Keeping AIDS in Story

Regarding “A Model for Living” (Calendar, Dec. 12):

“ER” is certainly on the right track in continuing this story line. Those of us of color “living” with this disease have a weekly opportunity to see someone who looks like us grapple with the madness.

All media outlets and particularly television have done a poor job of representing our nonwhite masses with AIDS. I have lived to witness some hateful and miraculous things being done to and for people with HIV, and “ER” would fall into my miraculous category.

I trust that Gloria Reuben reminds herself that at the end of a long workday portraying the “dramatic, emotional story line” about her character’s HIV status that it is just a job of make-believe. But for myself and too many thousands of others, our illness doesn’t end when the director says, “It’s a wrap.”

RONALD DENNIS

Los Angeles