International Women's Day - Better Late Than Never

I just found out that I missed International Women’s Day last Wednesday March 8. I think it’s because I’ve been so busy at work that I hadn’t updated my Dilbert-a-Day calendar in over a week. Also, I don’t know too many international women, so that may have been a contributing factor.

But I can still celebrate, and I need look no further than North Korea for inspiration. North Korea praises its women in song, according to a recent article on the Korean Central News Agency’s website. You really should read the article. Here is a list of songs “composed in the country in reflection of the pride and happy life of the women who are playing a great role in all fields of social life.

• Song in praise of women in Songun era
• Song of coast artillerywomen¹
• I am a servicewoman in Songun era
• Like my mother in her military service days²
• I am a front-line soldier's wife
• I am a military officer's wife³
• A girl innovator dashing like a steed⁴
  
• Girls of our factory⁵
• Girl silk-weavers of Nyongbyon
• Song of wife
• My mom who worries herself about her child
• Women are flowers
• Love your wives

Footnotes:

1. This is actually the B-side of “Mined Harbor Surfer Girl” by Kim and the Beach Boys
2. The Kim-Mart version of this song strips out the verse about the tattoo of Kim Jong Il on mother’s chest.
3. This is a decidedly happier song than “I am a front-line soldier’s wife.”
4. I prefer my girl innovators dashing like mares, but “to each his own.”
5. I’d be fired if I wrote a song about the girls of our factory.

Next year for International Women’s Day I’m taking an excursion up to Nyongbyon.