Letters: Asians called to Scottish fight

Isobel Hawking
Thursday 24 October 1996 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: If my fellow-countryman Ian Hamilton considers himself a foreigner in England ("Why is Black Rod the only Black Here?", 22 October) he should remember the first rule of international courtesy - not to giggle at the comic customs of foreigners. Ethnic jokes are only acceptable when directed against one's own ethnic group.

For example, it is all right for me to say that I find the spectacle of grown men marching about swathed in yards of coloured material, in a costume invented by a Yorkshire clothier, and with a wee knife in their sock-top moreover, irresistibly comic, particularly when accompanied by the skirling of a primitive musical instrument.

I should not like my English friends to dwell on this, however. But then, they never have.

ISOBEL HAWKING

Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in