Perhaps we should specify the exact nature of the supposed offence and to whom? Is it just the dressing-up as black people?

I asked Mrs Shambles for her thoughts on men dressing-up as women for entertainment and on high days and holidays and if this dressing-up was offensive.

She did have a bit of a problem with the pantomime dame and the larger than life high-lighting of female stereotypes like the mother-in-law or verbal attacks upon women in general from this role. She did not seem to take offence at just the act of men dressing-up as women for a bit of fun (or any other reason).

So perhaps it really is the intent (or the percieved intent) of all of this dressing-up that is the real issue? If this is the case then those who think that particpants in traditional events like Rochester Sweeps (where there clearly is no intent to offend black people) should use some colour other than black or otherwise modify things - can think again?

If these events and the dressing-up involved - have nothing to do with race - it does not seem to be sensible to risk them out of over-sensitivity and it is not as if there are not enough real race issues for us all to address?

And even in events that may appear to be a little more questionable - perhaps the benefit of the doubt can also be given there? We should all take care and work as to not to cause offence to others but perhaps should not risk throwing the baby out with the bathwater - for no good reason.