• axont [she/her, comrade/them]
      ·
      2 years ago

      that line made me smile. Western imperialist nations have regular housing crises that crash the whole economy and here's the DPRK using an actual common sense solution.

      • hexaflexagonbear [he/him]
        ·
        2 years ago

        DPRK using an actual common sense solution.

        DPRK: Not left, not right, but forward!

    • s0ykaf [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      the only way to fix housing is by removing its commodity status

      but the thinking here is a bit flawed as the latter doesn't necessarily lead to the former, the housing sector was an especially problematic part of the USSR and china (again, less so than in any capitalist country as people weren't homeless - my issue is with this impression that moving around becomes easy once you socialize the sector and that's just not true)

      i think in the DPRK's case it worked because they were the industrialized part of korea, even after all the destruction from the war they were still way ahead of the occupied part of the peninsula

      so i suppose the construction sector was pretty good already

  • wombat [none/use name]
    ·
    2 years ago

    uncritical support for the DPRK in its heroic struggle to liberate occupied Korea from the genocidal American empire

    • Grimble [he/him,they/them]
      ·
      edit-2
      2 years ago

      I genuinely think everyone should watch it. I need to recommend it to more people who'd be receptive to it, and urge anyone else reading this to do the same. If not Blowback, then at least something else that paints a sane, appropriately sympathetic picture of the DPRK's struggles.

      Remember to meet people where they're at when possible, even if they'd rather read/watch/listen to something less radical first. But encourage them to keep learning, and point to resources like Blowback, docs like My Brothers and Sisters in the North, and videos like Boy Boy's trip to the DPRK for a haircut.

      There's also an encouraging amount of online videos from Chinese tourists and non-American diplomats of many ranks and qualifications visiting the country (often outside the supposedly more "developed" cities like Pyongyang) and showing casual, in-depth, less guided experiences which are hard to find from American perspectives. It's all incredibly refreshing, and can completely alter someone's perspective and tear down unconscious biases if they're willing to listen. I've been there, as a communist who was once "on the fence" abt the DPRK but hopped off that pedestal once I found this kind of media. Like I said, it's just a matter of meeting people where they are. Be patient with people you want to help educate, but let these resources challenge their beliefs so they can develop and strengthen them.

      EDIT: After finally watching it, I can also recommend Loyal Citizens of Pyongyang in Seoul. If the people you reach out to could be put off by the politics or the speculation (some call it "conspiratorial" but this only makes sense without knowing the history of Korean politics and western interference), bring them up to speed on those issues first and then point to this doc. The actions of the US, South Korea, and their various think-tank corporations make it a frustrating watch, but keep in mind that this information is essential to those who aren't informed on the anti-DPRK propaganda machine. The fact that it was made and released so competently feels inspiring in itself.

    • geikei [none/use name]
      ·
      edit-2
      2 years ago

      One thing i wish there was more of is about how much of an anime character Kim Il Sung was badassery wise. Dude was so indisputably dope ,popular ,clean and acomplished as a anti colonial revolutionary leader and fighter that the west and worse Korea ,in order to cope, tried to make up a story years after that he stole that identity from someone else

      • GVAGUY3 [he/him]
        ·
        2 years ago

        I would love to see a movie about the life of Kim Il-Sung. I feel like it would be a fantastic cross Korean movie project for the North and South to somehow do (I know the barriers to that of course, but one can dream).

  • Straight_Depth [they/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Post this anywhere else (:reddit-logo:) and this author will be immediately smeared as a paid agent of the evil North Korean regime (which only tells lies).

    • Azarova [they/them]
      ·
      2 years ago

      a paid agent of the evil North Korean regime

      That sounds rad as hell, where do I sign up

    • KiaKaha [he/him]
      hexagon
      M
      ·
      2 years ago

      I think I first saw it posted on a FB page.

      The responses were as bad as you’d expect.

  • vaguevoid [she/her,they/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    “north korea couldn’t possibly be egalitarian! north korea is a totalitarian monarchy and a theocratic dictatorship because radio free asia said!” - liberals probably

  • Fartster [comrade/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    The fact that there is no DPRK comm but a lot that aren't even used plus chicago is kind of strange

  • TheBroodian [none/use name]
    ·
    2 years ago

    According to Mr. Kim, coal miners get paid more than most office workers because they, like others in physically strenuous roles, ought to be compensated more. Later Tammam told us at a fancy Korean BBQ restaurant that coal miners get to eat at discounted rates. According to Article 30 of the DPR Korean constitution, “arduous trades” are entitled to shorter working days.

    :gigachad: