Kirkpatrick on Democracy in a Changing South Africa

Jeane Kirkpatrick seems to like the word “democracy.” She uses it or a derivative six times in her column (“A Color-Blind Peace Depends on Democracy,” Commentary, June 11): I do not know what her definition of democracy is. I am sure that most of the people of the world including those in South Africa have little idea of the meaning, advantages and responsibilities of a democratic government. Kirkpatrick speaks of “democracy and comfort for whites.” Does she equate privilege with democracy? If there is no privilege, will there be no democracy?

Kirkpatrick failed to tell us of the relative sizes of the constituencies of African National Congress (ANC), Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC) and Inkatha. In her words “PAC (is) a rapidly growing black-consciousness party.” She calls ANC “a Marxist-style national liberation group” and “a fundamentally Leninist liberation movement.” She refers to Inkatha as “a Zulu-based democratic party,” (that) “emphasizes nonviolence, pluralism and the market economy.” Her use of the phrase “market economy” leads me to believe her main interest is a stable society where a person can engage in profitable activities and not be too concerned with “liberation movements.”

I am not a wholehearted supporter of the ANC, although I feel some sympathy because I believe that it was born out of the blood, sweat, tears and deaths of its members. Is Inkatha a creature of our people? If it fails is the PAC a fallback position? I don’t think Kirkpatrick is willing or qualified to answer these questions. Certainly, The Times has someone who has been there and can enlighten us.

CARLYLE SMITH

Sun Valley