In Support of the Youth

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Thursday August 19, 2010 · 11:07 AM PDT

2010/08/19 · 11:07

You know, the youth. Chronically addicted to video games, slacking off, being politically inactive and naive, and enjoying Cheetos on any given weekday.

Some good news from the youth front. They are innovating! Run for your lives!

BEIJING -- A 13-year-old American boy who made a rare visit to Pyongyang [North Korea] says officials there welcomed his idea for a "children's peace forest" in the demilitarized zone dividing North and South Korea, although they said it would only happen if the countries signed a peace treaty first.

Jonathan Lee returned Thursday from an eight-day visit to the reclusive country during which he was taken on a tour of the DMZ. A hoped-for meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il did not materialize, although Lee said the officials forwarded to Kim a letter from him.

"On this trip, I discovered that both sides want reunification and that Korea is one, so I see hope on the Korean peninsula," Lee, who made the visit with his parents, Kyoung and Melissa Lee, told The Associated Press.

Remember -- we shouldn't talk to people who disagree with us. Unless you're a totally badass, brave political leader. Or .. a 13 year old ..

The lack of diplomatic relations between Pyongyang and Washington makes private visits to the North by Americans extremely rare. In recent months North Korea has detained four Americans for illegal entry, and one is still in prison there.

Melissa Lee said concerns about the family's safety in the north had proved unfounded. "We were taken care of. At no point did I feel unsafe," she said.

[...]

Home video shot by the family during their visit showed Jonathan Lee talking to tourists inside a meeting room at the DMZ, presenting flowers at a children's music performance, and visiting a museum, library and Pyongyang's famed mass games.

In his letter submitted to the North Korean leader, Lee said he wrote that former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung had talked with him about his "sunshine policy" of peaceful coexistence with the North.

The Washington Post notes that the current conservatives in South Korea have abandoned Dae-jung's policy.

So if a 13 year old (from the deep south) can be a progressive INTERNATIONAL leader, maybe we can all feel safe to take some action here.

Also: Liberals have no reason to fear the future.

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