In the midst of what is supposed...

In the midst of what is supposed to be a series loosely based on the plight or struggles of a woman professional, thereby assuming a certain enlightened or at least contemporary consciousness, the “Remington Steele” episode that aired June 14 interjected three stereotypical bowing and scraping Japanese characters with--can you guess?--cameras snapping, apparently as a running gag. I know I’m not supposed to take this series seriously, but giving subtitled translations or remarks among those three like, “What do they think we are, chopped liver?,” implying that at least the Japanese knew they were being patronized, does not release the writers from overt racism. This kind of writing is not only offensive but boring . Ignorance often is.

Janice Jarrett, Venice