The death of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il sparked a fire of comments and statements about his faults, almost celebrating his death on popular social media networks, Facebook, Myspace, and various blogging sites. A teen joining his friends in the frenzy of comments might just seem like harmless fun, but it just, in a way, immunizes and familiarizes youths to death. That death, even of an unkind person is fine, that death can be justified.
While typing frivolous statements about a person whom they have a one sided opinion on, from the national newspapers and news correspondents in the United States who provide just the negatives about certain leaders. To indoctrinate citizens into believing that the United States of America is the most formidable country and the others just aren’t up to standard. This is only pronounced after millions of people blog, tweet, or facebook after any event, especially the death of a leader of Kim Jong-il’s magnitude in the 21st century.
The ironic situation is very opinionated, in the death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson in 2008, it was a shock to the whole nation. Granted, Jackson’s misdemeanors were not as harsh as Kim Jong-il’s, but the post mortem news of each individual was drastically different. While Jackson was stamped in American culture as being a child molester and drug abuser, his death started a backlash of mourning, celebrating his life and looking on his positive. Even starting a saying, “Long live the King”. Just three years later, Kim Jong-il the leader of North Korea died of natural causes and his death was celebrated, stating that one less evil person is gone. All corresponded through Social Media networks by people of all ages with similar reactions.
I asked a primary user of multiple Social Media sites, Moises Aguirre, a junior at South Pasadena High School just one question. “What was your reaction to the deaths of Kim Jong-il and Michael Jackson? And did you post your thoughts online?” His simple answers were, “Kim Jo
ng-il wasn’t the nicest guy, starving millions. He deserved to die, and of course I posted this. On the other hand, Michael Jackson was influential with his art, he should be praised.” Moises, although being an intelligent individual, was subject to opinionated news articles and televised news programs.
