The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 53

15 9 MAY 1996 GREEN lyilllMGUIDE Sort of, you know, Aunty I I HAVE a much better idea for nindins 0 the ABC than penalising listeners with intrusive Nine denies racism in 'Water Rats' MR AHMEY APAK of Upfield, I am writing in reply to your letter (GG, 164) outlining your concern about racist attitudes in an episode of Water Rats. We have viewed the episode in question again and I cannot agree with you that it displays any form of racism. i episodes. I think you've lost the plot, GP. Dr Betty Stewart Cheltenham Fox's Phil a truly great legend WE ARE writing in regards to Peter Mitchell's letter headed "Ugliness at the Have you ever heard of tuning your radio to a station you like? Obviously NOT.

You have no right to bag our "Ugly He is one of the very few great legends in our society. His programs bring amusement into our lives. If you haven't noticed, our whole world is one great big avalanche of ignorant, sexist and tacky dialogue. Phil may be ugly but his style isn't. Get a life Peter Mitchell.

Slmone Cassar and Laura Colbert ElthamReservoir Too much verbal Fine every presenter and speaker of the ABC a hefty sum for every time they use the mindless "you "sort of" and "and stuff" every few words. This form of new punctuation is like a virus and more maddening than equally mindless and unwanted ads. I am not interested in "and stuff" or', "sort Ifspeakers cannot clearly communicate without resorting to this, they should not have jobs with the ABC. EUa Ebery St Arnaud Great Anzac Day You, In fact, misquote in your letter. The quote you paraphrased came at the end of a casual outlining by one detective to another about the circumstances of the case.

The first detective gives the case details and asks: "What do you think?" The other detective replies: "About your Turk? -think you've got a murderer on your hands." The statement in no way indicates any form of racial attitude. It's simply the sort of thing you might say if you didnt know someone's name and were replying to a question about them. There is clearly no suggestion that the man being a Turk automatically suggests he's a murderer. It is, in fact, the series of details previously outlined that make the detective form that conclusion. His being a Turk is clearly not germane.

I also reject any form of slight towards Vietnamese in the scene aboard the floating brotheL In previous episodes we have shown non-criminal and admirable Vietnamese characters. It is just that in this particular story we have a floating brothel where Vietnamese women are being exploited as prostitues. It is based upon a true-life incident. Life is often less than politically correct Once again, I would like to repeat that we in no way espouse racist attitudes and utterly reject that we have ever propogated them in any of our dramas. By far the majority of our criminals in Water Rats are white Caucasion males.

Kris Noble, Director of Drama, Nine Network Australia Willoughby, NSW pirouetting THAT PHILIP Adams is at once very vu ugy I WOULD like to congratulate 3LO for their very civilised and well presented radio programs on Anzac Day. 1 can't imagine a commercial version doing as well. It was so skilled in every department with great sensitivity. Roma Good Moonee valley Time to flick GP I WAS, until this year, an avid follower vj; 'si Jay Laga'ala and Catherine McClements in "VVater Rats'. We live In a multi-racial society and so we represent heroes and villains of all races.

In this particular episode, we portrayed one Turkish man as a murderer. The man is portrayed as an Individual and not as a representative of his race. He is shown to be a man who has trouble accepting his daughter's social behavior, which runs counter to his own expectations of her. An argument leads to her death. No generalisations are made at any point about any racial group.

Zoo Carldes and Steve Blsley in 'GP': "apalllng" changes. of GP. Rating it just about the best TV program on offer. Both the content and portrayal of characters were superb. But not any more.

What we are how offered under the same title is appalling and should elicit a rating of about zero. I trust Channel 2 will quickly wake up to itself and replace GP with something more inspiring. Shirley Bold Williamstown GP has lost the plot GP HAS become a farce. I have practised medicine for 50 years but I have yet to encounter a colleague like the "doctor" travesties in recent clever and unutterably boring is a great paradox. It is nonetheless true.

On Late Night Live he parades before us people of great stature on subjects of great moment but will not allow them to say anything. Constant interruptions, boring anecdotes, banalities and verbal pirouetting supervene, forcing the listener to glean what fragments he can from the occasional lacunae. In these days when Radio National might have to fight for its life, it cannot afford to be throwing away outstanding material on a mere showman, no matter how clever. Robin Sherwen North Melbourne Please send letters to the Green Guide, The Age, 250 Spencer Street, Melbourne, 3000. Please include a business hours telephone number and keep letters as short as possible.

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