Political correctness?

This is in reply to Nigel Mason's letter Honoring children in the Oct. 18 edition of the paper. He obviously feels he has the right to apply his arrogant politically correct views against the entire Indonesian nation. How dare he, a foreigner, describe the Indonesian religious custom of circumcising girls, a practice dating back centuries, as "barbaric".

Mr. Mason is a recent social science graduate, no doubt, with his very absorbent brain thoroughly pumped with Western feminist dogma, which has deluded him into thinking he has the authority to speak on behalf of all Indonesian women.

Have you ever actually asked how Indonesians feel about the practice?

Or is this minor circumstance not necessary for your Western arrogance, where if it's incorrect for Westerners then it must be bad for the whole world? My guess is Mr. Mason is another Australian blessed with the gift of pointing a finger at every other nation except, of course, their own. How many Australian aboriginals died from third world diseases and racist abuse last year? How many were female babies?

May I suggest that when Mr. Mason returns home the first thing he does is race to the kitchen, strap on a pink apron and cook up a storm. Just imagine how many oppressed women he will liberate!

MELLY R.

Jakarta