#United States Declaration of Independence

[nobbin0]

Hi there, it appears you may be misinformed about the historical context that led to the Korean war. After gaining independence from over three decades of Japanese colonial rule following their surrender in 1945, Koreans had set up local self-governing bodies called people's committees, including the Central People's Committee, which declared the Korean People's Republic. When the U.S. forces arrived, they would not recognize any group as the legitimate government until an agreement was made among the Western allies. Instead they decided to form the United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK), which then disbanded the local people's committees and imposed direct rule, assigning military personnel who lacked language skills and knowledge of Korea as governors at various levels. This was, of course, opposed strongly by the Korean people, and by 1946, the U.S. military government found itself increasingly depending on advice from conservative figures, including landlords and Japanese colonial administrators.

The USAMGIK became the official ruling body of the southern half of the Korean peninsula, and they banned strikes and outlawed the newly-liberated Korean people's right to self governance. The USAMGIK responded to the strike protest in Daegu which later led to the Autumn Uprising by declaring martial law and firing into crowds of demonstrators and killing an unknown number of people. This was also the time when brothels for U.S. troops, called “comfort stations,” were built, modeled after the Japanese wartime brothels.

In contrast, the north was where People's Committees sprang up in villages, counties, and provinces and coalesced into a provisional government. Farmers organized, demanded the land from the landlords. The American Journalist Anna Louise Strong wrote, 'The North Koreans assume that this is just what naturally happens when once you are a liberated land. They aren't yet liberated down south, they told me. The Americans let those pro-Japanese traitors stay in power.' The Korean War is better understood not as a country invading another country or even as a civil war but rather as a fight of an occupied people for liberation from their occupier. Years following the Korean war and to this day, the DPRK has aligned itself with decolonization movements around the world, particularly the global south. It was even at one point considered a leader among the third-world countries. In opposition, for the United States, the Korean War set the precedent for a global American military presence unlike ever before and the U.S. imperialism in the form that it exists today.

Here is a snippet of a cablegram dated 12 January, 1951 from the minister of foreign affairs of the Korean People’s Democratic Republic addressed to the President of the Security Council-

You can read the full version here.

All the information in this post is easily verifiable through freely-available sources such as Wikipedia, major western newspapers, and even declassified documents by the CIA itself for the skeptical, although you should keep in mind that these sources are heavily biased against North Korea and have aided in the creation of the heavily propagandized and racist image of the DPRK that exists in the minds of people around the world today.

What does life in North Korea look like outside of Pyongyang? 🇰🇵

Hey, I'm back again with a very scary "tankie" post that asks you to think of North Koreans as people, and to consider their country not as a cartoonish dystopia, but as a nation that, like any other place on earth, has culture, traditions, and history.

Below is a collection of pictures from various cities and places in North Korea, along with a brief dive into some of the historical events that informs life in the so-called "hermit kingdom."

Warning: very long post

Kaesong, the historic city

Beginning this post with Kaesong, one of the oldest cities in Korea. It's also one of the few major cities in the DPRK (i.e. "North Korea") that was not completely destroyed during the Korean war.

Every single city you'll see from this point on were victims of intense aerial bombardments from the U.S. and its allies, and had to be either partially or completely rebuilt after the war.

From 1951 to 1953, during what has now become known as the "forgotten war" in the West, the U.S. dropped 635,000 tons of bombs over Korea — most of it in the North, and on civilian population centers. An additional 32,000 tons of napalm was also deployed, engulfing whole cities in fire and inflicting people with horrific burns:

For such a simple thing to make, napalm had horrific human consequences. A bit of liquid fire, a sort of jellied gasoline, napalm clung to human skin on contact and melted off the flesh. Witnesses to napalm's impact described eyelids so burned they could not be shut and flesh that looked like "swollen, raw meat." - PBS

Ever wondered why North Koreans seem to hate the U.S so much? Well...

Keep in mind that only a few years prior to this, the U.S. had, as the first and only country in the world, used the atomic bomb as a weapon of war. Consider, too, the proximity between Japan and Korea — both geographically and as an "Other" in the Western imagination.

As the war dragged on, and it became clear the U.S. and its allies would not "win" in any conventional sense, the fear that the U.S. would resort to nuclear weapons again loomed large, adding another frightening dimension to the war that can probably go a long way in explaining the DPRK's later obsession with acquiring their own nuclear bomb.

