Old age does not make you more tolerant of racism, the opposite. You understand life better and have seen it all. You have met more of other races. Said Voltaire - it is difficult to hate one you know.

You are right that fighting for human rights can be selective. Doing it for your select race some will call you racist, an accusation thrown at the Tribe of Judah throughout history that they cared only of their own. Is that racism, or survival instinct for a race on relative decline?

I do think our "Black" gentleman over-reacted. Marrus is not white - he is Jewish - a race, a tribe. I as one with oily name and skin worse has been thrown at us. Better to have returned the repartee. After all this is a Postgraduate College not teens.

And you will never fight racism this way. Such confrontations will only make people more careful with their tongues while remaining dark in their hearts. Woody Allen exploits it well in the hilarious Dinner scene in Annie Hall.