Propaganda is usually serious, political or repugnant. My good friend, Dr. J. Michael Waller, says that ridicule is often an even more effective method of
North Korea Kim Jong-un (Photo credit: Wander Dorneles Mariano)
propaganda. Austinites must have listened, which has resulted in a coup for the city of Austin. You can’t buy this kind of marketing for a city for any amount of money while simultaneously throwing pie in the face of the world’s least favorite silly little dictator.
Texans mock Kim Jong Un’s apparent plan to strike Austin
Max Fisher, The Washington Post
22 hours ago
North Korea’s big “U.S. mainland strike plan,” revealed in a photo from Kim Jong Un’s war room, appears to mark the American cities that Pyongyang would attack when it launches its promised war against America. (Note: This plan is almost surely a bluff that would be way beyond North Korea’s technical capabilities and, anyway, the “plan” is probably just for domestic propaganda.) It’s not totally clear, but it looks as if one of the intended targets, among several West and East coast U.S. cities, could be the hip college town of Austin, Texas.
Austin might or might not actually be on the targets list, but all it took was this hint, this whiff of a possibility that Kim might plan on messing with Texas, to set off a fierce reaction among Texans.
The Twitter hashtag #whyaustin, asking why Kim had set his sights on the town, has been producing hundreds of reactions. The trend grew so quickly that even the official Twitter feed for the city government got in on the joke, tweeting “Not to worry Austin we’re prepared” with a link to a 1950s “duck and cover” nuclear safety video. Not all of #whyaustin jokes were funny, but a number were, and there’s nothing like mocking a ruthless dictator to end the week on a high note. Here are some selections:
$10 says SXSW rejected Kim Jong-Un’s short film submission. Only possible explanation for targeting the People’s Republic of Austin.
— Laura Seay (@texasinafrica) March 29, 2013
Austin is home to U.S. strategic BBQ reserves. RT @dblanchard: He just wanted some brisket. #whyaustin #sxdprk twitter.com/dblanchard/sta
— Paul Szoldra (@PaulSzoldra) March 29, 2013
“Forbes rates Austin third most nuke-able city in US. Mayor credits educated workforce, music scene.” #whyaustin
— Shelly Brisbin (@shelly) March 29, 2013
Kim Jong-un’s startup flopped at SXSW Interactive. #whyaustin.
— Sarah Beckham (@sarahlbeckham) March 29, 2013
Kim Jong-un still upset about the Red River noise ordinance #whyaustin
— Joseph Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) March 29, 2013
Because “Friday Night Lights” ended its run and NOBODY puts Connie Britton into a corner. #whyaustin
— Daniel Drezner (@dandrezner) March 29, 2013
Okay Austinites, who was in charge of sending Kim his invitation to Eeyore’s Birthday Party? eeyores.org #whyaustin
— David Wenger (@DavidWenger) March 29, 2013
You know who is angry about missing Prince during SXSW? Kim Jong Un. No Purple Rain = Reign Of Terror. #whyaustin
— Sweet John (@SweetJohn) March 29, 2013
Kim Jong-un taking Austin’s plastic bag ban pretty hard. Why not just write a letter to the editor? #whyaustin telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews
— Omar L. Gallaga (@omarg) March 29, 2013
CONFIRMED: The reason North Korea wants to bomb #Austin, TX. #whyaustin twitter.com/PaulSzoldra/st
— Paul Szoldra (@PaulSzoldra) March 29, 2013
via Texans mock Kim Jong Un’s apparent plan to strike Austin.
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- N. Korea Targets Include Austin (hispanicbusiness.com)
- Hilarious Responses To News That Kim Jong-un Wants To Bomb Austin, Texas (businessinsider.com)
- #WhyAustin: Mockery meets Kim Jong Un’s threat to strike Austin, Texas (twitchy.com)
- The Lede: The Internet Loves Kim Jong-un Gags, but Are We Misreading North Korea’s Propaganda? (thelede.blogs.nytimes.com)
- Austin is Added to North Korea’s Targets, Twitter Explodes (newsy.com)
- Questions For An Expert On North Korean Propaganda (fortunascorner.wordpress.com)
- Nkorea: Kim Jong-un to Bomb Dc, La – and Austin? (secretsofthefed.com)
- Strange: Kim Jong-un wants to missile strike Austin, Texas? (bluegrasspundit.com)
- Why Austin? Humor unleashed by North Korean leader’s threat (mysanantonio.com)
- Kim Jong-Un Has Already Hit His Biggest Target (businessinsider.com)
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