But even without the use of nuclear weapons, the indiscriminate attack on civilians, particularly from U.S. saturation bombings, was still horrific:

"The number of Korean dead, injured or missing by war’s end approached three million, ten percent of the overall population. The majority of those killed were in the North, which had half of the population of the South; although the DPRK does not have official figures, possibly twelve to fifteen percent of the population was killed in the war, a figure close to or surpassing the proportion of Soviet citizens killed in World War II" - Charles K. Armstrong

On top of the loss of life, there's also the material damage. By the end of the war, the U.S. Air Force had, by its own estimations, destroyed somewhere around 85% of all buildings in the DPRK, leaving most cities in complete ruin. There are even stories of U.S. bombers dropping their loads into the ocean because they couldn't find any visible targets to bomb.

What you'll see below of Kaesong, then, provides both a rare glimpse of what life in North Korea looked like before the war, and a reminder of what was destroyed.

Kaesong's main street, pictured below.

Due the stifling sanctions imposed on the DPRK—which has, in various forms and intensities, been in effect since the 1950s—car ownership is still low throughout the country, with most people getting around either by walking or biking, or by bus or train for longer distances.

Kaesong, which is regarded as an educational center, is also notable for its many Koryŏ-era monuments. A group of twelve such sites were granted UNESCO world heritage status in 2013.

Included is the Hyonjongnung Royal Tomb, a 14th-century mausoleum located just outside the city of Kaesong.

One of the statues guarding the tomb.

Before moving on the other cities, I also wanted to showcase one more of the DPRK's historical sites: Pohyonsa, a thousand-year-old Buddhist temple complex located in the Myohyang Mountains.

Like many of DPRK's historic sites, the temple complex suffered extensive damage during the Korean war, with the U.S. led bombings destroying over half of its 24 pre-war buildings.

The complex has since been restored and is in use today both as a residence for Buddhist monks, and as a historic site open to visitors.

Hamhung, the second largest city in the DPRK.

A coastal city located in the South Hamgyŏng Province. It has long served as a major industrial hub in the DPRK, and has one of the largest and busiest ports in the country.

Hamhung, like most of the coastal cities in the DPRK, was hit particularly hard during the war. Through relentless aerial bombardments, the US and its allies destroyed somewhere around 80-90% percent of all buildings, roads, and other infrastructure in the city.

Now, more than seventy years later, unexploded bombs, mortars and pieces of live ammunition are still being unearthed by the thousands in the area. As recently as 2016, one of North Korea's bomb squads—there's one in every province, faced with the same cleanup task—retrieved 370 unexploded mortar rounds... from an elementary school playground.

Experts in the DPRK estimate it will probably take over a hundred years to clean up all the unexploded ordnance—and that's just in and around Hamhung.

Hamhung's fertilizer plant, the biggest in North Korea.

When the war broke out, Hamhung was home to the largest nitrogen fertilizer plant in Asia. Since its product could be used in the creation of explosives, the existence of the plant is considered to have made Hamhung a target for U.S. aggression (though it's worth repeating that the U.S. carried out saturation bombings of most population centers in the country, irrespective of any so-called 'military value').

The plant was immediately rebuilt after the war, and—beyond its practical use—serves now as a monument of resistance to U.S. imperialism, and as a functional and symbolic site of self-reliance.

Chongjin, the third largest city in the DPRK.

Another coastal city and industrial hub. It underwent a massive development prior to the Korean war, housing around 300,000 people by the time the war broke out.

By 1953, the U.S. had destroyed most of Chongjin's industry, bombed its harbors, and killed one third of the population.

Wonsan, a rebuilt seaside city.

The city of Wonsan is a vital link between the DPRK's east and west coasts, and acts today as both a popular holiday destination for North Koreans, and as a central location for the country's growing tourism industry.

Considered a strategically important location during the war, Wonsan is notable for having endured one of the longest naval blockades in modern history, lasting a total of 861 days.

By the end of the war, the U.S. estimated that they had destroyed around 80% of the city.

Masikryong Ski Resort, located close to Wonsan. It opened to the public in 2014 and is the first, I believe, that was built with foreign tourists in mind.

Sariwon, another rebuilt city

One of the worst hit cities during the Korean War, with an estimated destruction level of 95%.

I've written about its Wikipedia page here before, which used to mockingly describe its 'folk customs street'—a project built to preserve old Korean traditions and customs—as an "inaccurate romanticized recreation of an ancient Korean street."

