By Casey Lartigue Jr.
Three years ago, when Teach North Korean Refugees (TNKR) held its second English speech contest featuring North Korean refugees, I reminded the audience of the Aesop fable "The Man and the Lion."
The lion had complained that lions would be accurately represented "when the lions write history." Instead of the statue of Hercules tearing apart a lion, "If a lion had made it, the man would be under a lion's paw."
According to the North Korean regime's version of its country, the people there are perfectly happy being ruled over by them and never want to leave, except when the government needs them to do so. Even though North Koreans go through occasional famines or have their families ripped apart for minor transgressions, the regime reserves the right to make decisions about how North Koreans can live their lives and when and where they are allowed to travel.
It continues trying to block information from the outside world, threatens to annihilate loudspeakers, air balloons or radio stations sending in outside information, and denounces as "traitors," "cowards" and "human scum" the handful of North Koreans that have escaped its clutches.
But what do North Koreans have to say about it? We can trust North Korea's organized band of criminals as much as any kidnapper assuring outsiders that the hostages are content. Almost from birth, North Koreans are brainwashed by the regime and not allowed to think or speak for themselves. They aren't free to leave to find their place in the world either, unless they are willing to risk their lives by going through what is usually an expensive and dangerous escape.
It isn't easy for North Korean refugees to tell their stories. I have seen many want to stop during the middle of interviews or to have second thoughts after the interview is over. For those who enter into our public speaking program, we give them numerous opportunities to practice with speech coach mentors. We also make sure they know that they are free to drop out at any time. Unlike North Korea controlling their movements, we make it clear that the doors and windows are open for them to leave at any time.
Today we have eight North Korean refugees who are studying in our program scheduled to give speeches at a TNKR forum titled "What the World Doesn't Know About Being North Korean."
It is the lions telling the story.
Eight of them have made it to this point; one dropped out for reasons we still don't know. They have been working with speech coach mentors who are instructed not to change stories, but rather to focus on grammar, pronunciation and structure. Above all, it is to help the refugees build confidence as they prepare to deliver speeches in English before an audience.
None of them are published authors; several have made it clear that they aren't seeking to become public speakers. Most will quietly return to studying English so they can prepare for academic and employment opportunities. Several agree to speak only because audience members are not allowed to take photos. It is their chance to say what they think without putting their families at risk.
As one North Korean refugee told me a few years ago, the regime says it is strong, but its fear of allowing North Koreans to speak their own minds or to be exposed to outside information is proof of the regime's weakness.
British-American intellectual Christopher Hitchens once said that North Korea is the "worst country in the world." After listing North Korea's many crimes, he explained succinctly: "A system where you can't live but you can't leave is the definition of hell." North Koreans aren't allowed to live as they wish, to think what they want, or to leave to find their place in the world without threats from the regime. Even after escaping, they aren't really free from a regime sending agents to dig up information to target family members of escapees.
Today those eight North Korean refugees will have another opportunity to tell their versions of their own stories and to share their own thoughts not authorized by North Korea.
When we had that second English speech contest for North Korean refugees back in August 2015, it happened to coincide with the deadline North Korea had set that day. The regime was threatening to blow up loudspeakers on the southern side of the peninsula. Our contest proceeded as planned, and the deadline came and went without any destruction. It was a reminder, however, that the North Korean regime continues trying to block information from the outside world and that speaking out comes with risks for refugees that those of us born outside North Korea never have to consider.
Aesop didn't write about North Koreans, but their stories could fit in nicely in the story of "The Man and Lion," with the other viewpoint being considered. Today will be an opportunity for more voices from the North to be heard, not just one voice from the regime.
Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center, is the 2017 winner of the "Social Contribution" Prize from the Hansarang Rural Cultural Foundation and the 2017 winner of the Global Award from Challenge Korea.
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The lion had complained that lions would be accurately represented "when the lions write history." Instead of the statue of Hercules tearing apart a lion, "If a lion had made it, the man would be under a lion's paw."
According to the North Korean regime's version of its country, the people there are perfectly happy being ruled over by them and never want to leave, except when the government needs them to do so. Even though North Koreans go through occasional famines or have their families ripped apart for minor transgressions, the regime reserves the right to make decisions about how North Koreans can live their lives and when and where they are allowed to travel.
It continues trying to block information from the outside world, threatens to annihilate loudspeakers, air balloons or radio stations sending in outside information, and denounces as "traitors," "cowards" and "human scum" the handful of North Koreans that have escaped its clutches.
But what do North Koreans have to say about it? We can trust North Korea's organized band of criminals as much as any kidnapper assuring outsiders that the hostages are content. Almost from birth, North Koreans are brainwashed by the regime and not allowed to think or speak for themselves. They aren't free to leave to find their place in the world either, unless they are willing to risk their lives by going through what is usually an expensive and dangerous escape.
It isn't easy for North Korean refugees to tell their stories. I have seen many want to stop during the middle of interviews or to have second thoughts after the interview is over. For those who enter into our public speaking program, we give them numerous opportunities to practice with speech coach mentors. We also make sure they know that they are free to drop out at any time. Unlike North Korea controlling their movements, we make it clear that the doors and windows are open for them to leave at any time.
Today we have eight North Korean refugees who are studying in our program scheduled to give speeches at a TNKR forum titled "What the World Doesn't Know About Being North Korean."
It is the lions telling the story.
Eight of them have made it to this point; one dropped out for reasons we still don't know. They have been working with speech coach mentors who are instructed not to change stories, but rather to focus on grammar, pronunciation and structure. Above all, it is to help the refugees build confidence as they prepare to deliver speeches in English before an audience.
None of them are published authors; several have made it clear that they aren't seeking to become public speakers. Most will quietly return to studying English so they can prepare for academic and employment opportunities. Several agree to speak only because audience members are not allowed to take photos. It is their chance to say what they think without putting their families at risk.
As one North Korean refugee told me a few years ago, the regime says it is strong, but its fear of allowing North Koreans to speak their own minds or to be exposed to outside information is proof of the regime's weakness.
British-American intellectual Christopher Hitchens once said that North Korea is the "worst country in the world." After listing North Korea's many crimes, he explained succinctly: "A system where you can't live but you can't leave is the definition of hell." North Koreans aren't allowed to live as they wish, to think what they want, or to leave to find their place in the world without threats from the regime. Even after escaping, they aren't really free from a regime sending agents to dig up information to target family members of escapees.
Today those eight North Korean refugees will have another opportunity to tell their versions of their own stories and to share their own thoughts not authorized by North Korea.
When we had that second English speech contest for North Korean refugees back in August 2015, it happened to coincide with the deadline North Korea had set that day. The regime was threatening to blow up loudspeakers on the southern side of the peninsula. Our contest proceeded as planned, and the deadline came and went without any destruction. It was a reminder, however, that the North Korean regime continues trying to block information from the outside world and that speaking out comes with risks for refugees that those of us born outside North Korea never have to consider.
Aesop didn't write about North Koreans, but their stories could fit in nicely in the story of "The Man and Lion," with the other viewpoint being considered. Today will be an opportunity for more voices from the North to be heard, not just one voice from the regime.
Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center, is the 2017 winner of the "Social Contribution" Prize from the Hansarang Rural Cultural Foundation and the 2017 winner of the Global Award from Challenge Korea.
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