Columnist showed cultural arrogance, disrespect

TO THE EDITOR:

I am writing this letter in response to Dave Wood's Jan. 6 column: "This vacation should prove different."

I shudder to think what the UW-River Falls international students must have thought if they read this. They are guests in our community, and the lack of respect you showed them and any other person from another culture is appalling.

Do you not understand the meaning of diversity? Perhaps you should take some time and partake in the Unity in the Community celebration held on campus each spring to learn what it is all about.

What makes you think you are any better human being than those families that live in the dump and work everyday just to survive and feed their families? God created us all equally, didn't he?

You spoke of Egyptian food and drink. For your information, I have had the opportunity to taste both and found them to be pleasantly pleasing to the palate.

You, my dear man, are a classic example of what the American society represents today. You portrayed your ego as being bigger than those slabs of lutefisk swimming in butter you so fondly speak of slurping down.

You might be better off sitting in your overstuffed easy chair in front of a warm fire slurping down some of your famous romm‚ grot that is wallowing in butter and cream or going back to the villa in Tuscany.

I was sorely disappointed to read such a demeaning column written by a man who speaks of the many columns he has penned over the years. Perhaps you should contemplate whether or not your are really worthy of doing God's work.

If you do go, greet the people of Egypt with open arms as they will you. After all, you are a guest in their country.

Bring your rotten shoes back and place them on your mantle as a daily reminder of what it means to be humble.

Pat Anderson

River Falls