On Mae concert review

I refer to Hera Diani's article Vanessa Mae strings together an entertaining concert (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 22, 2001).

In these uncertain, troubled times, our concerns range from family, to friends, to the state of the world in general. They fall far short, however, of caring about a reporter's access to a free concert ticket. To paraphrase Rhett Butler, "Frankly, Hera Diani, we don't give a damn."

Hera Diani's self-centered, unprofessional lamentations not only fall on deaf ears, they instill resentment in readers who are far more interested in reading about a sold-out, world-class, entertainment event. The writer's article would have been better served by describing the event and congratulating Ms. Mae for both her superb performance and courage in not canceling the show in the face of political and social unrest. Furthermore, the promoter, Buena Produklama, and the sponsor, A Mild, deserve kudos for their accomplishment and commitment to the fine arts. This reader encourages them to continue to do so.

As for Hera Diani, she should follow her own advice and next time buy a ticket.

RICO LAGO

Jakarta