To the Editor:
I am an alumnus of Dartmouth who had a chance to read the above-mentioned editorial from your paper, and I would like to express my strong condemnation of the author's arrogant and disrespectful position -- disrespectful not only towards the foreign countries but to the American nation and culture itself, as his excited claim that "... we [the Americans] have no culture!" stands as an offense against a rich cultural heritage of the United States and does a grave injustice to millions of American people.
The exceptionalism expressed by the author has a strong nationalist-chauvinist flavour that in itself goes counter to the very principles of American political system to which the author gives so much praise. He supports his views with shallow, mostly unsubstantiated arguments picked out of context and demonstrates exceptional lack of cultural and political knowledge, not to mention of elementary respect for other nations; it is very surprising taking into account the extensive travel experience the author claims to possess.
It is my strong opinion that publication of similar materials will neither promote international understanding on Dartmouth's campus nor stimulate respect and positive attitudes towards the United States in the outside world.
