March 31, 2003

FIRST TIME AS TRAGEDY, SECOND TIME AS TRAGEDY:

Korea's 'lucky' triplets seized (Melbourne, Australia Herald Sun, 3/30/2003)
ALL triplets in North Korea are being forcibly removed from parents after their birth and dumped in bleak orphanages.

The policy is carried out on the orders of Stalinist dictator Kim Jong-il, who has an irrational belief that a triplet could one day topple his regime.


This reminds me of Matthew 2:
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem was with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet."...

Then Herod ... was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under.


Those who believe mankind is making moral progress have a difficult case. Posted by Paul Jaminet at March 31, 2003 12:25 PM
Comments

Those who equate No. Korea with mankind have a difficult case.

Posted by: Harry Eagar at March 31, 2003 5:37 PM

I believe I was equating Kim Jong Il with Herod. I suppose your point is that it's unfair to judge mankind by the worst representatives. But how about by those who help maintain the worst in power -- such as those who will oppose the war against North Korea that will come unless the Chinese decide to turn against them?

Posted by: Paul Jaminet at March 31, 2003 7:04 PM

Since the words 'psychopath' and 'megalomaniac' seem pathetically inadequate to describe Kim Jong Il, I am asking the readers to provide the best adjective possible...

Posted by: Bruce Cleaver at March 31, 2003 8:06 PM

Ass-clown.

Posted by: M Ali Choudhury at March 31, 2003 8:29 PM

You will talk to a lot of Randall Robinsons before

you learn that among most Bantu groups in

S. Africa, twins are regarded as bad juju. The

common practice is to set them out in a field

so the cattle can trample them.



But I, at least, do not look to Africa for evidence

of progress.



I am, by the way, a twin.

Posted by: Harry Eagar at April 1, 2003 2:18 AM
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