Regarding Jackson Diehl’s June 24 op-ed column, “An F in academic freedom”:
Mr. Diehl’s labeling of Singapore as an “autocracy” is supercilious. There are different forms of democracy all over the world, shaped by each nation’s history, traditions and ethnic and religious mixes. Since its independence, Singapore has had regular, free and fair general elections with high turnout rates. Ultimately, it is the very essence of democracy for the citizens of each country, and their elected governments, to determine where to strike the balance between social harmony and the preservation of individual rights.
Jerome Lee, Washington
* The writer is a spokesman for Singapore’s embassy to the United States. The letter first appeared in The Washington Post (9 Jul) [Link].