The romantic in me really grooves on this WaPo article: Christian missionaries sending contraband to North Korea by balloon
In its entirety, the article talks about efforts to smuggle Christian items and more mundane contraband across the Chinese and South Korean borders, but the fact that they tie stuff to helium balloons and float it over the border is oddly charming.
The balloons carried plastic bags containing pamphlets of Bible scripture and pairs of nylon stockings to entice wary North Koreans. Lee's aerial evangelism was part of a broader campaign by Christian groups in East Asia and beyond against North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his government.
The stockings are a nice touch too. "Accept Christ as your savior today, and we'll throw in this pair of L'Eggs silky sheers absolutely FREE!" Hee...
I personally feel kind of inspired to go buy some balloons and a helium tank and float balloons with my own brand of philosophical evangelism attached...and maybe a scratch-n-sniff sticker or a Homie. Mine could say things like, "It's not your birthday. Eat cake anyway" or maybe just "MONKIES!"
This is my absolute favorite part of the article, though:
North Korea contends that it grants religious freedom, and there are three Christian churches in Pyongyang often shown to visiting foreigners. But analysts describe decades of harsh campaigns to eradicate religion in North Korea and replace it with an elaborate political cult that exalts the Kim clan. Kim Jong Il, for instance, is said to have been born on a sacred mountaintop, his birth heralded by lighting bolts and a double rainbow.
I think I need a much more glamorous origin story than just that my mom had me in a hospital in the next state over because it was the only one in the area practicing natural childbirth at the time. I think my birth needs to have been heralded by showers of shooting stars, and dancing unicorns, and fairies handing out coupons for free ice cream, and of course a pink pony. But when I make my bid for world domination, I will be a much more benevolent tyrant. And those awful drab gray pajamas and big Old-Navy-old-lady-spokeswoman glasses will be among the few things banned in my realm. Let's see you fly THOSE in on balloons, sucka!
(On another balloon note, Suicidal Balloon is a seriously messed up animation series about a balloon that enjoys popping itself in order to scare people. So wrong, and yet so right.)
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