It is a shame we don't have many more councillors like Brian Gordon. He is an educated person who is religious and respects others, their beliefs and religions.

I was delighted to see that the Times had published Nelson Mandela's response - it just goes to prove that Mr Mandela is also a person of wisdom who respects others, and we should take note of that example.

How anyone could possibly try to make political light of what Brian Gordon said 30 years ago is completely ridiculous.

Let us take Mr Mandela's case into consideration - here is a man who has become a living deity. He was incarcerated in 1964 for what was ruled as being sabotage' and, at the time of conviction, Mandela was quoted as saying: "I do not deny that I planned sabotage. I did not plan it in a spirit of recklessness nor because I have any love of violence. I planned it as a result of a calm and sober assessment of the political situation that had arisen after many years of tyranny, exploitation and oppression of my people by the whites."

After years of refusing to denounce violence, Mr Mandela took his journey to Damascus and became a galvanizing leader of great judgement and integrity. So should we, 30 years later, take offence at what he said?

Will Mr Dismore MP, Ms Agnes Slocombe, and Liberal Democrat Ms Stieve De Lance, realise that with their continued intolerant, over-the-top politically correct behaviour, that they are the ones who should be accused of fuelling racism, because they are the people condoning segregation.

Let us please remember that colour is only skin-deep. Let's have more fancy dress - more power to your greasepaint, I say.

Paul Amsterdam West Way, Edgware