Visit to UT, Austin,Texas
On Wednesday, October 13, I was given the privilege of addressing collegians at the University of Texas in Austin on behalf of LINK.
LINK is the acronym for Liberation in North Korea, and the UT chapter is one of 30 such chapters on various college campuses. This organization is relatively new, with the first chapter formed in March, 2004.
Originally comprised solely of Korean-Americans, there are today members of many nationalities, all in the quest for liberation in North Korea - freedom of religious and political persuasion.
LINK is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-ethnic and non-religious group formed in pursuit of the following mission statement: To educate the world about North Korea. To advocate for human rights, political and religious freedom, and humanitarian aid for North Korea. To empower citizens of the world to take effective action and make a difference. To bring together and support existing NGOs and other organizations working to achieve the same ends. To tell the world the truth.
Our visit to the UT was arranged by Kym Pham, Director of the Austin chapter, and by Michelle Cho, another UT student. In the course of our short visit, we had the pleasure of meeting other highly motivated and hardworking individuals associated with LINK. Prior to our visit, we had checked with the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles about the legitimacy of LINK, and were told that they are fully and unequivocally supported in their efforts.
Not quite 50 years ago, Nathaniel served as an Air Force pilot, and was stationed in Texas. After living in Lubbock, we moved to Waco, and had a number of close and wonderful Air Force friends. Among them are Nancy & Dick Goebel. Dick was also a pilot, and although separated by many miles now, we have stayed in close touch. The Goebels these days live in Dallas, but made the long drive to Austin so we could better renew our acquaintences. This was a great bonus to our visit to Austin as we were able to recount experiences from the past, as well as discuss our present lives.
Thanksgiving Day is fast approaching, and it is appropriate that we give thanks for the wonderful country in which we live. We should be mindful of the terrible regimes in North Korea, and elsewhere in the world, where repression of human rights is rampant.
November 11 is Veterans Day, and we should also be mindful of the veterans who have fought in past wars to keep our freedom safe, and pray for our troops in battle today, in the hope that one day soon, tyranny will no longer exist on the face of the earth.
Fondly,
Marion
