This year, we have all experienced the unpleasant feeling of
fear. Fear of the unknown, fear for our loved ones, and fear for our source of
food. It has all come up this year. But fortunately, this fear will subside
along with the pandemic. For some, like in Nothing to Envy, this fear is
infinite.
While reading
Nothing to Envy, I have noticed
patterns of fear. The difference between our fears and their fears, though, is
validity. Not to say that our fears throughout this pandemic are invalid, but
they are nothing compared to those of North Koreans on a daily basis.
In North Korea, people constantly walk on eggshells, in fear
of their lives. Their situation is so dire that even saying the wrong thing-
even in a joking manner- can get you sent away or even killed. Jobs do not pay
salaries, but you are still required to show up. And worst of all, the country
is slowly running out of food and continues to face famine.
So, although the grocery stores may be out of toilet paper, frozen
foods, and disinfectant spray, we will make it out of this. As for North
Koreans, however, I am not so sure. They continue to fight a corrupt system to
this day. They have had to forget compassion and remember survival. Over there,
it is every man for himself. And, quite frankly, I don’t see that changing
anytime soon.
