There are people struggling with this every day. This subject is much more than an intellectual discussion for them.

We all struggle with this.

And we will all struggle even more if it is accepted that this subject is only one that certain groups suffer from and they are the only ones who can talk with any authority on the subject or dictate to others what terms are acceptable or not.

I started this thread because recently our press has been full of accusations of racism being displayed on a reality TV show. This reached the extent of questions being asked in Paliament and diplomatic relations with another country being strained.

It has shown how confused we are and how totally disprortionate our reactions are to displays of alleged prejudice on grounds of race have become when compared to displays of prejudice on other grounds.

On the same show - attitudes towards and comments made about people's mental health, their social class and being referred to as 'white trash' by one of the African Americans - have passed without much comment.

But the show has received thousands of complaints trying to claim that one of the show's contestants was the subject of racist bullying. With the front pages of our newspapers carrying acusations about certain contestants being racist bullys.