ON the rare occasions when I make use of my television, I am disheartened. It is symptomatic of a grave illness in our society that one of our more popular forms of entertainment is the spectacle of half-naked men mouthing dull lyrics to trite songs. That some of these entertainers have musical talent is not the issue, but that social and, necessarily, economic mores should dictate that it be exhibited in this grossly simplistic way is an outrage. Why are the censorship watchdogs who are so forceful in the suppression of real drama and serious cinema so silent or powerless before the economic juggernaut of this latest mind-dulling product of our age? If they were instruments of real social reform their absurdity and corrosive influence might be excused. We as a society pay lip service to the classical values of excellence and the virtues which lead to its attainment. Unfortunately, we do not keep our greatest rewards for excellence, but insist on rewarding mediocrity. G. FRANCIS BIRRA Aberdeen
