So I was recently reading this new article about a man who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor in North Korea. Now, as horrible as that is, the man wasn't some citizen who accidentally got on the wrong side of the law, he was some idiotic tourist from America who (allegedly) stole a propaganda banner just for the fun of it. Well, some people back home apparently suggested it, but considering he's 21 and not 5 years old, that can hardly absolve him of it.
Now, it seems rather unclear as to whether or not he actually did any of this, regardless of his own confession, since it seems possible (and considering some of the stuff North Korea is saying about the situation, quite likely) that it's all propaganda and he's simply speaking under duress. Regardless, even if he didn't steal the banner, he did chose to travel to one of the most notoriously corrupt, totalitarian shit-holes in the world that has non-existent human rights and an extensive history of imprisoning foreigners ... not exactly a genius decision either way.
As horrible as his situation is, and as much as it seems like he's simply being used as a political-pawn by the NK government, I'm still finding it rather difficult to feel any real emotion over this other than frustration at the bafflingly stupid decisions some people make.
It might seem like I'm victim blaming here, and that's probably because I am, but regardless of how alluring and mysterious NK might seem you would have to be an absolute cretin to willingly and knowingly put your fate in the hands of such a corrupt regime, especially with current tensions and their history of taking political prisoners.
And North Korea isn't the only place for this stuff to happen. Lots of tourists do foolish things to put themselves on the wrong side of the law in foreign countries, or just make other dumb decisions far from home.
Now, this thread isn't really about this North Korea incident, as much as I've waffled on about it, nor is it about foolish tourists, but rather, it prompted a more timeless topic about people who make stupid decisions and earn predictable consequences. We all make mistakes in life, but at what point does the stupidity of someone's mistake begin to sap your sympathy for them?
<color=red>Oh, and for the love of god, despite my use of the term "victim blaming", don't let this thread turn into yet another incarnation of the drunk-sex debate ... This is going to turn into yet another incarnation of the drunk-sex debate, isn't it?
Now, it seems rather unclear as to whether or not he actually did any of this, regardless of his own confession, since it seems possible (and considering some of the stuff North Korea is saying about the situation, quite likely) that it's all propaganda and he's simply speaking under duress. Regardless, even if he didn't steal the banner, he did chose to travel to one of the most notoriously corrupt, totalitarian shit-holes in the world that has non-existent human rights and an extensive history of imprisoning foreigners ... not exactly a genius decision either way.
As horrible as his situation is, and as much as it seems like he's simply being used as a political-pawn by the NK government, I'm still finding it rather difficult to feel any real emotion over this other than frustration at the bafflingly stupid decisions some people make.
It might seem like I'm victim blaming here, and that's probably because I am, but regardless of how alluring and mysterious NK might seem you would have to be an absolute cretin to willingly and knowingly put your fate in the hands of such a corrupt regime, especially with current tensions and their history of taking political prisoners.
And North Korea isn't the only place for this stuff to happen. Lots of tourists do foolish things to put themselves on the wrong side of the law in foreign countries, or just make other dumb decisions far from home.
Now, this thread isn't really about this North Korea incident, as much as I've waffled on about it, nor is it about foolish tourists, but rather, it prompted a more timeless topic about people who make stupid decisions and earn predictable consequences. We all make mistakes in life, but at what point does the stupidity of someone's mistake begin to sap your sympathy for them?
<color=red>Oh, and for the love of god, despite my use of the term "victim blaming", don't let this thread turn into yet another incarnation of the drunk-sex debate ... This is going to turn into yet another incarnation of the drunk-sex debate, isn't it?
