SHELDON E. SHORE, Pasco

Congratulations to Park Geun-hye for winning the 2012 presidential election in South Korea.

First, let me say I do not believe, in general, that women make better or worse leaders than men. There have been many outstanding female leaders and also some unmitigated disasters.

What is important about electing female leaders is that it sends a clear message to countries that treat women as less-than-first-class citizens, even denying them the right to vote or participate in government. I hope that the election of 2016 in this country will serve to reinforce the message.