Breakfast with Beck

I.M. Beck (June 16) does not appear to take kindly to criticism. May I inform him that it does not require a person to be cursed by a poorly balanced disposition or a delicate digestion to regurgitate his breakfast when confronted by the tone and contents of the bulk of his (Beck's) weekly tirades. I would reassure Beck that Anthony Gatt's (June 3) reaction is shared by quite a number of readers.

I would also refer to his statement that a "far greater number" (far greater than what? - if he is referring to Mr Gatt, that only means more than one) come up to him to say they enjoy his stuff, and who exhort him "to keep on fighting the bigots". Rather than adopt the smug, self-opinionated attitude that has so far characterised his writing, perhaps this columnist would be better advised to refrain from accepting all he hears at face value.

If he really wants to find out what people think of his stuff, he should get somebody to tell him what they say in his absence. Of course, insofar as bigotry is concerned, the utter disregard shown by this columnist towards anybody who does not happen to share his own personal opinion on any matter, political or otherwise, leads to the inevitable question as to who is really the bigot.

Of course, it isn't Beck - it is everybody else. As the dear old lady said when she went to see her soldier son in the parade: "Oh, look, they're all out of step except for my Andrew".

But, of course, all this is useless. As the saying goes: "The leopard cannot change his spots, or..." I will not complete the saying, or Beck will accuse me of racism.