On Traveling to North Korea.

[MineralMan]

56. Yes, but that isn't really related to my thread about not

going to places like North Korea, really. You're right. We have real problems here, but the two things aren't really related to each other. Most people who venture to travel to North Korea are relatively affluent and are unlikely to get into trouble in the US, thanks to their privilege. The young man who died was a white college educated person. Here, his human rights would be unlikely to be violated, really. There, he has none at all, nor any pretense of having any.

The trip was a foolish one, and his actions while in that repressive country were also foolish. The punishment was not appropriate, of course, but that's what happens in places where you are not liked in the first place. Had he not gone there at all, he would be hale and hearty and living the life of a privileged white person here. Instead, he is dead.

So, yes, many people in the US do not have that same privilege and we need to be working hard to equalize rights here for everyone, But, again, that's not really relevant to my initial post.