232) Kim Jong Caricature

There's been a Tumblr circulating called, "Kim Jong-Il Looking at Things." It's content is just that - pictures, like the one above, of the Dear Leader looking at various things.

This afternoon, my cousin made the astute observation that Kim Jong-Il has been turned into a caricature of himself. (Granted, he's begging for it with his fabulous hair, small stature, and Michael Jackson worship.) But the reality is that Mr. Kim is a dangerous little man. Prideful, the very definition of the Napoleon complex, he keeps his country in unnecessary poverty. He brainwashes his people into compliance by uniting them around a common enemy - South Korea and the west. He is continually toeing the line, instigating and provoking.

Caricatures bring levity and make the unpleasant digestible. Think of all the Bush W./monkey memes and big-eared cartoon renderings. They create a character that in the end often doesn't even seem real. That being said, at what point do caricatures become dangerous in their downplaying of the gravity of things?

Don't get me wrong - I love a good random blog or Internet meme. I myself have made suggestions on The Plan that would further Kim Jong-Il's caricature-ness. But at the risk of sounding morbid, I can't help but wonder if such a blog would still be funny after something devastating happens in Korea. Another way to put it - replace Kim Jong-il with Hitler. Ha...ha?

To lighten the mood, here's a picture of a dog tag necklace I bought at the 3rd Ward Handmade Holiday Craft Fair. It's hard to read from the photo, but it says "Don't Ask" and "Don't Tell." I figure it's a good statement piece.