I had an acquaintance who was racist - don't see him much now but mainly due to his bigotry in ALL areas rather than just race. Made him the most self opinionated b!"£$%d you could ever meet and I had enough. But I digress...

We were chatting in a pub when I first heard his comments about 'F!"£ing Pakis taking over all our shops'. I was completely horrified. I tried reason. I told him that many years ago in a Bavarian beirhalle (sp?) there was a group of people complaining about 'F!"£ing Jews taking over all our shops' and everyone knew where that led! Right over his head. I am reluctant to say you can never reason with people like that because then I am as guilty as them. What are 'people like that'? Are they all the same? I hope there are not many more like him but I suspect they lurk in dark corners all over the world.

Anyhow - to Patrishes question. Just keep trying reason, Pat. If after a while it hasn't worked dis-associate yourself as I did.

I heard a quote the other day - bit corny but quite good. People are like crayons. Some sharp. Some blunt. Some short. Some long. Some tatty round the edges and all sorts of different colours. The thing is they all have to live in the same box:-)

On the religious side. Our local PP (Fr. John Williams -doesn't play guitar but was a mean soccer player in his day!) caught a couple of local youngsters vandalising the school. "I'm taking you to see your Dad" he said as he was frogmarching them round to their houses. "That's not very Christian" cried on of the lads.

"I'm not a Christian" says Father John, "I'm a Catholic..."

True story he tells from the pulpit. And would a priest lie...:-)

Cheers

Dave the Gnome