Daily Kos Writer Defends North Korea: No Worse Than South Korea, USA
- Posted on December 22, 2011 at 8:55pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
- Print »
- Email »
The diligent crew at NewsBusters has uncovered an outrageous post by the left-wing blog “Daily Kos” asserting that North Korea is in fact no worse than South Korea or even the United States. The article, entitled “North Korea & Hysteria, Madness,” written by Niccolo Caldararo – an adjunct professor of anthropology at San Francisco State University – complains that “the Western media wallows in the exotic and North Korea has been the clown of the 20th century.”
He goes on to claim that North Korea is merely “brought forward for comic relief now and then or pasted up as a ‘paper tiger,’ to scare voters before elections or as a distraction for other important news.”
NewsBusters’ Tim Graham writes that, to hear the professor tell it, the capitalist imperialists are licking their chops after the death of Kim Jong Il:
“Let’s face it, North Korea is ripe for capitalism, there are millions of potential workers who will work for near nothing. The hope is that the regime will crumble like the Soviet Union and give way to massive investment opportunities.”
Arguing that North Korea is “no less responsible toward its own citizens” than South Korea or America, Caldararo writes:
While North Korea may behave in a strange fashion at times, its political history is no less responsible toward its own citizens than the history of the South [Koreans], especially the recent history that was dominated in the 1960s to 1980s by dictatorial regimes that practiced torture and mass arrest. While we hear of starvation and torture in North Korea, these are far less well documented than the recent history of the South.
As for the nuclear weapons issue, we should also recall that the USA has been the only country to use nuclear weapons, and we used them on civilians. If the world is to be afraid of the use of these weapons by a renegade nation, one should look at the definition of the word in the context of the Bush Administration waging war in violation of international law and by the use of evidence it knew was tainted. We cannot expect a world of law and respect after such behavior.
The professor believes that “ignorance and fear” is what drives judgement of North Korean action and even went on to quote Cicero, stating, “There can be no peace without justice.”
Caldararo also argued that the communist regime was actually brought on by America:
The specific kind of leadership and government North Korea has today is the result of its history, and especially its most recent history with America. We must consider that from the end of W.W.II until 1987 South Korea was a brutal dictatorship. Its prison camps and torture chambers were filled with not only political prisoners but also ethnic minorities and religious objectors, in fact, anyone who dared to challenge the injustice and corruption of the regime. All this time South Korea’s government had the full support of the USA. North Koreans remember this horror and base part of their posture to the USA on this history…
NewsBusters points out that when several commenters disagreed with Caldararo about his stance on North Korea, the professor arrogantly dismissed them as uneducated: “I love how people think they know what is happening in countries they have never even visited.”
(h/t: NewsBusters)
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 678 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 530 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 422 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 373 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 329 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 275 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 283 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 163 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 275 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (137)
RepubliCorp
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:11pmNORTH KOREA: NO WORSE THAN SOUTH KOREA <<< Did Ron Paul write this?
Report Post »AMERICAN BEAR
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:06pmGod Bless America….And PROGRESSIVEDEIST267….God Bless You for your service, And to all the Veterans and those serving today….God Bless you and yours. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
As for North Korea, I think we might pray for them as well. The’re Going to need it.
Report Post »gonetotheright
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:01pmRegimes that murder thousands of their citizens and the great socialist loons support thier crimes against humanity!
Report Post »Viet Vet
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:07pmThey supported Stalin‘s purges in the 1930’s too.
Report Post »Cousin_of_Marx
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:47pmWhy don’t you read an actual history book before you spout off nonsense?
And yes, South Korea was a brutal dictatorship. In many ways, it still is.
Report Post »Lord_Frostwind
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 11:32pmA brutal dictatorship you say? Last time I checked I never heard of millions of South Koreans starving to death in the streets of Seoul while boasting about their ever increasing military power. I think you should go read a real history book instead of the caustic drivel that falls from the mouths of the sympathizers and college professors that scars the pages of text that mocks the very notion of knowledge.
For the record, my knowledge of the South Korea comes from US military personnel who were stationed in the country for two years.
Report Post »ZengaPA65
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:03amCOUSIN_OF_MARX
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:47pm
Why don’t you read an actual history book before you spout off nonsense?
God forbid 99% of Blaze posters would ever do that. How dare you even suggest such a thing!
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:27amCousin_of_Marx
Having met people of several different Asian countries from several different ethnic groups & having visited several countries, I do not have to have lived in South & North Korea to have a well informed opinion. Go troll some where else.
One more thing Marxist troll who is on a leash doing the bidding of his masters. Why are 440,000 ethnic Koreans choosing to live ion South Korea instead of China? Could it be better in South Korea.
