Posted on 06/09/2009 11:26:29 AM PDT by CMoran325
Some of those in conservative circles predicted chirping crickets from the liberals regarding the incarceration of Laura Ling and Euna Lee by the North Korean government. They made snide remarks that the libs cared more about foreign terrorists being pampered by the U.S. than two Americans being sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for unspecified crimes.
Thankfully, this is not true, and it seems that there is bipartisan support for the immediate release of these two women. But the question will be, how will the current administration handle the situation? As Gotham Chopra wrote on the Huffington Post:
"Considering the unprecedented stakes and circumstances surrounding their case, Laura and Euna's predicament is fast evolving into a tricky political situation for President Barack Obama who has made clear his steadfast belief that smart diplomacy can be a panacea for almost all problems facing nations around the planet. It would appear now more than at any prior time in his presidency, Mr. Obama's covenant will be tested."
Of course, Chopra went on to say that America has no standing because of how we have treated prisoners at Guantanamo -- as if there is any kind of comparison. This is no time for posturing. We must show that we, as a nation, will not stand for this outrageous treatment of these women.
There has been talk that Obama is thinking of sending Al Gore to negotiate their release. Seems fitting, since it was a report for his network that the two women were working on. But when I think of how poor a communicator he is to anyone who doesn't also view the world through "green-colored glasses," I sincerely fear for these two women if their fate is in his hands. No joke.
I'm thinking whoever pleads their case is going to have to get tough. And will probably have to turn to China for help. We can only hope that China -- in the interest of staying off the top of the human rights violators list -- can help us out.
I fear that in the end it will probably involve at least some kind of butt-kissing of NK, and when they are freed, oh isn't that Kim just the nicest, most reasonable guy? I think the Ling and Lee families have shown great restraint in their pleas. They have apologized on behalf of their loved ones, and said that it must have been an accidental infraction, showing great humility and undue respect.
If I were in their shoes, I'd want to scream from the hilltops what an unbelievably incomprehensible injustice this whole scenario is and that I was coming after Kim personally!
But while the world awaits to see what the furute holds for these women, and while the pundits trade jabs as to what will or will not work -- let us not forget the tragedy that the two journalists were trying to expose. The fact that they were reporting a story about human trafficking seems to be an afterthought in most news stories.
And when we hear "human trafficking" it's all too easy to appease our minds with images of people in trucks being secreted away, stuck in a strange land unable to get back home. That would be terrible enough. But what we are talking about here is young women -- children -- being forced into prostitution. Forced to live a hellish life, away from their loved ones with no idea how long they will be considered "useful", and what will become of them once they're not.
These are daughters. Girls who should be in school learning, singing songs, and playing games. Not being sold and abused like a slab of meat.
While awaiting word on the outcome of the nightmare that Ling and Lee face, let us remember the young women who don't have vice-presidents willing to step in on their behalf to rescue them.
I learned about an organization that works toward the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation thanks to Stephen Baldwin. (It's his designated charity for his appearance on "I'm a Celebrity...")
It's Love 146 at www.love146.com
Watch this video, and if you are moved -- make a donation. If you are as moved as I was, make it a monthly pledge.
I think of my daughters, and even the remotest thought... heaven help those poor angels who are forced into such horrific circumstances.
Liberals have no standing because they drew moral equivalence between Saddam's treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib with certain prosecuted members of the military's treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib (calling it official state policy and equal to the attrocities committed by Saddam Hussein and Adolph Hitler).
Liberals also have no standing because they have been silent on human rights abuses in Korea. A bit late to suddenly "condemn" such actions. Do only the rights of reporters in Al Gore's service count?
I hope I do not raise my children to engage in this type of stupidity. What exactly were they trying to prove by screwing with the North Korean government? Did they think that their press pass was some sort of "get out of jail free" card like it is in the USA?
On top of this, what exactly could they have told us that we did not already know about North Korea?
I wouldn’t worry too much about those girls. They need to look good for the Obamedia when they are finally released after we’ve humiliated ourselves and set up a taxpayer bail out of NK. They probably won’t be beaten to death like a couple guys from the Pueblo were. They’ll be fine.
“I hope I do not raise my children to engage in this type of stupidity. What exactly were they trying to prove by screwing with the North Korean government?”
When I said I was thinking of my daughters, I was more specifically speaking about the young girls being sold as sex slaves.
As for Ling and Lee, perhaps they were a bit naive about what they thought they could get away with, or maybe they did nothing wrong at all — wouldn’t put it past NK soldiers who had some idea what L&L were doing to cross over and grab them so as to “protect” NK.
And even though we know how bad NK is, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be viligant in continuing to expose them for what they really are. Or from continuing to expose the S Asian countries in general for their complicity in human trafficking.
Tonight on CURRENT TV: New Series: Comedy/Reality
Dear Leader-Juche Love Slaves.
Debut episode:”Hennesy River, Take Me Home”
Join the non-stop fun and laughs tonight as the girls try to keep Dear Leader’s congac flowing non-stop, buying time until Uncle Al can jet into the People’s Paradise with a big bag of cash and reclaim his rightful position as the true “Dear Leader” of their hearts.
Tomorrow’s episode: “Talk Kimchee to me, baby.”
A-la-carts, I meant jimmuh carter's Iran "success," how far did he get???
It needed a Reagan to solve that problem, the very first he took office!!!
Since they worked for albore’s news service, one would think that ole al would be demanding their release & working with his RAT buddies to secure their release. Hey al, don’t ya take care of your people? Why in Hades did you send them there in the first place? Ah, I see. ole al is too busy stuffing “global warming” down our gullets and profiting from all the expenditures made in the name of global warming to even care about anything or anyone else.
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