Wherever there was injustice, war, discrimination against women, gays and the disadvantaged, I did my best to show up and exert moral persuasion.
Coretta Scott KingRead
Kindness towards strangers is rare in North Korea. There is a risk to helping others. The state made accusers and informers of us all.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the courage needed to show kindness in a repressive environment where such actions can have serious consequences.
In this quote, Lee Hyeon-Seo speaks to the scarcity of kindness among strangers in North Korea, a place where societal norms and government actions have instilled fear of retribution for helping others. The idea of helping someone becomes risky as the state has encouraged a culture of suspicion, where individuals may inform on one another, leading to a breakdown of communal support and kindness.
Themes
KindnessCourageStrangersRiskNorth KoreaFearHelp
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about human rights, this quote highlights the importance of compassion even in hostile environments.
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