Please for your sake think of a suitably witty response or you might be exiled to Outer Mongolia.
Report Post »jonnyfontain
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 4:10amwhat a moron, just line him up with the others and lets make sure they cant create children to pass their genes onto.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:58amYou see? It’s all about perspective. Relative truth. It’s what you believe. Not the facts. Not reality. Its just … self delusion …
… and all you have to do to be a part of it is sing it out loud the next time it comes around on the Guitar. – Bob Dylan.
Report Post »BreeZee
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:51pmJust take notes, all the commie socalist marxist are starting to show their true colors!!!!!
Report Post »docvet
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 3:38pmWell, folks, you just gave old “cousin” just what he/she wanted: attention. I suggest a better response might be: Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Yeah, right!
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:57pmNational level elected Democrats are “Prominent Contributors to the Daily Kos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Kos#Prominent_contributors
So the Kos is calling its’ prominent contributors as bad as North Korea or something like that.
Dalily Kos is full of jackwagons.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:47amDaily Kos Contributors (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Kos#Prominent_contributors
Mark Begich
Earl Blumenauer
Debra Bowen
Barbara Boxer ***
Mark B. Cohen
Steve Cohen
John Conyers ****
Richard Durbin DICK Durbin ***
Russ Feingold
Bart Gordon
Alan Grayson
Christine Gregoire The International district in Seattle had a lot of election fraud during her
election as governor
Tom Harkin ***
Jane Harman Ex Rep & Woodrow Wilson Ctr
Steve Kagen
John Kerry *** Ancestors got wealth from China trade; Marries Money
Larry Kissell
Jim McDermott Baghdad Jim
Jeff Merkley
Brad Miller
Jim Moran Airport to Nowhere
Chris Murphy
Barack Obama < Blago & Rezko
Frank Pallone
David Paterson
Nancy Pelosi < travels in military jets; 60% increase in wealth over last year
Tom Perriello
Jared Polis
Harry Reid
Andrew Rice
Bill Richardson
Ciro D. Rodriguez
Brian Schweitzer
Chuck Schumer
Louise Slaughter
Ron Sparks
Linda Stender
Jon Tester
Mark Warner
Henry Waxman
Jim Webb
Anthony Weiner
Robert Wexler
Lynn Woolsey
Rocky Anderson
Birch Bayh
Chris Bell
Jimmy Carter
Jon Corzine < MF Global
John Edwards ***
Ted Kennedy *** Makes a Senatorial sandwhich. add a waitress & Senator Chris Dodd
Bob Kerrey
Eric Massa < Wow
Report Post »Eliot Spitzer
Tom Vilsack
IMPEACH GEORGE SOROS!!
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:14amUgh.. I feel like I just watched porn and need to bleach my eyes…
Report Post »bigfatslob
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:33amThoughs names, I want to vomit !
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:57pmToo much ‘free’ education in this country, if you ask me! If people had to pay for education, they’d learn to write and speak AFTER acquiring a little common sense! One look at the sattelite nighttime shots is enough to convice me that I’d have no interest in living in North Korea! I find it incongruent that their ‘May Day’ parade looks more like a tractor-pull than a display of arms, although I’m sure that all that materiel is quite impressive when launched at civilization!
Report Post »jasmer
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 7:41amWhy is it that speaking the truth, like Michelle having a 3′ wide butt, requires a groveling apology – but filthy idiots like this are never hounded from their taxpayer-funded indoctrination jobs and kicked to the gutter where they belong?
Oh, right, I forgot – being a Prog means never having to say you’re sorry.
Report Post »paleoman
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:52pmWhat do progressives, liberials & democrats have in common with a cow pasture? They are all full of dung.
Report Post »Viet Vet
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:00pmWhat they have in common is that they want to own the cow pasture and the cows, because they (bureaucracy) know far better how to manage the livestock industry and “evenly” parcel out the proceeds from the operation.
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:51pmThe Kos is only a shadow of it’s former vulgar self. Who cares what the 22 people who read a little of it think.
Report Post »bpodlesnik
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:50pmYeah, N. Korea is WAY better than S. Korea. I mean look how much energy N. Korea saves by allowing the people that live there only as much as 3 hours of electricity a day…N. Korea is doing their part in global warming, are you?! (ends sarcasm)
Report Post »Viet Vet
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:03pmBelieve me, that would be a selling point with the loony left.
Report Post »last frontier
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:40pmWhy does the LEFT cry fowl the way we treat rapist, murderers in our prison systems but they dont care if mothers are forced to eat there young in north Korea’s generational detention camps.Can you see the pattern here.
