American Perspectives: "Origins of North Korea's 주체" Initial Response

Talking about such a controversial issue, especially on a South Korean blogging platform, is actually very frightening to me.  I am very non-confrontational in person, and I'm profoundly fearful of misunderstandings, especially cross cultural ones.  I had to delete one blog post (and maybe I'll bring it back up at a later time) because I felt like Icarus, and that perhaps I was flying too close to the sun.  As in, maybe that particular post would be too easily misunderstood because I needed to develop my argument a little more, and therefore, I deleted it.  Due to being an outsider commenting on a sensitive issue, it is my responsibility to be very, very careful.  There's a lot of context and a lot of trauma that I will never, ever know; and I most certainly respect that.

 

So, I picked up this excellent book "Origins of North Korea's 주체" edited by 서재정 because I wanted to learn about North Korea from a well informed perspective that wasn't completely tainted by Cold War bias from either side of the Iron Curtain.  Instead of material that is intended for the lowest common denominator, I wanted to read something that was intended for an academic audience. Why? Thorough, peer reviewed research for one thing, a serious discussion of ideas for the other.  Material intended for the lowest common denominator will take an unflattering or culturally clashing detail, and sensationalize it for sales.  I'm past that.  I want material that is written primarily by Korean people.  I want something in which the subject is discussed rationally, objectively, intelligently, and without disdain.

 

As someone with a degree in Anthropology and Sociology, if I see cultural differences potentially impacting an opinion, I feel it is my responsibility to do my homework, and to share what I've found.  So, I am grateful that I came across this book where the topics were discussed clearly, and they acknowledged the various arguments.

 

Over the next few days, I intend to write a response to each of the six essays in this book, and I hope I don't inadvertantly "fly too close to the sun."