Thanks for the explanation, Jim. It was all I wanted and it is good to see that you do not believe that British people are racist. Maybe now that is out of the way we can also dispnse with the tabloid type phrases like 'Britain is deeply racist'?

I am more than happy to accept that there are a number of people everywhere that are racist. I have been subject to it when I was a kid with a Polish name in an English school. Which does, incidentaly, make me conclude that the 88,000 racist kids are just kids who know no better BTW.

I was also subject to it in Antigua when a crowd of black youths chanted 'White Nigger' at me.

I do not accept that the problem here is any greater than anywhere else. I do not believe for one minute that one ethnic group of people is any different to another group. To do so would be racist, surely? :-) But, having said that, I do not excuse British racism on the grounds that it the same everywhere. Racism will never be eliminated altogether. That, in my opinion, is beyond the scope of human nature.

What should happen and may happen eventualy is that most people will realise that that it is not acceptable to treat anyone differently on the grounds of sex, colour or creed. The only ones who should and must be treated differently are those with a proclivity to harm others. They are not an ethnic group of course but exist everywhere and in all societies.

As to the newspaper poll. Well, it is what it is. I don't think that 30% of people admitting racist feelings is significant anyway. I have had them myself. I doubt if there is anyone here who would deny every having a flash of anger at someone of a different race or laughing at what basicaly boils down to a racist joke. It would be far different if 30% oif people said they were actively racist and would or have caused harm to anyone on the grounds of ethnicity. But that is not the case.

Cheers

DtG