Janell Cole's front-page story about locals' "rage" against National Geographic magazine ("North Dakotans rage against the mag," Forum, Jan. 13) is even more one-sided than the article very much in question was purported to be.
Did she call the author of "The Emptied Prairie," Charles Bowden, to hear another side? Did she look him up to see if he was important enough to call? A short direct quote from magazine staff would have been helpful. But Cole was writing a not-well-hidden editorial.
Maybe the quoted North Dakotans would have been happier with an article more like the text of the annual report of a gasification project. Anyway, there is no "dot gov" in the magazine's URL; pressure for retribution has to be through news media.
When my grandfather died young in Barnes County, N.D., no one consoled and advised his widow and six children to sell and move because larger farms would be "more efficient" in times to come.
There were tragedies out there. To refine a bit, there was a common tragedy (is it over?). Remnants and relics are present and should be looked at again and again. I thank Bowden and photographer Eugene Richards for another clear view.
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Rodney Nelson, Fargo, letter: Story on magazine article was one-sided 20080116
