BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MEMORIAL DAY, 2018) — The most recent developments on a proposed Korean summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean head of state Kim Jung Un indicate the switch has been flipped back to the “on” position. THE PLANET deems this cause for hope though not yet celebration.

Judging by the weekend events, the key figure in resuscitating the talks is South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who took the brokerage baton from Chinese leader Xi Jinping, hopped a plane to Trump Villa, gauged the President’s mood (resolve to see the summit happen), flew back to Korea, and surprised the world by meeting with Un for the second time at the border between North and South an achieving a preternatural rapport with his rival. Moon performed the diplomatic equivalent of an Olympic decathlon, a Bruce Jenner was he WAS Bruce Jenner, Wheaties box and all.

Moon cuts a superb diplomatic figure. He’s good looking, respectable in appearance, positive in outlook, tenacious in relations, independent in thought, and fearless in confrontation — clearly the best South Korea has had at the helm in a while. The contrast between Moon and the two other principals in this peninsular soap opera startles even the casual observer. The larger-than-like Day-Glo Donald Trump and short, fat Kim (Body by Lou Costello) give this most serious topic a semi-comic tone worthy of midget tag-team wrestling from the 1950s, but it soon sobers one to realize the Korean Peninsula has been problematic for the globe for as long, now at the nuclear level.

Moon has the smarts not to underestimate Kim. The DPRK strong man understands far more than he lets on, girded by an education in Switzerland, a sharp intellect, and, oddly enough, a love of good ol’ USA-invented basketball. ‘Tis a tragedy of epic proportions that he would grow up to be a Bulls fan, but one must in practicality assign limits to the winning magic of the Boston Celtics brand. We fantasize longingly about Bill Russell replacing Dennis Rodman as the object of Kim’s hero worship and create scalding dialogue from the old redhead himself, Red Auerbach, on what he might say of the situation.

Ah, but we digress, though as yet another aside, what is NOT a digression in an Information Age dominated by the shallowness of “social media?” As a news and journalistic channel, social media forces serious stories to the top of the tower and makes then dive into a wet handkerchief, and the Korean story has suffered greatly from this Saturday Night Live approach to deadly serious news.

From personal disagreements to international crises, face-to-face look-em-in-the-eye conversation has no equal in solving conflict. Granted, it doesn’t always work — Neville Chamberlain waving a piece of paper on a British tarmac comes to mind — but it will always provide the best hope for resolution. The alternative is a continuation of a pointless, 68-year war to which all sides foolishly contribute and no side wants continued. A handshake trumps a missle launch every time, pun intended.

As we remember on this Memorial Day all who served and especially those who gave their lives and saw combat, let us keep in mind what is at stake in getting Trump and Kim to Singapore on June 12.

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He who know with certainty what he wants hasn’t considered the possibilities” — Sir Tiberius Fruitjuice.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The Usual Disclaimer.