Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Dear Tsili Wolf,

Thank you for your frank and heartfelt comments. I'm sorry to hear you found the translation distracting or perhaps even patronizing -- that certainly wasn't our intention. Translations of this sort are always a judgement call and given that we have audiences around the world, we have to do our utmost to ensure the story is clearly told. In our view, Leon was sufficiently unclear to warrant translation even though there were sections when he was perfectly clear. His breathing patterns were also something we had to work around as he was ill -- remember he passed away about a month after we recorded that conversation -- and those patterns often occluded what he was saying. We've received some heartwarming responses to Leon's story on our FB site (www.facebook.com/twsi.org) but we share in your disappointment that the story didn't have the fullest impact it could have with you, as it appears to have had with other listeners. Many thanks again for your candour, Greg.