Report Post »Temporal
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:37pmThe Administration’s next “Human Rights” Tzar? How about a recess appointment to a U.N. fact finding committee Better yet, maybe he’ll be the next Chairman of the IAEA?
Report Post »Skybottle1
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:37pmJust another obummer lacky. He has never been to South Korea and seen the wonderful life there. I have been 50 plus time and love the culture. I spent 20 years traveling and working in South Korea, Tawain, and China and loved every moment. The left is crazy and stupid. Kick them out of office and take our country back.
Report Post »MEANS2RESIST
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 11:38pmMost leftist elites are anti human race, especially the environmentalist whacknuts…
Report Post »Viet Vet
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:35pmThis idiot spews out crap just like Michael Moore-on and Barry Soetoro. He’s an America-hater and a communist just like Noam Chomsky, Saul Alinsky, Howard Zinn, Frances Fox Piven, Barry Soetoro, Moore-on, et al.
Report Post »nelbert
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:31pmNiccolo Caldararo is a professor from a university in San Francisco. Says it all.
Report Post »Of course he’s a communist.
kaydeebeau
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:43pmLet him put his fortitude where his mouth is – Move yourself and your citizenship to N Korea – talk to me in a month and lets see if your ideals are the same. Good grief – do the “educated” not have the ability to follow anything past 2 -3 steps in a logical progression of thought?
Report Post »garbagecanlogic
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:27pmAre there any brain cells running around the daily kos??? None! Thats what I thot.
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
Report Post »The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
PappysPullman
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:25pmI understand that North Korean grass is delicious. Seasoned with a little soil and it’s to die for!
Report Post »food plot 7.62
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:24pmWhat do you expect from a POS from the left coast?
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:50pmYou Eastern tenderfoot.
Report Post »singleparent
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:22pmGetting sick of this crap yet? I sure am.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:38pmbeyond sick of it. I want to ship all these idiots off to cuba. heck I would even clear out a state for the commies to all live in and give us the other 49 back. so tired of it
Report Post »abseas
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:04amI’m sick of it too . . . We need to start calling a spade a spade and Communists Communists. These idiot commie pinko’s call true patriots racists every time we challenge them. We need to start smacking them right back by calling them what they really are . . . . Communists!
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:21pmI can’t believe that any sane person would actually try to argue that North Korea is not a bad place to live. They have satellite pictures of North Korean concentration camps for it’s own citizens. This guy is teaching children. This is a good example of just how screwed up our education system is.
Report Post »Viet Vet
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:37pmBut notice, none of them would ever live there.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 11:07pmI would be able to at least minutely have some respect for their position if they were actually willing to live the lives in the places they tout as so fabulous. If the marxist / socialist / communist way is so great – put your money where your mouth is – walk the talk – until then – yours is empty praise
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:18pmAnother a-hole who is perfectly free to get the flock out of the U.S. as soon as he can get a visa to North Korea.
Report Post »Viet Vet
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:39pmNope, all these reprobates want to live in the awful, imperialistic, capitalistic, repressive United States of America. Go figure.
Report Post »abseas
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:13amPeople are dying to get into N. Korea . . . You can see the bones of all three of them right there on the border. But then it’s kind of hard to distinguish them from the thousands who have tried to get out. The daily Koss should move to N. Korea. At least their circulation and readership would improve. I’m sure they could qualify as the “STATE NEWSPAPER.” Thanks alot Democraps for supporting such a fine blog . . . . NOT!
Report Post »prage2001
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 6:54amAnyone ever seen the picture of the NK/SK border crossing?
Report Post »SK has 2 guards in position looking into NK.
On the NK side there are 4 guards. 2 looking north into their own country and 2 on the border facing each other. They face each other with orders to shoot to kill if one of them attempts to run across the border into SK to defect. Creeepy.
geonj
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:12pmprof. moron.
Report Post »Scottt01
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:11pmThis guy also supports NDAA 2012 as having no negative effect on Americans civil liberties.
Report Post »drago
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:07pmJust one more to add to the list………
Report Post »ProgressiveDeist267
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:02pmHow can anyone defend terrible regimes like North Korea or Cuba? Even though I’m a progressive I can never support North Korea because the killings of the citizens and government control. I’m a proud American who has served my country in the Marines. Never will I want to see people as slaves to the government.
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:07pmWhy are you a progressive ? Yes, it is a legitimate question..
Report Post »drago
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:13pm@progressivedeist267
Report Post »How can you abe a progressive, and against people being slaves to the government, when thats what progressivism does, it makes one a slave to the government………
ProgressiveDeist267
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:13pmI always was attracted to progressive politics. Even though I wouldn’t agree with every individual or politician who said they were a progressive or supported progressive politics; I will most likely agree with progressive and liberal politics.
