From your reply:

"As for the poster who's insinuating that this article wouldn't have been posted were it about American airlines: are you kidding? That would have been even better."

I'm this poster, and I'm shocked.

If it were 300 victims instead of 200, would it have even better too?

I am Brazilian, and I would really welcome a fact-based, thoughtful piece about the problems we are facing with our airports and our ATC. I'd be the first to congratulate Slate for doing this. It would be an excellent starting point for discussing what needs to be done to fix that.

What you gave us instead is just a factless anectodal piece, hyperbolically titled to grab more Web hits, where you slander TAM and bitch about staying in a bad hotel in Manaus, but never touch the real problems we have. That this is a "commentary" piece is no excuse for not providing any meaningful facts to support your opinion.

This is journalism at its worst. You should stay at Gawker or Dealbraker. Slate deserves better.

For the fellow Brazilians writing here at the fray, Elizabeth does not represent the typical americans, who are usually sensitive and not smug about tragedies abroad.

Well Said,

I am writing this to as many posts as I can in order to gather support to come against the author as well as all those who allowed this to be posted. I encourage you to contact as many reputable news agencies and direct them to this article as well as the replies. Write to the Washington Post the owner of the SLATE and also finally to the Brazilian government. Perhaps the combined effort will make someone stand up and listen. As a Captain for many years I am used to the media getting all the facts wrong simply because they cannot wait for the professionals to have time to examine all the evidence. This is not about that it is about one writer using the very wide reach of MSN and the Washington Post to disgrace the memories of so many lost. Please do not let this die in the background. Pass it on.

Capt J

Brazilians are so touchy. Why don't you get over yourselves and acknowledge the fact that, as Ms. Spiers article pointed out, that Brazilian aviation is in complete disarray (pathetic customer service, long wait times, cancelled flight, dangerous landing conditions and dangerous air traffic conditions, etc.). All of which lead to unsafe conditions, conditions so bad Brazil has experienced two major disasters this year. Ms. Spiers is not the cause of these problems, and her piece simply illuminates the disarray of a system that has avoided its own responsibity in fixing them, so much so that over 200 people are currently dead.