Quote from: Azrael on December 19, 2011, 08:26:23 AM

Regardless of what anyone says, being "happy" that Kim Jong-il is dead is silly as hell.

What's silly as hell is that you have access to the internet, video games to play, food to eat, and thus have a much more privileged life than most of the world, thus allowing you the elbow room for your self-righteousness.  I know cartoons and JRPGs have taught you that death is terrible and stuff, but when victims have had their entire extended family put into concentration camps and/or executed for the slightest infraction and a few have beaten the odds and escaped from that shithole of a country where stealing food isn't even an option because there's barely any food to steal as just another result of Kim Jong Il's failed leadership, to say that being happy he is dead is silly as hell is utterly ridiculous.

How bad the USA has been in the past or is currently in the present has no bearing on the matter.  His successor could be just as bad and nothing may change there, but the world has one less toolbag and there's plenty of reasons some may be happy about it.

Oh shit, that's right, I totally forgot that since Jong-il's death the borders have opened up, all the people are being reeducated that the US isn't quite the monster it's thought to be, and the whole peninsula is reunited. Oh fuck...no. Nothing's changed. At all, except that one man, part of an entire machine that kept the country in that state, has died. Yeah, and those other people they are totally just going to sit back and let Jong-eun do what he wants.

But that's okay, one is gone. I mean it's so obvious that we all care so much about what is happening in that country, and we clearly all know what we're talking about. Oh, thank you for mentioning the few fortunate people to have escaped and make it out and tell their story, I totally forgot about them, and knowing that obviously makes the whole thing much better. Let me now put a smile on my face for them now that Jong-il is dead, because they still don't have to live with the fear of being caught and sent back to North Korea and face charges of treason.

I also didn't realize my remark had anything to do with death being bad, and lord knows where that comment about cartoons and JRPGs came from, but again, whatever. I'm sure you, being the king of trolls that you are, will come back with some new witty remark to "put me in my place" about how I'm so privileged and blah blah blah, because you know, I'm totally unaware of my status in this world and totally need someone else over the internet to put me in my place. Thanks for that by the way. I also know however, that pretending to be happy for the death of some guy, terrible as he may have been, isn't doing shit for anyone in North Korea, nor myself.

Anyway, don't let me spoil the fun. I can see the door. I hate to sour the party.

They were prepping one of his son's but I think there was some controversy over which one as many deemed the oldest unfit to rule.

Totally bombed my Buddhism exam. That thing was so freaking hard. Followed that by a happy hour at this Mexican bar. $1 tacos, $2 beers. The tacos sucked, the beer was good. Followed by some readings at the Asian American Writers' Workshop (which I'm hoping to get an internship with). Really really great pieces of writing. Really glad I went. Gotta finish up the one paper I've had all semester and submit it in a few hours. Then do some hardcore studying for two tests on Tuesday. Also got a book on African Hip-Hop to review for a literary journal and a book of poetry to translate. Lots of stuff to keep me busy while I look for a job.

I say fuck yea. Do it!

The magic of Christmas is almost completely lost on me now. It wasn't until I saw this thread that I realized how close Christmas was. I think the slow deterioration of my family and my rapidly changing values are a large part of it. I never ask for anything on Christmas anymore. Not for the past 3-4 years or so. That said, my mom is a real big spendthrift, and likes to go all out on gifts. Not always expensive, but "nice". Well what she considers nice. In the past it's been jewelry and things of that sort, which I'm not partial to and don't wear for more than a month or so. I don't fault her for that at all though, and always appreciate the gesture. Myself, I tend to give more personal gifts I guess. Some appreciate it, some don't. I've written poems, and made photo albums, and stuff like that. This year though my mom really shocked me and bought me round trip tickets to San Francisco. It's a big combination Christmas/Birthday/Graduation gift, but who cares. I've wanted to go there for a few years now and it's always been just out of my grasp. I'm trying to figure out a good book to get her. It doesn't help that I'm almost completely broke though. I think the best Christmas gift I could get is a job offer.

Don't you live in Canucklandia? It's not expensive to ship to the States?

That's a truth for SO2 and SO3 as well.

2666 is great. Part 5 of that novel is probably my favorite piece of Bolano's writing.

And I've no doubt you're excited, it's just an observation I've had about vacations from talking with friends.