"I have read that the Democratic Party are especially bad in this respect, condoning a large racist element in their Southern support." Ake

It's been a long time since the South was primarily Democratic, Ake; at least since LBJ and his Civil Rights push.

And I think your view of our racism is simplistic. I don't think that Miss Rice or Mr. Obama is tokenism. We *have* changed a lot; it's just that we must change more.

I hate to harp on it but I repeat that I get tired of people implying (not inferring) that the US society is more racist than many another society. One of the things I love about America is that she is far more open to criticizing herself with a sincere wish to improve.

How many countries do you know whose favo(u)rite anthem has this kind of exhortation: God mend thine every flaw.