More on Madonna

I must respond to the plethora of negative commentary about Madonna in the Letters section May 12.

Madonna herself admits that she is not the world’s greatest singer or dancer; however, she is an extremely talented performer with much more to her act than simple self-gratification and self-exploitation.

Madonna is on a crusade to stop prejudice in its many forms: sexism, homophobia and racism. Madonna is the only mainstream mega-star with guts enough to publicly embrace the gay and lesbian community, and she is the most effective celebrity spokesperson in the fight against AIDS. She also puts her money where her mouth is, for she has raised millions for AIDS research and services for people with AIDS.

The motive behind Madonna’s controversial artistic expression is not to shock, per se. Her performances may shock some, but they are political statements designed to wake people up to their hang-ups--to transform the world into a more understanding and accepting place.

ROBERT APPLEBY

Van Nuys