Not important at all to me, Mike. It was you who stated the 'fact' in question in the first place:-) Before talking about Jingoistic generalities and self serving statements check out you are not making them!

I fully agree that we are all brothers under the skin though. It seems to me however that some skins are a lot thinner than others. Tollerance is a two way thing and a bit of give and take from both parties in a dispute will go a long way to settling cultural differences. 'Stop doing that because it offends me' will serve neither cultural tollerance or racial integration. It is a step on the slope to the witch hunt mentality of everyone believing what the 'authorites' says to the exclusion of all other points of view.

I fully agree that a VERY small minority may take offence at many things. Does that mean that the majority should stop doing it? If I came to the US and took offense at you driving on the 'wrong' side of the road would you stop? I think not. On the subject of US vs UK attitudes I think you should read the 'Black Britons and Folk Music' thread. It has been a bit of an eye-opener for me. I never realised that race was so much more of an issue in the US than it is here.

BTW I have also lived and worked all over the UK and Europe. I worked in the West Indies for a short spell where not only did I see a white face pace-egg play but also had the dubious pleasure of being called a 'White Nigger', whatever one of those is. I have never worked in the US but have lived with relatives in Illinois and St Louis for short times.

Listen to both sides of every argument and accept that while my rights should never take precident over anothers neither should they be deemed second class for politically expedient reasons.

Cheers

Dave