Dennis Rodman is infamous for his bizarre actions in the efforts for public attention. From wearing wedding dresses to marry himself (in an attempt to promote his book) to extreme hair-dos, Rodman has decided to present himself in a different light to the public eye.

Calling himself a “diplomat,” Rodman traveled to North Korea in the past with members of the Harlem Globetrotters to train the North Korean Basketball team as well as to promote “basketball diplomacy,” and headed on his third visit to North Korea Dec.18.

Although Rodman may have more insight on personal information about Kim Jong Un than any other U.S. intelligence personnel, it doesn’t change the fact that he isn’t qualified to amend the relations between North Korea and the United States. Although Rodman means no harm with his trip to North Korea, he isn’t mending our relationship with the North Korean nation either. Additionally, there is the question of why, out of all the amazing basketball players in the U.S. Kim Jong Un can trust to train his basketball team, he picks Dennis Rodman.

I took a step back and decided to look at this through the eyes of a dictator. You would want your people to never question your political decisions for the country, especially when it oppresses them. You would also want your people to think that their country has the most power, so you give them little exposure to the world; controlled exposure so that they see what you want them to see.

This tactic works well in North Korea with its exposure of Americans. When it comes to the views of race in North Korea, the sight of a very large African American man could resemble natures of a beast, as depicted in their propaganda. In fact, according to the Washington Post, when a man in Pyongyang saw Dennis Rodman on the street he shouted, “He looks like a monster!”

This kind of reaction by North Koreans makes me feel that Kim Jong Un’s motives for allowing Rodman to be that close to him _㐠where no other American has been _㐠is to just enforce the propaganda of Americans the state has created. Not only is Dennis Rodman of a darker skin tone, but his appearance is also of a unique nature. With his multiple piercings and wacky hair styles, Dennis Rodman is the perfect fit to bring the state’s propaganda of an American Monster to life.

However, Rodman’s willingness to teach the isolated nation the wondrous game of basketball is admirable, don’t get me wrong. Even if it is controlled exposure, it is still exposure to the outside world nonetheless. Who knows, maybe after spending more time with a large African American man the North Korean people might be able to see beyond the propaganda and make judgments on their own.

Indirectly, Dennis Rodman might be a diplomat after all.