Attitudes need changing in order to finally remove the burden of racism from the shoulders of the human race.

Nobody can argue with the truth of that proposition.

What is difficult is to get people to see that all of us need to change our attitudes, and I do mean all.

There are a multitude of ethnic groupings who have been disadvantaged by means of racial stereotyping at different points in the history of the human race.

True to say that the white races have been more guilty of racial discrimination than most, a situation that has been gradually improving (tho' there is obviously still some distance to go), but the necessary further change in their attitude is unlikely to be expedited by being made to feel that they should apologise for their white skin because of things their grandfathers may have done.

If someone seeks to punish me continually for the actions of generations who lived and died before I was born, and fails to notice the fact that I treat everybody the same, regardless of colour, then I am unlikely to have great respect for his point of view.

As I said, attitudes must change on both sides, and finding that balance is the biggest obstacle to be overcome.

In the last five years I have many times been called "Honkey", "Cue Ball", "Whitey", and some even nastier names by black members of a local bunch of hoodies.

If I had responded with the "N" word, I would, in all probability have had a visit from the police.

We need to remember that white people ARE an ethnic group also, and we further need to come together and agree that we are living in the 21st Century, and bury those past hurts, over which none of us had any control.

Only then can we all move on together. Until then we are merely growing the next generation of hate.

Don T.