[Letter to the editor]One American’s perception

As the anti-American beef protests intensify, one wonders where it will lead. Personally, I think it has more to do with anti-Americanism than beef. No doubt there are many participants in these rallies who would beg to differ. I imagine that many of the Americans who are well-informed what is going on in Korea share my perception of reality on this point; often perception is one’s reality.

I doubt anything good will come of all this. Koreans appear to think America is trying to strong-arm them. Americans like me sense that certain elements within Korean society are just seeking to humiliate the United States and using it for political advantage. The truth of it all becomes irrelevant when bitter perceptions become reality and foster bad fruits.

Michael Blais, a middle school teacher