On Traveling to North Korea.

[3catwoman3]

25. You are totally correct - no reason to go to North Korea.

And the woman who asked Otto to bring back the poster from there bears significant responsibility for this horrible outcome, IMO.

When I was stationed in Japan, I took what was known as the "5 City Tour," thru the base travel service, 2 cities in Malaysia (kind of a waste of time) and then Bangkok, Singapore, and Hong Kong. My immediate superior officer, who was a real sleaze, asked me if I would be willing to take possession of 2 Buddha figures he had somehow arranged to have smuggled out of Burma. Because he wrote my annual officer efficiency reports, I couldn't tell him to go to hell, but I declined in no uncertain terms. I was shocked that he was willing to have me put myself at risk like that. He was a lousy human being, and a lousy pediatrician.

I also have serious reservations about the whole notion of missionary work. If someone wants to go do good around the world, fine - go do it. But don't tie it to any particular religious philosophy that requires or encourages conversion to a belief system. I find that quite presumptuous. That is a whole different topic.