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Oh don't you worry, chances are good they'll do that sooner or later, and then torture him even more for not working as fast afterwards anyway.
I don't think the gleeful posters here are fully aware of the conditions in these concentration camps.
Um, yeah, we are. Which is why we would either not travel to NK In the first place or if we did decide to travel there, knowing how harsh the conditions are, we would most certainly be very careful to obey all local laws.
Quote:
Imagine if this was your kid rather than some stranger.
If he were my kid, I would have advised him to not go to NK. If he decided to go anyway, I would make sure he researched exactly the conditions you described, and knew enough to obey local laws while he was there.
Personal responsibility. One's own actions and the consequences of such are not someone else's fault.
Status:
"Let this year be over..."
(set 20 days ago)
Location: Where my bills arrive
19,219 posts, read 17,088,442 times
Reputation: 15538
Quote:
Originally Posted by ohhwanderlust
It's very possible he was innocent and was forced to confess to a false crime. It's a bit suspicious he was nabbed right at the airport before going back, rather than just arrested on the spot. The government there may have been planning all along to arrest one of the foreigners, and he was the one unfortunate enough to be selected.
The video of him taking the object has nothing to do with it but I am sure the arrest was timed for maximum effect. Either way he is up for a Darwin Award for this one....
Yeah, and no doubt his commie professors told him it would be a GREAT idea for him to go to North Korea.
I dunno -- at age fourteen I was able to see through the liberal/left/commie b.s.
I'm just finding it very hard to be sympathetic....
And believe me, even fifty years ago, they were shoving that commie stuff down our throats.
Quote:
Originally Posted by finalmove
Your last two sentences describe the typical young college leftist! Irresponsible, misguided and anxious to disrupt.
This should serve as an example to those that don't see any harm in socialism and its cousin Communism. Thanks!
Guys, you are quoting me and then talking about commie college professors and commie stuff? I really don't care what the kid's politics are or even less what his college professors think. Apparently the North Koreans do not care whether his professors are communist or not either.
What I see is that North Korea has given a 15 sentence of hard labor to a young American solely for political reasons. For stealing a poster! Do you think the North Koreans really care about a cardboard poster? It will cost them far more to keep him jail for 15 years then the cost of a poster. The kid is being jailed so he can be used as a bargaining chip.
Finalmove, yes there are college kids who are leftists, sometimes to the extreme. But my experience is that the majority are not really into politics one way or another.
Location: NYC based - Used to Live in Philly - Transplant from Miami
2,307 posts, read 2,767,546 times
Reputation: 2610
Quote:
Originally Posted by InformedConsent
You must not have traveled to many third world countries. They do indeed have harsh laws and punishments such as this.
That is not correct.
And I have lived in several Asian countries.
It is also widely known and advised in other Asian countries not to visit North Korea.
I personally think that the punishment is a bit harsh. If anything like what som other people said, NK is using it as a political tool.
Although I also agree with lots of people.
I will not be stupid enough to travel to North Korea let alone steal there.
What I see is that North Korea has given a 15 sentence of hard labor to a young American solely for political reasons. For stealing a poster!
NK is not the US, so an American-centric view on the issue is severely flawed. NK has stricter laws and harsher penalties for violating their laws. It behooves anyone planning on traveling to NK to inform themselves of such.
That is not correct.
And I have lived in several Asian countries.
It is also widely known and advised in other Asian countries not to visit North Korea.
I personally think that the punishment is a bit harsh. If anything like what som other people said, NK is using it as a political tool.
Although I also agree with lots of people.
I will not be stupid enough to travel to North Korea let alone steal there.
It does seem a bit harsh, and probably is. But, the guy chose to travel into a country known to be hostile to Americans, against the advice of nearly everybody with any sense. I would assume that the tour guides for this "Young Pioneers" tour company took pains to explain to their clients just how bad an idea it would be to do anything illegal while in country. He apparently slept through that lecture, and while there, ventured into an area restricted to hotel staff, and swiped a poster.
That the North Korean gummint decided to make an example of him is hardly surprising.
I suspect that somehow, some "Humanitarian" organization will figure out a way to get him released and returned to the US. But he will likely have a rather unpleasant time of it for the next several months or more.
Hope he survives the ordeal, and learns some valuable lessons.
NK is not the US, so an American-centric view on the issue is severely flawed. NK has stricter laws and harsher penalties for violating their laws. It behooves anyone planning on traveling to NK to inform themselves of such.
Ah, American centric? Is it American centric to be against genocide, slavery, child labor, human sacrifice or cannibalism but if the North Korea dictator decides they are ok - then we are not supposed to say anything about it? If I see something is wrong in one place, then I will call it out in another.
Giving someone a 15 year sentence of hard labor for stealing a poster (worth 5 dollars?) is outright wrong, I don't care whether it is a western democracy or a communist dictatorship.
Ah, American centric? Is it American centric to be against genocide, slavery, child labor, human sacrifice or cannibalism but if the North Korea dictator decides they are ok - then we are not supposed to say anything about it?
No, but it IS American-centric to expect to not be subject to such human rights abuses when one travels to a country KNOWN to be guilty of such.
No, but it IS American-centric to expect to not be subject to such human rights abuses when one travels to a country KNOWN to be guilty of such.
Because we think we're special and can do whatever we want.
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