Curator, I was not initially criticising you as cartoon Irish, but Tír Eoghain (I cut and pasted the name but the accent does not seem to have come out correctly) who for no obvious reason suddenly started an anti-Brit rant. You posted while I was composing so I can see why it looked as if I was coming back at you. I accept that Cromwell's conquering of Ireland was unjustified, and also that the English committed atrocities in Ireland, but I don't find the methods used to re-create an independent Irish state or to attack the legitimate government of Northern Ireland acceptable.

However, you then started so I returned fire when I could be bothered.

White Hat! (Not white flag).



Gobson, since I was born in Stanmore, educated near North London, and became an entertainment lawyer, I have (obviously) grown up and worked closely with many Jews. From time to time in various situations I have been the religious (or irreligious) minority, and they the majority. I take entirely as I find, and my daughter's first name is a Jewish name. I have no prejudice against Jews (who, incidentally, are a "race" for the purposes of the Race Relations Act), nor against any other race or religion and I don't really see much importance for the inertial observer whether Jews in general prefer to see themselves as a race or a religion. You are the only Jew I have ever heard fuss about the distinction, and certainly one of my friends used to make a big (jocular) thing about her genes being the basis of a real need, any time she wanted to steal the pickle out of my sandwich.

What I do find foolish is the flinging of the charge of racism every time it is suggested that facts might be checked or that Israel or some particular person or persons who are Jewish (by religion or descent) (or any other grouping, come to that) might deserve criticism.

Gobson, you sully everything you endorse.