August 2, 2003

Richard Ingrams: A bigot and stupid Stephen Pritchard, readers' editor of The Observer responds to Richard Ingrams' statement that: 'I have developed a habit when confronted by letters to the editor in support of the Israeli government to look at the signature to see if the writer has a Jewish name. If so, I tend not to read it.' Pritchard says that: Ingrams piece was inflammatory, but I cannot see how it can be viewed as anti-semitic to oppose the policies of Ariel Sharon, any more than it is racist to oppose the policies of Robert Mugabe. That is not excusing the bigotry implicit in that opening paragraph. I agree with a reader who pointed out that Ingrams's piece displayed such a degree of prejudice against Jews that it will be impossible ever again to take seriously anything he writes about Israel. I find this statement quite odd, how can a statement be prejudice against Jews but not anti-Semitic? On the other hand, the declaration that nobody will ever take anything Richard Ingrams says about the Middle East seriously is quite true. Ingrams is a bigot who should be ignored. Igrams defended himself by noting the bigotry against Jews but not anti-Semitic contradiction but then stated: Nor is it clear how a statement calling for Jewish correspondents supporting Sharon to declare an interest is indicative of bigotry. The fact that you yourself do not indicate whether your correspondents are Jewish merely confirms my view. Which in fact is just more of the same bigotry and further indicates how stupid this man is. 9:07:47 PM