U.S. Support of ‘Dictators’

While it is tragic that men like Benigno Aquino Jr. of the Philippines and Kim Dae Jung of South Korea have to make great sacrifices to illustrate the oppression in their countries, it is good that the U.S. government can see a glimmer of what dictatorships are all about.

Lulled by the security of their own democratic system, American leaders support dictatorships--or what they call “friendly governments”--believing that they are doing America and those other countries good. Instead, propping up these dictatorships creates Frankenstein monsters--power-hungry, tyrannical, and unpopular rulers. As far as the people of those countries are concerned, U.S. support for such leaders make them redefine democracy. If democracy has to do with freedom, why then does the leader of democracy, the United States, support non-democratic governments?

So Aquino was assassinated in 1983, and Kim is under house arrest, and many more will follow their footsteps until U.S. leaders take a hard look at their policies and realize how destructive, how undemocratic it is to support the likes of the Shah of Iran, Ferdinand Marcos, Chun Doo Hwan and other despots.

CECILIA M. BRAINARD

Santa Monica

I feel uncomfortable that Korea is portrayed as a brutal and chaotic country. But most Americans can’t understand the delicate situation of Korea. We still have a wide gap of wealth between the rich and the poor. The poor have not been educated properly, so they can become Communists easily. I mean I don’t want to see another Vietnam in Korea.

Once I shouted myself, “Oust the dictator, Chun!” during my college days in Korea. I still don’t like him. I am deeply sorrowful hearing Chun’s wife has been rumored to be involved with some black market scandals. But I don’t like Kim, either. Exploiting the sectionalism, he has encouraged his followers, especially those from Chonra province, to rise against the government. President Chun and the majority of government officials are from Kyungsang province.

Of course, I don’t like militarism in Korea, but I’d rather see a military junta than a weak civilian government, which is vulnerable to Communist attacks.

Freedom in Korea is not quite the same as that in America. But we have freedom, even though restricted a bit. Also we become richer and richer as you see numerous Made-in-Korea labels around here.

IN PARK

Walnut