Hope

When was the last time that the national anthem of the United States was played in North Korea? For that matter, when was the last time that a symphony orchestra from the United States played in North Korea? Well, with that last question, you know that I’m on to something, and I am.

Today at 6pm Pyongyang local time, the Star Spangled Banner was played by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in the East Pyongyang Grand Theater. You can see the video at http://nyphil.org/about/virtualTours/0708/korea/slideshow/video_0226.cfm

This was indeed a first. I don’t know the last time the national anthem of the U.S. was played in North Korea in a public venue, if it ever was. And never before has a group this large come to North Korea to share a cultural and arts exchange. This was truly an historic occasion.

We are still technically at war with this nation. We are observing a cease-fire, but no permanent peace has ever been consummated. The nation starves her citizens, elevates those governing to the status of gods, causes turmoil and friction in the area and around the world, tries to destabilize our currency through counterfeiting, and generally is a not-very-good nation in the world.

I believe, however, that it is through efforts such as this that some kind of thaw will eventually come. Where politicians and diplomats fail to succeed, someone with a conductor’s baton, or someone who plays violin, timpani, or brass, will succeed in some way to create and open a crack in the armor.

And heavens! The Star Spangled Banner? In North Korea? In public? For the first time, I have hope.