Dear editor,
According to the latest edition of The Economist, one of the world's most influential economic magazines, eight out of 10 Americans think their country is heading in the wrong direction.
It seems that America, the self-appointed world policeman, has been too busy with the concerns of others. The market-oriented U.S. economy shows well what capitalism basically is: less regulation and more freedom when money matters.
When it comes to international relations, if rules are ignored, countries will try to fight each other for their own stakes, which is why it would be beneficial for us to have a world police officer.
In regard to the situation facing the globe now, with the world policeman heavily armed, it seems that more tragedies and unnecessary disputes happen.
One such event has recently taken place over Dokdo, a South Korean territory recognized by both history and the people.
The Dokdo issue surfaces as an annual event staged by the Japanese government as it teaches its new young students that South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo is part of the island's country.
Koreans become angry and boycott Japanese goods. The Seoul government strongly protests Japan's groundless and irrational territorial claims to Dokdo, chilling the relationship between the two rivals.
Koreans tend to easily forget what happens between South Korea and Japan. But they buy Japanese goods again when things quieten down.
Koreans might know that the Japanese government will continue to do the same year after year again. But what they usually do is get angry at Japan's repeated claims to Dokdo only for a moment, because there is no doubt that Dokdo is Korean territory.
We know that we live in a world where common sense is adopted, and it is common sense that Dokdo has been and will remain Korean territory.
This common sense seems to be shaken by an American naming agency. Last week, the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) designated Dokdo as disputed land by stating that it was ``undesignated territory."
Following hectic diplomatic efforts by Korean officials, the BGN revoked the designation and stated again that Dokdo belongs to South Korea.
Now South Koreans have breathed a sigh of relief as the BGN's latest action has prevented Dokdo from turning into some place like Gaza. On Wednesday South Korea started a defense drill around the islets, and is expected to take more powerful steps to counter Japan's claims.
There is no doubt that the beautiful Dokdo islets are ours. We know its history. But we do not think staff in the BGN know for sure about the islets. Dokdo is our territory whatever others may claim.
Dear someone in the BGN, I will not say it is none of your business, because what you are doing is none of my business. I only think of the words of wisdom spoken by mother Mary in the Beatles' song, ``Let It Be.''
Yoon Seong-hoon Student at Korea University Seoul