&#91LETTERS TO THE EDITOR&#93Americans taking note of sentiment against U.S.

Americans are not responding to the candlelight vigils for the two girls who died in that horrific military accident, but they are taking notice of the anti-American undercurrent that appears to accompany these vigils.

The rise of anti-Americanism in South Korea does not make much sense to many Americans. We are supposed to be helping South Korea protect itself from North Korea, and yet many South Koreans seem to hate us for things not under our control.

Tragic accidents happen, and they do not necessarily have to be anyone's fault. We respect Koreans' right to mourn the tragic deaths of those two girls, but we cannot help but respond with indignation when our soldiers, in South Korea to protect it, are verbally and even physically attacked, although they had nothing at all to do with the girls' deaths.

Americans do not look down on Koreans, though few have any understanding of Korea. Nor do Americans wish for any harm to come to Koreans, only to their oppressors. The United States only wishes to help preserve democracy and freedom in South Korea and to bring freedom to a unified Korea.

by Joseph B. Breed