Propaganda Works

Sis was right in her prediction about North Korea:

4) Pardon the women to the acclaim of all, scoring a propaganda victory by showing the soft and cuddly side of their extreme dictatorship.

Which is most likely? Obviously #4. These women will not see one second of the inside of a real labor camp. No way, no how.

I'm happy they have been released though. I'm not sure how much of a propaganda victory this is. I doubt perceptions of NK by people outside NK have been altered. Everyone knows the country is collectively nuts. Inside NK, the people were converted into zombies long ago.

The sister of one of the released women is Lisa Ling, a reporter who did a report for National Geographic from inside NK. In a most remarkable scene, NK citizens who had long ago lost their vision were given their sight back by a western doctor. As they had their bandages removed, and they realized they were able to see again, each of them would immediately run up to a large portrait of Dear Leader, fall on hands and knees, and thank Dear Leader profusely and emotionally for the return of their sight.

It was remarkable, but it was also very depressing. It made me realize that propaganda really does work. These people have been brought up for generations now hearing nothing but endless words of praise for their leader. Everything good in their lives is attributed to him, and they have come to believe it. Their leader is more deity than man.

I think many of us believe that if we were brought up in such a country, we would believe differently. Somehow we would see through the propaganda and know the truth. The film clip made me question that. Given enough time, propaganda works.