• d-RLY?
    12·
    4 years ago

    I haven’t watched this particular doc, but one big thing that always gets left out when folks want to talk about how “bad things are for the people from lack of stuff (doesn’t matter what)” is sanctions. We see so much coverage about how people can’t get things they need/want and how “poor” the average person is. But just like with Cuba, the people in DPRK could have access to stuff if nations like the US were to just stop making it a problem in the first place. If the US really gave any fucks about even just peaceful competition in order to see which systems are actually good and help the most people. Then it would stop going out of its way to make sure the most people suffer. Creating situations where other nations have to pick between normalizing trade with DPRK/Cuba, or be “allowed” to keep trading with the US is beyond fucked up.

    The US always points to how DPRK/Cuba are “authoritarian military isolated nations” (China also gets this just the isolation bit is more about hiding things). But given how the US literally polices the world with its military everywhere, it means there is a literal and constant threat of war/invasion/destabilization/coups that require constant readiness. It is seen as “just protecting the peace/freedom” when the US places bases/missiles all the way up the the borders of any other nation (but especially Cuba/DPRK/China/Russia (even though Russia isn’t socialist). But anything slightly close to this, or figuring out how to make long range missiles from these nations is somehow “acts of aggression that MUST BE STOPPED”. Shit isn’t paranoia if there is one big motherfucker constantly fucking with you.

    I would love to see what a difference it would make to see the DPRK/Cuba be able to relax and not be forced into externally created isolation. To see what is possible if they have real access to supplies and to trade and free up money that currently has to go into defense (would also love to see the same freeing of money from the US military industrial complex). Allow people to easily travel into and out of these nations. It is super super easy to just make up all kinds of shit if more people can’t go and see for themselves. Even western media would have a hard time just publishing most of the shit without real push-back. They currently just go with whatever wild shit they hear about these nations. But will actually defend “important” allies of the US that are very much known and proven to be active oppressors of their own people (Saudi Arabia and Israel being two big ones, but also the right-wing death squad leaders in all of Central and South America).

    I would love to be able to not be immediately called a crazy person for even mildly expressing that maybe these places aren’t really as “evil” as we have been indoctrinated to believe without question. I can say nice things about Cuba more these days, but DPRK is an instant conversation ender. And it is all because there is just so much disinformation from all media which can include stuff from DPRK. It is hard to be open if there are things that aren’t going well if you know that any admittance of slight failure will get ran through the shit by the US as to “how bad things really are” or used as absolute cannon fodder for trying to create a “valid” reason for trying to spark another colour revolution. The US does this same thing with its own failures if it might be open season for our enemies to drag us with.

    It is just easier to be open to others and to take constructive criticism when everything isn’t done in bad faith or used to attack. Just like with kids, they will open up and own up to stuff if they don’t feel like they will just be screamed at and spanked for even admitting to something. Shit doesn’t have to be this hard, but no sitting or aspiring US politician or media outlet will go anywhere near being seen as “working with DPRK” in any capacity other than aggressive/demanding until the masses demand them to change course finally.