Letters to the Editor

Published April 15, 2008

Sometimes The Water Tower inspires our readers to get naked and fight the power. But usually they just send us emails:
thewatertowernews@gmail.com

After reading Charles Winkleman’s article on Bhutan, I was angered and appalled. The article starts off harmlessly enough, but then proceeds to bash the Bhutanese people and their country with shocking prejudice and force.Winkleman says that the fact the Bhutanese don’t want democracy is “fucking ridiculous.” Oh really? Did you ever stop to think that maybe not every country in the world wants to think, act, feel, ooze, and breathe like the United States?

This article exudes a sickening amount of ethnocentrism and implies that any country that may not be accustomed and comfortable with democracy are “too good for it.”

I’ve never heard a more blatant load of brainwashed ignorance than this. The Bhutanese clearly do not hold the same value system as Americans, but it does not make it bad in any way, nor does it make the people “uncivilized and backwards.” Do we really think the United States is that much better than every other country? Wow.

I am deeply wounded and shocked at the intolerance and lack of consideration for Bhutanese culture and political history which may be playing a role in their inability to grasp the western ideal of democracy.

Shame on you for writing such a despicable article calling Bhutan’s people “destitute” all because of a sudden and unprecedented switch in power dynamics. I expected better from the Water Tower.

Profoundly Upset.

Julia

Editor’s Note: We at The Water Tower commonly employ sarcasm and cynicism in our coverage of current events. We surely do not seriously think that the Middle East is “unenlightened,” or that the people of Bhutan are“destitute” and “too good” for democracy. If you missed the article, you can check it out yourself here.

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