The struggle for the soul of Survivor goes on. TV tip-sheet Cynopsis has a letter from show creator/EP Mark Burnett today:

Being an avid daily reader of Cynopsis, I have obviously been fascinated by your new section "Letters to the Editor." I agree with the overriding sentiment which is "wait and see". This sentiment clearly comes from rational people who have at least seen a few episodes of Survivor. These people can therefore logically deduct that racism is far more likely to be found in our modern world where socioeconomics, and by extension, race plays a large part in how people are associated with and even worse judged.

Whereas on a desert island where economics and social class count for nothing, it's simply your ability to build a fire and catch fish that becomes of paramount importance. Add to this, the political nature of Survivor which is overlaid on the survivalist themes and you need to add in the criteria of "Do I like this person?" or "Can I convince this person to vote with me?"

Survivor is probably one of the greatest leadership and management tests you can witness. It's almost like firing someone who works as your subordinate, then the next day, asking them to lobby "your boss" to give "you" a promotion. Survivor is the equivalent of this where the very people you play a part in getting rid of, are asked to turn around and reward you for it.

The premise in dividing tribes by ethnic pride was that racial differences are unlikely to matter one iota when the modern world is removed.

Were we correct?? Time will tell. All I can say is that the series will pull no punches and will at the very least show that behaving like an asshole isn't the exclusive right of any particular race. It will also show that it's impossible to stereotype people once you meet them and (even vicariously) live with them as they struggle to build a world.

- Mark Burnett

As a discerning critic of celebrity communications, we have to say that it sounds like he wrote it himself.

Earlier:

WSJ Says Mark Burnett Out-Witted
Survivor: Escape from LA