No, Mr Gendall (CT letters 29/07) it simply is not good enough to attempt to play down discrimination by describing it as 'only defensive', harmless and by citing it's being practised in Dorset etc., ... "everyone does it". "Everyone" used to talk of "niggers" in the bad old days and abused Jews - I once stood on the Truro-bound platform of Liskeard Station and heard, over the tracks, a couple discussing loudly as to whether Asians smelled different. This in full hearing of a large Asian family going home from holiday, who could certainly hear them. This was only about 10 years ago.
I don't care if Pytheas remarked how charming the ancient "locals" were; they have learned bad manners since his visit BC. One of a party I was guiding in Cornwall a few summers ago remarked on "service with a snarl" something I passed to the Tourist Board, who printed it in their report as a fairly typical remark.
Racial discrimination and abuse is never funny, even if it is described as "innocent, harmless or defensive". I personally will be taking up any further examples of it, in newspapers or verbal, with the Race Relations Board, and I invite others to do the same.
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