Kim Jong Un's Health and possible ramifications (Aaron Rai)

Recently, Kim Jong Un failed to attend the Kumsusan Palace on April 15 to celebrate the birthday of Kim’s grandfather. This led to widespread speculation of Kim’s health because he had undergone heart surgery on April 12. Rumors from inside North Korea say he is in critical condition resulting from complications during the surgery. Kim’s death could destabilize the region because as far as the US knows he has no known named heir. His sister Kim Yo-jung is likely to take the reigns of the Kim dynasty if Kim Jong Un  dies because the country has been run by the Kims for almost seventy years. Foreign countries may militarize the area and a power struggle is likely to occur. China has dismissed the rumours but South Korea is skeptical. American Intelligence all but confirms that Kim Jong Un is in critical condition. A war between North and South Korea is a possibility, as well as a new faction taking control of North Korea and ending the Kim Dynasty. Moreover, a general could possibly take over because of the military power North Korea has. All in all, many changes are possible if Kim Jong Un dies, one being a peaceful transition of power, the other being a multinational power struggle in a heavily armed region of the world. Learn more by reading this article.

1) Do you think the USA should get involved if Kim dies? If so, how?

2) Do you think a transition of power will be peaceful or violent?

3) If you thought the leader of your country was equal to a god (As many North Korean citizens do), and found out he was in dire medical condition, how would you react? Would your position in the government influence how you feel?

4) When a person important to your life is sick, when is it important to start planning for the future?

Schools Closing for the Rest of the Year

As of Friday, April 3rd, twelve states and the Northern Marianas Islands have announced that all schools will remain closed until the end of the academic year. On Thursday, the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, signed an executive order stating that schools will be closed until the end of the year unless social distancing rules are altered. Jennifer McCormick, the superintendent of Indiana Public Instruction, ordered that schools would not be reopening this year. California’s chief of education along with Brian Kemp, the Governor of Georgia, both announced that school campuses would be closed and the second semester of the year would be canceled. States such as California, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania have closed schools with no date to return, whereas some states will still potentially return to school in April or May if social distancing rules are lifted. Social distancing policies in effect in most states require that when in public, people stay at least six feet apart. While social distancing is helpful, the most effective way to protect yourself and others is to stay at home. On Tuesday night on MSNBC, Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, claimed that he believed social distancing would be prolonged due to a large number of people not practicing social distancing. The more people resist social distancing, the longer the schools will be closed. Read more to find out about this topic here: 

1. Do you believe schools should be closed for the rest of the year?
2. Why do you think people have been so resistant to social distance?
3. Do you think Trump should order a nationwide stay at home order? Bonus: what would be his constitutional power to do so?
4. How well have you followed the social distancing rules? Do you still hangout with people (friends, relatives) that do not live in your house? Do you feel like you know all of the existing rules/guidelines?