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:27pm@PROGRESSIVEDEIST267.. Was just wondering, to each his own.. I’m just not into the whole share the wealth, bash America at every opportunity you can and damn the rich guy next door that never did a damn thing to me.. Thank you for answering me in a an honest way.. You know I expected something different.. Good luck,man.
Report Post »ProgressiveDeist267
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:31pm@Drago: “Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes through the state. Progressivism is often viewed by its advocates to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.” I do not support slavery. There are times I agree many conservatives but I just feel indifferent with the many conservatives because of the strong Evangelical Christian influence in conservative politics.
Report Post »Dosrios
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:32pmDemint, it’s because even in the Marine Corps, there are weirdos. But I would bet you a dollar to a donut the jerk was never on active service in any branch. Keyboards make up for a lot of personal shortcomings
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:34pmLike to have government micro manage our lives eh? Yes we need to give government more control over us,I see how that can give us more freedom and liberty,it makes so much sense.
Report Post »ProgressiveDeist267
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:48pmYou‘re welcome and I can agree I’m not about sharing wealth or bashing the rich people. What I believe is people need to help one another and also help make our economy more efficient. I also would like to point out I was in the Marines. I enlisted in the Marines; went to boot camp in Camp Pendleton like every other individual on the West coast and then earned the title.
Report Post »Viet Vet
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:57pmProgressivism is an euphemism for communism. It‘s a catch word used for the benefit of the ’useful idiot’ to sell communism. It’s purpose is to distract from the empirical inferiority of the system vs capitalism. Too, it is used as a means to represent perversion and nihilism as virtuous.
Report Post »ohiowordguy
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:22pm@PROGRESSIVEDEIST267:
It‘s obvious that you don’t understand — at all — what it means to be a “Progressive.”
Progressive philosophy espouses government control of virtually every aspect of society. Using pretty words like “reform,” Progressives will indeed make slaves of us all — while people like you cheer them on. Study the past. Study early 20th century US history.
Thank you for your service, but you have a great deal to learn.
Report Post »Banter
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:27pm@Viet Vet
Excellent Post!
Report Post »booger71
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 11:57pmProgressive is the opposite of individual liberty and freedom. It breeds a dependance on a highly centralized government.
Report Post »JohnnyinthePedros
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 3:32am@ progressivedeist:
I’m a Deist myself and a libertarian-leaning conservative. I know what you mean about the evangelicals, but they don’t bother me much. They have the right to be weird, as I do, and when they get all preachy I say something like “Jesus is a fairytale” or something that will make them go try to convert someone else instead. Or, when reading comments on this page I scroll faster when I come across the inevitable Bible beating. The self-righteousness gets old, but I see leftie environmentalists acting worse when it comes to their Earth-worshiping ways.
I’m a small-government guy and in most (not all) cases the evangelical Right is too. Progressivism sounds nice in theory, but every time I figure out what they are progressing towards it’s bad. It always ends up taking away freedom and liberty, two things I will fight to the death to keep. Collectivism, which is what I personally see as progressivism, sounds good if you don’t take laziness and greed into account when discussing the finer points of a collectivist society. The lazy, greedy bastards will screw up a good Utopia every time.
One thing I think the evangelicals are right about is their belief that Mankind is a fallen, flawed race, and only God can create a perfect society. Since God seems to have been a bit of a deadbeat dad for the last few thousand years at a minimum, we should just follow the Constitution and Bill of Rights and hope for the best… That’s my opinion anyway.
Report Post »Berbel73
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:48amProgressivedeist267, you like the progressive movement? Have you actually read about or studied the progressive movement? If not here are a few books on the subject that you might consider reading: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=progressivism&x=0&y=0
Report Post »I didn’t know what the progressive movement and politics were all about until the 2008 elections, in fact I didn’t much care about politics in general at all. But after reading a few of the selections from my above link, I was horified at what I was ignorant to and what these people’s vision for America was and still is. Progressivism is the enemy of liberty and freedom period!
AMERICA4EVER
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:00pmNuts!
Report Post »RightThinking1
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 8:57pmHey! Jimmy Carter agrees with guy, he must be right…
Report Post »Viet Vet
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:22pmRemember how the left/democraps went apoplectic when Reagan called the Soviet Union an ‘evil empire’? ‘Moral Relativism’ is the mechanism through which they equate good and evil. Yes, it’s a form of insanity.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:54pmExcellently put!
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:59pmI wonder if his brain is in the contorted shape of an ‘energy saving’ CFL? (I put it in quotes as the energy saving is more in hypothetical hyperbole than in a real-life illumination exercise!
Report Post »