Regarding the article about Brazil titled “Bribe to survive? Saying no isn’t easy” (Business, Oct. 8):
I am a Brazilian citizen who has lived in the U.S. for almost five years, and during my more than 50 years of residence in Brazil, I never once had to use a bribe to facilitate my success. I have two sons and many family members, and none of them has had the experience of offering a bribe or paying extra for a service that was being performed by any agency of the federal or local government or other private organization.
Reporting of this type is unfortunate in its misrepresentation of the daily life of the citizens of Brazil. I am concerned that the sensationalizing of life in Brazil is contributing to an alarming anti-foreign trend in the United States as strongly represented in the anti-immigration policies of recent months. Someone with no actual connection with the country of Brazil may get the idea that it is a poor and dangerous alien land with customs that are clearly anti-democratic. This helps perpetuate careless attitudes toward those who are not like us. I enjoy the fact that the Tribune covers my native country, but I am very dismayed with the editorial slant of some of this reporting.
