Although I did not get the chance to start reading my book selection, Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, I thought I could make this blog about what I think it will be about. This book, I imagine, may actually relate a lot to our last unit, human rights.
The issue of human rights does not get much worse anywhere in the world than in North Korea. People are limited in their rights to speak, express themselves, travel, and do pretty much anything freely. Because North Koreans are restricted in mostly everything they do, you could imagine how miserable they must be. If this is hard to understand, imagine what life would be like if we lived like they do…
No longer could we travel outside of Troy- which is absolutely horrible as it is. Imagine not being able to see your friends in other cities! Or being able to speak against your government. What about elections? Or getting tattoos? Wearing makeup? This is undoubtedly a place that you would not want to live. It’s like a real life dystopia.
So, as I read this book, I imagine I will hear a lot about the social injustices and horrific policies that North Koreans (ordinary ones, I imagine) have to deal with on a daily basis. This book should remind us all to be thankful for the freedom that we have, and to never take it for granted.