No mention, of course, of the destruction caused by the US-led aerial bombings, or any historical context at all that could possibly even hint at why the preservation of old traditions might be particularly important for the city.

Life outside of the towns and cities

In the rural parts of the DPRK, life primarily revolves around agriculture. As the sanctions they're under make it difficult to acquire fuel, farming in the DPRK relies heavily on manual labour, which again, to avoid food shortages, requires that a large portion of the labour force resides in the countryside.

Unlike what many may think, the reliance on manual labour in farming is a relatively "new" development. Up until the crisis of the 1990s, the DPRK was a highly industrialized nation, with a modernized agricultural system and a high urbanization rate. But, as the access to cheap fuel from the USSR and China disappeared, and the sanctions placed upon them by Western nations heavily restricted their ability to import fuel from other sources, having a fuel-dependent agricultural industry became a recipe for disaster, and required an immediate and brutal restructuring.

For a more detailed breakdown of what lead to the crisis in the 90s, and how it reshaped the DPRKs approach to agriculture, check out this article by Zhun Xu.

Some typical newly built rural housing, surrounded by farmland.

Tumblr only allows 20 pictures per post, but if you want to see more pictures of life outside Pyongyang, check out this imgur album.

[whencyclopedia]

James Madison

James Madison (1751-1836) was a statesman, diplomat, and a Founding Father of the United States, who served as the fourth US president from 1809 to 1817. He played an important role in the drafting of the United States Constitution and the implementation of the Bill of Rights, while his presidency was largely characterized by the War of 1812 against Britain.

Early Life

James Madison was born on 16 March 1751 on his grandmother's plantation, Belle Grove, in the British colony of Virginia. He was the oldest of twelve children born to James Madison Sr. and his wife Eleanor, of whom only seven would survive to adulthood. The elder Madison was one of the largest landowners in Virginia's Piedmont region, owning a 5,000-acre tobacco plantation later referred to as Montpelier, which was worked by approximately 100 slaves. Between the ages of 11 and 16, the young Madison was privately tutored in preparation for a college education. A serious and intellectually curious boy, Madison developed a fondness for studying and was particularly interested in the subjects of mathematics, geography, and languages, becoming proficient in Latin.

In 1769, Madison enrolled in the College of New Jersey (modern Princeton University), choosing it over the more local College of William and Mary because the New Jersey air was deemed better for his health. He underwent an intense study program – often sleeping less than five hours a night – and completed his undergraduate degree in only two years, graduating in 1771; because of this academic exertion, he became seriously ill and was unable to attend his commencement ceremony. He remained at Princeton for another year, studying Hebrew and political philosophy under the college's president, John Witherspoon (and a future signer of the Declaration of Independence). He returned to Montpelier in 1772 and was tasked by his father to tutor his younger siblings.

Continue reading...

[darkmaga-returns]

President-elect Donald Trump gave his first remarks since his November election victory was certified, unveiling a massive investment plan for data centers across the United States.

Key Facts:

• Trump spoke at Mar-a-Lago one day after Congress and Vice President Kamala Harris certified his victory. • He announced a $20 billion investment from DAMAC Properties to build data centers in several states. • The targeted states include Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. • Trump also pledged to speed up regulatory approvals for any company investing $1 billion or more. • He confirmed plans to reverse Biden-era bans on oil drilling, especially off U.S. coastlines.

The Rest of The Story:

Trump praised the upcoming data center initiative and said the $20 billion injection from DAMAC Properties would arrive over a “short period of time.”

According to Trump, the plan will help the country stay at the forefront of AI and cloud-based innovations.

DAMAC’s owner, Hussain Sajwani, specified that the goal is to support cutting-edge technology development nationwide.

At the press conference, Trump also introduced a streamlined approval process for large-scale investors.

He insisted that international corporations often see U.S. regulations as too complicated, which can discourage major projects.

He promised to cut through slow permitting procedures so that companies can start creating jobs and boosting local economies.

Trump further declared that on day one of his administration, he will lift restrictions on new oil drilling, particularly in offshore areas.

He expressed strong support for expanding domestic energy production and vowed, in his words, to “drill baby, drill.”

By rolling back these bans, he argues, the nation’s energy independence will be strengthened, and employment in the fossil fuel sector will rebound.

[courseyoulovemeyoudontknowme]

National Treasure (2004, Jon Turteltaub)

27/06/2024

[donotdestroy]

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

[timmurleyart]

Dancing under the sky. 🇺🇸🧨💥🧨🧨🔴⚪️🔵

[bearfoottruck]

Just a reminder, the Declaration of Independence contains this little gem:

"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

Think about that.

