As a 45-year-old who just left his job, I read George Soros’s assessment of the world economy with concern (“The Crisis of Global Capitalism,” The World Economy, Feb. 1). Soros predicts that Thailand and South Korea will linger in depression and Malaysia will fail as a result of shutting itself off. He calls for radical changes in the economies “at the center.” Soros himself has an impeccable record of unashamedly profiting from making self-fulfilling prophecies. As for millions like me “in the periphery,” we can only pray.
Mohd Zin bin Mohd Sharif Melaka, Malaysia
Soros’s dual attitude toward capitalism overshadows his logic. He is a skillful capitalist, but he still wants to be a critical observer of capitalism. “Globalization” is just another word for Western neo-imperialism. The world does not need the greediness of global capitalism–it needs international cooperation, provided by a reorganized United Nations.
Ingvar Gislason Reykjavik, Iceland
In light of Soros’s philanthropy with his billions, I was shocked by his blatant hypocrisy (“The Story’s Not Over”). When asked about the conflict between his ideas and his actions in the market, he answered that he did it “for profit” but wrote the book “for the greater good.” When does someone have enough and stop participating in practices he deems unsound?
Leon Matsil Tamil Nadu, India
The recent riots in Indonesia resulted from politicians playing dangerous games with racism, religion and separatism ( Asia, Jan. 25). The military force is also playing an important role in these riots. In the killings in Banyuwangi, there were muscular men with short haircuts (typical of the military forces) who were caught as provocateurs, but then released without any explanation by the authorities. The people’s trust in the military is fading. I just hope that Indonesia does not become another Yugoslavia.
Mateus Yumarnamto Surabaya, Indonesia
Why did you interview only Ahmad Sumargano and share his side of the story? You quote his saying, “The country’s turbulence was the work of a Christian minority, largely ethnic Chinese, attempting to regain lost privileges.” This is an insult to both Chinese and Christians. For the past century, Indonesian Chinese have been the scapegoats, no matter what the cause–from political and social issues to natural disasters.
Dedy Sunarto via internet
How appropriate that you used Indonesian President B. J. Habibie’s order to the military to as the headline of your interview with him. Habibie’s bragging to NEWSWEEK about this dramatically illustrates his failure to understand the nature of a civil society and its commitment to due process. Among the “criminals” who have been shot without trial under Habibie’s rule are dozens of innocent civilians, including students, with no more nefarious intentions than to bring democracy to Indonesia. That his “society still has not had the chance to live under the rule of law” or that “the police do not understand the limits” may just have a little something to do with the leader-ship he is offering.
William F. Schulz, Executive Director Amnesty International USA New York, New YorkA Higher Love
I read your article about the cherished Persian poet Rumi with great interest ( Society & The Arts, Jan. 18). But I was surprised by the lack of importance given to the Sufi aspect of his poetry. Love has a different meaning in Sufism. The beloved is God. The wine and the opium symbolize a state of druggedness in which the poet believes that his/her own self ceases to be important. All that exists is the beloved. In Persian poetry, this is the most sublime and the purest form of love. It is beyond all religious demarcations. A mention of Rumi without a mention of the greatest inspiring factors behind his poetry seems incomplete.
Amna Latif Lahore, PakistanOn Reflections
I’d like to commend your writer Sharon Begley. Her writing is informative and accessible. In her story (Society & The Arts, Jan. 11), the stirrup is listed among the most important inventions. If so, then why not the mirror? Where would we be now if we couldn’t take a look at ourselves?
Paul Binford Nagoya, Japan
I would like to correct your reference to the arrival of Christianity in Asia ( Society & The Arts, Jan. 18). Christianity was brought to India by Saint Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, and is thus over 1,950 years old. The Orthodox Church of India has close to 10 million followers and is one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.
Usha Abraham Bangkok, Thailand
Defending Kim Dae Jung
I was disappointed to read your article (Asia, Feb. 1), which questioned South Korean President Kim Dae Jung’s democratic style. I thought it was unbalanced because it expressed only the views of the opposition party in Korea. You described the political situation in Korea in a series of speculations by political analysts based not on facts but on false assumptions. President Kim has never ordered wiretapping, nor directed the National Intelligence Service [formerly the Korean CIA] to intervene in politics. In fact, as a former opposition leader, he himself was the most outstanding victim of the KCIA. It is inconceivable that he would now turn around and mobilize the NIS or resort to tactics that bolster his party or weaken the opposition.
Soo-Dong O, Consul Korean Cultural Service New York, New YorkFree in Singapore
Thanks for your interview with Chia Thye Poh, the dissident who was incarcerated for 32 years by Lee Kuan Yew’s Singapore government without charge or trial ( Interview, Jan. 25). It was, indeed, a wake-up call to me, as I had been under the impression that Lee was one of the best and most successful politicians Asia ever had. Please do me another favor and interview Lee on the human-rights record during his administration.
Hyoichiro Ito Osaka, Japan
Chia Thye Poh denied that he was ever a member of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM). He claimed that he had only expressed opposing views to the government, and that his past activities were never detrimental to the security of the state. If Chia was innocent of involvement with the CPM and presented no threat, what sense did it make for the government to detain him for so many years? Chia’s membership in the CPM was independently disclosed to the Internal Security Department by several CPM members, including two who were in Chia’s direct reporting line. Years later a high-ranking CPM cadre confirmed that Chia was indeed a CPM member, as were several other leaders of the Barisan Sosialis, the CPM’s open front political party. The government has publicly documented Chia’s speeches that advocated violence, armed struggle, unconstitutional and illegal action. One speech was published in the bulletin of a pro-communist trade union. Chia has never denied making these specific statements. He cannot. Chia wants to present himself as a peace-loving democrat, hoping that if he persistently denies the truth, the facts will be forgotten and a new generation will believe him. But he knows that he has wasted the best years of his life fighting for a misguided cause that would only have brought harm and suffeering to Singapore.
Casimir Rozario, Director, Public Affairs Ministry of Home Affairs Singapore
After spending more than 25 years in prison, Nelson Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize and was elected president of his country. But what about Chia Thye Poh, who was the world’s longest-incarcerated political prisoner, thanks to the Singapore government? Chia can stand tall among Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa as a champion of justice and human dignity.
Luke Teoh Perak, MalaysiaSelective Interpretations?
I’ve never seen such a word [abortion] in my Bible," says Nkem Chukwu, mother of eight ( Jan 11). Did she find the words “fertility treatments” in the Bible? I didn’t. Parents “desperate to conceive” leave little room for love … and little hope for healthy babies.
Laure Marcellesi paris, france
