Rapaire, sure people of all shades travel. I was talking about likelihoods. In the US, long-distance travel is a luxury more likely to be enjoyed by whites than blacks, just like any other luxury. Are you seriously trying to argue with that?

I hate to intrude on your belief that colour makes no difference, since it must bring you comfort. But look around you. For a start, one in every three blacks aged 18-21 ain't going anywhere, because they're in jail.

I find it alarming that even beyond the many millions who voted Bush back, there are yet more Americans whose politics is driven by the "me, now" philosophy, as eloquently expounded by Pearl. What gives me hope is that there is a minority of Americans who hold to decent principles in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds - hold in fact to the dream of what America was supposed be all about.