COLUMNIST Peter Mullen asks why it is acceptable to say that generally black men make better Olympic sprinters than white men, but unacceptable to say that the large number of young black men convicted of theft and muggings is disproportionate (Echo, May 27).
This nonsense can reach even more absurd proportions: for example, there are those who disapprove of the word "blackboard".
The answer to Mr Mullen's question is that throughout history there have been people who take the prevailing morality to absurd lengths, with a view to proving themselves "holier than thou".
If it was fashionable in 21st Century Britain to build pyramids in which to bury deceased members of the Royal family, the very people who oppose the word blackboard would advocate the construction of monster pyramids. They would also advocate the imprisonment of those favouring smaller pyramids, or no pyramids.
I gather this problem afflicts the Muslim world. According to an article by a Muslim author I read recently, there is effectively a contest between Muslim countries to see who can be the most Muslim, with Saudi Arabia leading the way.
The author described this as a downward spiral to absurdity.
Ralph Musgrave, Durham.
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