Dear Friends:
I know this past summer I asked everyone to help and participate in a lot of events (rallies, press conferences and even a hunger strike!) to promote human rights in North Korea, but this time I am requesting your help by simply writing a few letters. I hope you will consider sending a letter for the Letters from America program which is being broadcast in to North Korea and that you will consider writing a letter to Senator Joseph Biden and your own Senators regarding the North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Act. Details on these two requests follow below.
Many thanks,
Suzanne Scholte
First Action Item: Letters from America has been a huge success. Thank you to all of you who have sent in letters so far and especially to NKFC member, Open Doors, which generated a lot of letters for this program. The North Korean defectors love the program and they started broadcasting your letters to the North Korean people in to North Korea this summer on Free North Korea Radio, the defectors own broadcasting station. I asked the staff of Free North Korea Radio to pick their favorite letters from the 50 plus that we read and recorded and sent in July, so that you could see examples of these letters. Below are their four favorite letters and the staff’s comments about each of them.
If you want to be included in the next batch of letters that will be read on the air and broadcast in to North Korea, please send your letter by Sept 17 and include your first name and city and state and anything else personal about yourself you want to share. Your letter should be sent to skswm@aol.com and please include in the subject line of your email: Letters from America so we know it is for this program.
Here are the letters that were chosen as their favorites by the FNKR staff and their comments:
Dear People of North Korea,
My name is Becky and I live in Ohio which is in the middle of the United States. My sister and brother-in-law adopted an orphan boy from South Korea over 20 years ago. He is as much a part of our family as their birth children. But because of where he was born I have a special place in my heart for all Korean people. It is very sad to see on the television and watch the videos of what Kim Jong-il has done to your country. I have read of food and medicine that is sent to you but he is preventing you from getting it. The leader of any people should have the people’s best interest at heart and that is not the case where you are. We have much prosperity in our country and we have problems, too, but the one thing we have that is more valuable than anything is our freedom. We have freedom to come and go as we please, we have freedom to worship as we want, we have plenty to eat and wonderful medical help. These things should be for all people in the world. It is our prayer that you will have wonderful freedoms in your country, too. We care about what is happening to you and are doing everything we can to make people aware that you should have freedom.
Love from your friend Becky in Ohio
My name is Becky and I live in Ohio which is in the middle of the United States. My sister and brother-in-law adopted an orphan boy from South Korea over 20 years ago. He is as much a part of our family as their birth children. But because of where he was born I have a special place in my heart for all Korean people. It is very sad to see on the television and watch the videos of what Kim Jong-il has done to your country. I have read of food and medicine that is sent to you but he is preventing you from getting it. The leader of any people should have the people’s best interest at heart and that is not the case where you are. We have much prosperity in our country and we have problems, too, but the one thing we have that is more valuable than anything is our freedom. We have freedom to come and go as we please, we have freedom to worship as we want, we have plenty to eat and wonderful medical help. These things should be for all people in the world. It is our prayer that you will have wonderful freedoms in your country, too. We care about what is happening to you and are doing everything we can to make people aware that you should have freedom.
Love from your friend Becky in Ohio
FNKR Staff comment: “I liked Becky’s letter best because it showed how clearly she disliked Kim Jong-il. There are even South Koreans who have a strange affection to this dictator. Many don’t distinguish between Kim Jong-il and the NK people. However Becky said Kim Jong-il is our enemy, while we have to help and save the people of North Korea.”
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Dear North Koreans,
My name is Hope and I’m from the state of Pennsylvania in the United States of America. We know that many of you do not have enough food and that you can be imprisoned for listening to this broadcast or for being a Christian. I heard of one elderly man who sang a Japanese song and a neighbor reported him to authorities. That elderly grandfather, his children, and grandchildren were all taken to prison just for singing a Japanese song. That story and others like it make me cry for you and ask the God who made the earth and skies to comfort you.
My name is Hope and I’m from the state of Pennsylvania in the United States of America. We know that many of you do not have enough food and that you can be imprisoned for listening to this broadcast or for being a Christian. I heard of one elderly man who sang a Japanese song and a neighbor reported him to authorities. That elderly grandfather, his children, and grandchildren were all taken to prison just for singing a Japanese song. That story and others like it make me cry for you and ask the God who made the earth and skies to comfort you.
There are North Korean children whose parents have died and they have no one to take care of them. I am trying, with God’s help, to bring these children into families so they will have food, a bed to sleep in, a good education, and new parents who love them.
The Korean War happened so long ago, that most young people do not think of it at all anymore. It is just one more war in their history books. The United States should have helped you become free so that, like South Korea, you would have food, jobs, nice houses, and schools for your children. Did you know that most people in South Korea and the United States have plenty of food. People like me in the United States want you to have plenty of food and freedom.
Finally, I want to say that I know you are a strong, vibrant people and I want to honor you for your strength and the way you have held onto the hope for a better life someday. We Americans are holding onto that same hope. Even though we are told that you hate us. You should know that we love you and care about you.
From your friend, Hope in Pennsylvania, USA
The Korean War happened so long ago, that most young people do not think of it at all anymore. It is just one more war in their history books. The United States should have helped you become free so that, like South Korea, you would have food, jobs, nice houses, and schools for your children. Did you know that most people in South Korea and the United States have plenty of food. People like me in the United States want you to have plenty of food and freedom.
Finally, I want to say that I know you are a strong, vibrant people and I want to honor you for your strength and the way you have held onto the hope for a better life someday. We Americans are holding onto that same hope. Even though we are told that you hate us. You should know that we love you and care about you.
