I just finished posting a bazillion pictures on Facebook. My brain and fingers and keyboard and mouse are tired! But looking at all those old pictures made me think about the past and all the awesome people I've met in my life. And all the wonderful people that I have in my life of course.
Think about all the people that you've met in your lifetime... when I think about the people I've met, I realize how good and wonderful people are. Sure, you get the oddballs and weirdos every once in a while... but even through the strangeness of those individuals, their good intentions show. It may show through their actions or an exchange of words... even if they are only moments of kindness, it's there. Even people that I've despised in my past. I know there's goodness in people even if I can't see it. That might get one to start wondering about murderers, rapists and evil-doers on all levels, and how someone might be able to measure goodness in people such as these? Well, to be honest, I'm not sure that goodness is something that can be measured. I'm not saying that these people should be free to roam and do as they please. There should certainly be action made if one chooses to harm another being. I'm simply saying that even though there are people that commit horrible acts against others, I think that goodness in them can exist. Whether it was something that was present earlier in their lives or something they are capable of only in small moments... it exists in them too.
I was watching 'A State of Mind' earlier today. It's a documentary following two young North Korean girls' lives while they are training for the Mass Games.
"Mass games are a form of performing arts or gymnastics in which large numbers of performers take part in a highly regimented performance that emphasizes group dynamics rather than individual prowess. Because of the vast scale of the performance, with often tens of thousands of performers, mass games are performed in stadiums, often accompanied by a background of card-turners occupying the seats on the opposite side from the viewers. Mass games are typically used to emphasize themes of political propaganda."
I've always imagined North Korea being this evil nation that refuses to cooperate with other countries for God knows what reasons. Americans in general, don't agree with communism. And while I can somewhat agree with the idea of communism in theory... I can't agree that it works in reality. Communism is the sort of thing that could only work if human nature wasn't involved. Being that we are humans.... that a hierarchy would always be created... that the love of power is something that becomes such a dominating force in a group... it just doesn't work. Sure, the idea of communism can seem like a good one, but unfortunately, it's people that stop it from working. This isn't to say that it's humans that mess things all up. Not at all. It's just how we function as a species. A fact that has shown to prove itself true in various occasions.
While watching one of the few documentary's on North Korea, I was truly amazed to see how the country's people responded to the Mass Games and their general. Of course any documentary can be one-sided... and it certainly can't show the entire truth to every side... but it can give you a picture... a snap shot of one or more trains of thought on a subject. Which is more than what most people can expect to learn about North Korea without being there. But seeing some of these people.. and how they embraced their communist leader and country was very eye-opening. And I see how they can't help but to believe what is fed to them. They have no TV stations that air news about the outside world to them. For those that are lucky enough to have a TV, they have a single channel that is mediated by the government showing a propognada of songs, cartoons and news that is straight from the horses' mouth. It's quite the cult of personality created by the government. It made me think about the American society and how we respond in a similar manner, just in a different way.
And even though the North Koreans hate and despise the Americans (since their government teaches them that we've caused their suffering), I see them laughing with their friends. Having dinner amongst family members. Helping each other when they need it... they show goodness to one another.
It's so funny how sometimes we all just want the same things in life, but we become so obsessed with fulfilling our own needs that we forget how intertwined we are with one another... whether we know it or not.
