Sir – We surely all accept these days, don’t we, that it is wrong, and punishable by law, to comment adversely on a person’s gender, sexuality, religion, obesity or race.
Except if the person is German, of course, when disagreeable remarks seem to be the order of the day.
And I speak as an enthusiastic Germanist, having read German at the university here and being married to a German.
In a world where one can end up in court for calling a Person of Unrestricted Growth ‘fatty’, it is unbelievable that an august organ such as yours should countenance the publication of an article which attacks, in the most vituperative manner imaginable, persons who grow beards (October 3, First Person by Annette Cunningham who ‘regularly uses Veet’.
I’m not sure what that is, but I’m sorry for her and hope that she’ll be better soon). This is an extremely serious hate crime targeted at a vulnerable minority. It left me, as a person who sports a very fine beard, feeling stressed, humiliated and depressed.
And, unless you publish a full apology, I shall feel duty-bound to put the matter in the hands of the Crown Prosecution Service and the European Court of Human Rights.
Nigel ‘Don’t Call Me Beardy’ Clarke, Oxford
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here