I read all comments that go onto my articles, all the way through - at least twice in this particular case.

Jeannette and I have very different views on the world and how it works. That's fine, a liberal democracy has to function with people who have different opinions tolerating each other. We both believe the other is wrong, but we're both polite enough to see that there may be small grains of truth in what the other is saying. Right and wrong as a polemic concept is a tough one anyway. Polite people always get the time of day from me - impolite people tend to get the snappier side of my beak.

I've had contact with at least two people who have turned their back on 'woke' and become disillusioned with the blame game in recent months. It gives me hope, particularly for young people who are questioning the wisdom of the course of action they were set on by being social media activists in the first instance and thinkers in the latter. You may consider them too far gone, but I'm more hopeful.

Being 66, white and a smoker will allow many people to make judgments, but I won't do so. It sounds like you've had a colourful life and drawn your conclusions accordingly - I think there's nothing wrong with doing this, but other people will draw different conclusions. I think you're right about racial mixing, but I'm not sure this will usher in racial harmony - and CRT teaching in schools is something I'm dubious about but prepared to consider. It really depends on the scope of what is being taught and how it's being taught. There are good arguments on both sides.

You and I are in full agreement about socialism and helping the needy. These motivations stand independent of my thoughts on a whole host of things and I think the further the democratic left moves away from this, the worse off it will be at election time.

Thanks for taking the time to comment on my article. :o)