Letter to The Editor - Caution, patience and consideration

To The Age         Brian Edgar is surely right (21/1) that there is only one race on our planet - the human race. However, this is divided into various ethnic groups and loyalty to one's own ethnic group appears to be natural and should not be condemned as "racist". That word should be carefully reserved for unjust behaviour based on ethnic identity. It was surely inevitable that, as a global culture developed during recent centuries, more and more mixing would occur between ethnic groups and that, while very welcome to some, this would be unwelcome to others. Caution, patience and consideration for those of different ethnicity and different views about ethnicity should be encouraged. This includes care to avoid misuse of the word "racist".
  Nigel Jackson, Belgrave, Vic