From your friend, Hope in Pennsylvania, USA
FNKR STAFF Comment: Dear Hope in Pennsylvania. My father was arrested in North Korea because he was an underground Christian. I fled from NK to continue my father’s dream. I cried too when I read your letter. If only my father can hear this program! Please keep sending these letters. I will work nights and days on this program.
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CITIZENS OF NORTH KOREA:
Fifty eight years ago, I was a young infantry officer in the Korean War. When I departed that war torn nation, I questioned how South Korea could survive…Today, South Korea stands as a democracy, and is the eleventh largest economy in the world. I am proud to have served in the cause of South Korean freedom
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CITIZENS OF NORTH KOREA:
Fifty eight years ago, I was a young infantry officer in the Korean War. When I departed that war torn nation, I questioned how South Korea could survive…Today, South Korea stands as a democracy, and is the eleventh largest economy in the world. I am proud to have served in the cause of South Korean freedom
South Korea’s success rests on it’s smart and hard working people. North Korea has the same people…..They too can achieve great national pride and accomplishment……when North and South Korea peacefully unite and everyone in North Korea has the same freedom as South Korea. I hope that day comes soon so that North Korea can be as prosperous as South Korea.
From Ed a former United States Marine Captain who fought for South Korea to be free
From Ed a former United States Marine Captain who fought for South Korea to be free
FNKR STAFF: I liked the letter from Ed, the ex-marine captain. North Korean people will be shocked to learn a U.S. marine sent a letter through defectors-run radio program! Truth matters most in our program, but the person who wrote this letter matters also. Thank you.
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Hello. My name is Kristine and I live in Virginia and my home is not far from the Capitol of America, Washington DC. I just want you to know that I am thinking about you all the time. God blessed me with three sons and I have taught my sons about North Korea and how the children are starving. I have taught my sons that they should always help people that are suffering. Most Americans teach their children these things because our country has so much prosperity and wealth.
Sometimes when I am making dinner for my three sons, I think about the North Korean mothers who are trying desperately to feed their children. I cannot imagine how hard it is for these mothers who do not have enough food to give their children that they love so much. My heart aches when I think about this and sometimes I cry. You probably think this is silly because I do not know you and I live on the other side of the world. But dear people in North Korea, you need to know this is how Americans think. My parents taught me to care about other people and now I am teaching my sons the same thing.
Did you know that we have so much food in the United States that we send millions and millions of tons of food to wherever people are hungry – all over this world. We tried to send food to every single person in North Korea who was hungry. But North Korean people still starved. And then we found out that Kim Jong-il was keeping the food for himself and his loyal followers. You need to know that Americans care deeply about the people of North Korea, but we do not like Kim Jong-il. We think he is the worst dictator in the whole world because of how he hurts the people in North Korea. We hope one day you will have freedom because if you look around the world all the people who have freedom also have plenty of food to share.
I will be thinking about you. Your Friend Kristine in Virginia.
Hello. My name is Kristine and I live in Virginia and my home is not far from the Capitol of America, Washington DC. I just want you to know that I am thinking about you all the time. God blessed me with three sons and I have taught my sons about North Korea and how the children are starving. I have taught my sons that they should always help people that are suffering. Most Americans teach their children these things because our country has so much prosperity and wealth.
Sometimes when I am making dinner for my three sons, I think about the North Korean mothers who are trying desperately to feed their children. I cannot imagine how hard it is for these mothers who do not have enough food to give their children that they love so much. My heart aches when I think about this and sometimes I cry. You probably think this is silly because I do not know you and I live on the other side of the world. But dear people in North Korea, you need to know this is how Americans think. My parents taught me to care about other people and now I am teaching my sons the same thing.
Did you know that we have so much food in the United States that we send millions and millions of tons of food to wherever people are hungry – all over this world. We tried to send food to every single person in North Korea who was hungry. But North Korean people still starved. And then we found out that Kim Jong-il was keeping the food for himself and his loyal followers. You need to know that Americans care deeply about the people of North Korea, but we do not like Kim Jong-il. We think he is the worst dictator in the whole world because of how he hurts the people in North Korea. We hope one day you will have freedom because if you look around the world all the people who have freedom also have plenty of food to share.
I will be thinking about you. Your Friend Kristine in Virginia.
FNKR STAFF COMMENT: I want to respond to the letter from Kristine which touched my heart. I read that she tells her three children not to forget the North Korean children and she prays for the children in North Korea. I can hardly believe there are such people in the United States who pray for North Koreans, not too many North Koreans will believe what they hear but if we keep sending messages like this, someday they will understand and believe what Americans are. We have to work with conviction. I am in charge of sending the messages from the US to NK. I promise I will do my best!
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Second Action Item: Write in Support of North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008 – we are asking everyone to write to Senator Joseph Biden, Chairman of the Senator Foreign Relations Committee, AND their own Senators in support of this legislation which strengthens and improves the North Korea Human Rights Act of 2004. The Act unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives last May and is now in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. A copy of the legislation is attached.
Write:
Senate Joseph Biden
Chairman
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
439 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC. 20510
and fax your letter to 202-228-3612. (Senate Foreign Relations Committee office fax) Ask him to ensure that the United States Senate considers and passes the North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008! You should mention in your letter, your own personal concerns for the suffering North Korean people, the plight of the refugees, etc.
The Congress will be working quickly to get out to campaign for re-election so we want to be sure that this legislation is enacted before the recess currently scheduled for September 26!!
Also, please write you own Senator asking that he/she ensure this legislation is acted on now.
I urge you to fax your letter as well as email–
Here is information on all the US Senators.
Many, many thanks for your help on these important initiatives.
Warm regards,
