Tibet’s sadly vanishing culture

I am writing in protest of “Behold, Tibet” [Aug. 19]. The train makes it easier to get to Tibet -- easier for the Chinese government, which wants to dilute the Tibetan culture. Tibetans are becoming a minority in Lhasa, and the new train and the accompanying influx of Chinese will make sure that the trend continues. Shame on Susan Spano.

--Jeffrey Berman, Los Angeles

I’m glad Spano enjoyed her trip to Tibet. We did too, in 2004. We went to places where Western tourists seldom venture, and I was amazed at the availability of Internet cafes. What the country is lacking are comfortable mattresses and decent public restroom facilities. All in all, though, our trip to Tibet was the most fascinating we have ever taken.

--Janet Sherman, Arcadia

The Tibet article was an atrocity because it ignored the genocide and destruction of Tibetan culture since the Chinese invasion and occupation.

Tibet was home to more than 100 of the greatest wooden buildings in the history of the world. The Chinese destroyed all but one of them (the one at Lhasa).

And the road to Tibet, which your writer enthuses over, is and was also used to strip Tibet of its natural resources, bring in soldiers and flood Tibet with lowland Chinese to overwhelm and destroy Tibetan culture.

--Joel Amkraut, Los Angeles