Dear Rob Thank you for your response to my open letter to the Minister. It's a pity though, that it doesn't address any of the issues I raised. And by trying to deflect the issues with the tired "play the man" strategy, it simply confirms the widespread perception of an insecure department, unable to engage with any criticism constructively. I am sorry to burst your bubble, Rob. But you and the Minister are not "in the trenches". The trenches are where retrenched dancers and actors, unemployed musicians and visual artists, writers and filmmakers struggle to make art, with or without government support. And it might take guts to do what you do, but I think it takes more guts to wake up everyday and try to be an artist in this country at the moment. The Minister feels "stabbed in the back" because of my public questioning of him? Now he knows how artists and cultural administrators feel. Having entrusted your department with their futures, their passions, their livelihoods, they feel let down, angry, frustrated, disillusioned. For never Rob, - since 1994 - never has the arts and culture sector been in such disarray as now. You've suffered insults, had your hard work marginalised, been outvoted in the last six years, and still you're doing what you're doing. Bully for you. Try 15 years or more which is what some of us have spent trying to advance the cause of the arts and of cultural practitioners in our country. And it's getting harder, Rob. The distance keeps getting longer. This takes guts, Rob. It takes guts to stand up to a defensive department, to question their lack of delivery, to expose corruption, to go against the flow of brownnosers and opportunists. That takes guts, Rob. ..... To get the full story, subscribe to ACEmail at http://www.at.artslink.co.za/ace - Mike van Graan www.artslink.co.za/cw -- "Arts world in one website" http://www.artslink.co.za Arts and Culture Trust of the President Award Electronic Media of the Year in support of the arts Winner 1998, Finalist 1999 and Nominated 2000 Support South African Arts and Culture: Dial-Up with Artslink.co.za and save! http://www.at.artslink.co.za/isp Debate issues affecting the arts and culture industry http://www.at.artslink.co.za/egroups.htm ICQ: 87315418