[eagle-of-siwa]

Happy Fourth of July!!! Never forget those who helped the cause in America’s Independence (including Connor)

[nocternalrandomness]

"Declaration of Independence" by John Trumbull

[thepastisalreadywritten]

[maryellencarter]

you know, the preamble to the (us) constitution is by far the shortest piece of english writing i've ever failed to memorize

[dedibelyegei]

Újra átnyergelünk a Tengerentúlra, vagy hát inkább átrepülünk, mert egy légiposta bélyeg kerül terítékre. Ezt a négytagú airmail sorozatot két évig nyomták, 1959-60-ban, a képen látható darab pedig a legkisebb tagja. Érdekes, hogy a sorozat neve hivatalosan New Daily Stamps, de amúgy meg a szabadsággal kapcsolatos jelentős amerikai jelképek láthatók rajtuk, úgymint ezen a 10 centesen a híres Liberty Bell, a sárga 15 centes két változatán (csak a fogazat különbözik) a Szabadság szobor, illetve a piros 25 centesen maga Lincoln a hármas jelmondattal. A bélyegekből több tízmilliót nyomtak, ebből a 10 centesből, konkrétan 40 milliót, így bár régi, de nem érnek nagyon sokat, egy ilyen használt kb. 100 forintot, egy posztatiszta pedig 3-400 forintot.

Írnék azért pár szót erről a harangról is, hiszen ez nem egy akármilyen harang! Az amerikai függetlenség egyik legjelentősebb jelképe, melyet Londonból rendeltek meg 1752-ben. Már egy évvel előtte megépítették a tornyát Pennsylvania State House területén - ma a Szabadság Csarnokaként ismert az épület - ahol a 945 kilós harang 1753-ban foglalja el helyét. Egy idézet van belevésve a Leviták könyvéből angolul: 'Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.' (25:10). A harang első megszólaltatásakor megrepedt, aztán ez a repedés terjedt még, további két megszólaltatáskor. Eredetileg akkor szólaltatták meg, amikor a törvényhozókat összehívták határozathozatalra, illetve nagyobb városi események kezdésekor. A Függetlenségi Nyilatkozat kihirdetésekor, 1776 július 8-án az akkori Egyesült Államok összes harangját megszólaltatták egyszerre, így ezt is, de a jellegzetes nagy repedés ami látható rajta nem ekkor keletkezett, hanem valamikor a XIX.század elején, erről különböző mendemondák szólnak, hogy kinek a hatására.

A harang 1847-ben lett országszerte híres és vált jelképpé, amikor is elkezdett terjedni egy történet, hogy egy idő harangozó megszólaltatta 1776 július 4-én, amikor megtudta, hogy kongresszus megszavazta a függetlenséget. Azóta persze kiderült, és kutatók megerősítették, hogy a harang (legalább is ezügyben) nem szólalhatott meg aznap, mivel semmilyen bejelentés nem történt a Nyilatkozat elfogadásáról aznap semmilyen városban, az információ a falak között maradt. Ennek ellenére a nép a mai napig akkor és azóta is elfogadja ezt a történetet, és persze kétkedők is vannak a mai napig, a lényeg, hogy a harang tulajdonképpen egy légből kapott sztori mentén lett az ország egyik fontos jelképe. Ez olyannyira így volt, hogy 1885-től Philadelphia városa elkezdte különböző alkalmakra, különböző városoknak kölcsönadni: utazóharang lett belőle! Ahogy az lenni szokott ebből persze probléma lett, egyrészt a repedés a sok ide-oda pakolástól elkezdett aggasztóan nőni, másrészt a gátlástalanabb lakosok elkezdtek törni belőle apró darabokat szuvenírnek. Ezért aztán 1915 óta, a harang nem hagyta már el helyét, és nem adják oda senkinek (nagyon helyes)!

[angelkeitai]

i recieved a small booklet containing the entirety of the constitution of the united states and the declaration of independence as a gift a few months before the school year ended

[donutsandbagels]

X

[rabbitcruiser]

The first formal public readings of the Declaration of Independence of the United States took place on July 8, 1776 in Philadelphia by John Nixon in the yard of Independence Hall.

[tenaciousmoneymuffinzine]

Anyway, shoutout to these guys today

And happy 247th anniversary of the signing of this awesome document