Reply #90: Thanks. Appreciate it. [View All]

[Snow]

I agree totally, as you have doubtless read, with your concern about demonizing. I also stand in horror of our government's ignorance of history and culture, and lack of understanding of local politics. Another discussion for another time, perhaps, is our government's firm policy against supporting monarchies. A good friend while I was in grad school was an afghan, I think of kazak ethnicity, who was friends with and highly respected the Shah of Afghanistan. To this day he argues that it was a major mistake for the US to refuse to support the Shah's returning to rule after the departure of the USSR.

There have also been arguments brought forth that in the event of Korean reunification, bringing back a monarch as a uniting figurehead would help a lot towards restoring a sense of nationhood. Although I don't think the current crown prince would be acceptable, and since he has no descendants, brothers, sisters, etc left, it would likely have to go to a cadet line for the most appropriate person.