There’s been quite a debate going on for some time now in Dubai on whether what many people label Racism is actually a problem with culture differences or sheer ignorance.

As a person living in the country for some time now, I can declare that I have been discriminated against more by those who share the colour of my skin.

A letter by a reader on last week’s report on discrimination in various nightspots woke me up to the fact that nine times out of 10, people of colour because of their own lack of self-esteem are perpetuating the colour bar among the world’s red-blooded folk. 

Since our launch issue last Thursday we’ve received bouquets and brickbats. More of the former, I am glad to report, but that does not mean that we have not taken criticisms seriously.

However we especially ignored those messages that contained just one four letter word that begins with S.

I have always been of the opinion that anything new is bound to have its fans and its critics. Please know that we have welcomed each of the hundreds of messages we have received on phone, fax, and e-mail and on our website.