KOREA'S STATE OF "ONE MIND"

Saw an interesting feature on Nat Geo yesterday morning. It featured a young rhythmic gymnast from North Korea who had participated and performed in the country's Mass Games before the communist state's revered leader Kim Il Sung.

What really got me was how the Korean leaders were able to "brainwash" and convince North Koreans that the key to their success as a nation was for each one to lose their individuality in favor of the common good.

And in fact the North Koreans lived this belief. The Mass games is a good example of this communality in action. The show of talent which is really a performance of many thousands of athletes in a coordinated script is a marvel to see. Even the audience performs by flashing cards of different colors to form pictures of Korean figureheads and propaganda themes.

The gymnast,whose name I can't recall, said in her interview that being a performer in the Mass Games is tough but she "trains through the pain" because for her performing before the General is a great privelege and one which she considers a highlight of her life.

Part of North Korea's success in communicating propaganda is attributed to the fact that it has only one government controlled TV station that broadcasts only communist propaganda and stories of North Korea's many heroes, who are supposed to be idolized by the people.

Though one might criticize their methods of achieving their means one cannot doubt that North Korea's State of "One Mind" is nonetheless,effective!