarily fear a dictator who curbs our liberties, and our liberties which are curbed need not be vital in order for us to have been wronged.

You can't seriously suggest you could have prevented Syria, there's no way of knowing that.
Agreed, and I'm not sure what to call it at this point. Perhaps 'Arab Fall' would be a good name.
 
Yep. He is a really bad dictator. So is Assad. Duterte? There are mean men all over. Sudan? Persia? We cannot do everything and not having stopped the Syrian disaster, though we could have? Why worry just after we didn’t stop mass murder and real torture en masse?

When did the standard become: If three evil things are occurring and you only choose to stop one (or only can) then it would have been better had you don't nothing at all. ?
 
In other news water is wet.
 
My opinion is that any information, except from Dennis Rodman, is massaged by the NYTimes, WashPost, and LATimes and the large Corporate media to sound like North Korea is a huge threat to the USA to perk up those MIC contracts. Fake News is the name of the game in US Mainstream Media. Now those same distorters of news want to be the arbitors of "Who's who of honest news?" The mainstream and its' Intelligence Agency authors are the perpetrators of this fiasco. The Syria War started when the CIA's false flag election op failed and Assad was elected and funds and arms and training followed to destabilize Syria. You won't read that in the Mainsteam Media. How about North Korea? Well, I'm not believing anything printed by the same Mainstream Media because North Korea just "keeps on keepin' on" and is forced to counter the threat of US nuclear weapons stationed in South Korea. Nukes are something that sane people are afraid of. Now that North Korea has nukes, ol' Kim gets a little respect and how 'bout that? I think all that we hear about N. Korea is organized propaganda authored by the CIA. Kim might be just like Saddam, Assad, Qaddaffi or any other strong leader that is forced to organize and lead a Nation under difficult circumstances and demonstrates some success. If times are tough in North Korea, let's send them what they need like food and just like Slick Willy Clintoon did in the 1990's. I'm not a mushroom so don't stick me in a cave and feed me horsecrap,.
 
When did the standard become: If three evil things are occurring and you only choose to stop one (or only can) then it would have been better had you don't nothing at all. ?

So we push so that the UN gives a mandate and countries like China, Germany, Japan or Spain send troops of similar relative strengths to our own. We can supply logistics etc. we need a reliable system and organisation organized to automatically intervene, when situations occur. We cannot continue to pay for international security for our competitors.
 
Last edited:
So we push so that the UN gives a mandate and countries like China, Germany, Japan and Spain send troops of similar relative strengths to our own. We can supply logistics etc

If that works. But if not then I'm not going to shrug my shoulders and say "guess it didn't work out".
 
comparing trumps cabinet to north korea? its almost as if the hillary crowd is out of things to talk about

That can't be. The butt hurt libs will be whining for years.

Yep. He is a really bad dictator. So is Assad. Duterte? There are mean men all over. Sudan? Persia? We cannot do everything and not having stopped the Syrian disaster, though we could have? Why worry just after we didn’t stop mass murder and real torture en masse?

Agreed.

True. There is no way to know. But what we do know is that we did not even seriously try to stop it.

Exactly. And where is the UN with all the human rights violations occurring in Syria....can they only bitch about America?

Umm WHAT?

Who called it a "junta" and for God's sake WHY?

JUNTA

1. a military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force.


Or is this another example of CELEBRITY-Definition.

:lamo
 
Back
Top Bottom