Lee on U.S. Culture

Re “America’s Model for Social Order Doesn’t Work Anymore,” interview, Commentary, Oct. 6:

Everyone loves to listen to Lee Kuan Yew, senior minister of Singapore, but why? Lee congratulates the “avant-garde” (whatever that is these days) for giving societies an “edge,” but maligns free expression because the masses (the other 95% who can’t go to nice schools) can’t handle the message. Lee blames culture for the failure of political, economic and social systems. Instead, it would be fairer to say that the oligarchic system that he espouses is twisted and unjust. It lacks the moral fiber to govern because it is rooted in assumptions about the inability of people to articulate for positive changes in the quality of their lives. The people who don’t fit in Lee’s universe, he consigns to the margins. If their ideas don’t sell to his 5%, well, tough!

Fortunately, people all over the world are speaking up and out about fair economic conditions, political expression and gender equality.

Lee should take a vacation off Singapore and confer with people who are allowed to disagree with him. Maybe it’s time for him to go to the “edge” and learn a little more about it.

MICHAEL SALAZAR

Culver City

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* If America is such a rotten place, as Lee claims, why do U.S. consulates all over the world continue to attract the longest queues of visa applicants?

PERLA L. MANAPOL

Thousand Oaks