MICHAEL RAFFERTY,
A chara, - There was a clue for the Simplex Crossword (August 12th) which stated "Of genetically different groups (6)". The answer much to my surprise was "racial". Genes do not determine race. There is no single or unique pool of genes that determines what it means to be part of the Irish "race". Genetically there is no difference between the races black, white, red or yellow. There is only one race genetically and that is the human race. President Bush and Bin Laden have more in common than they would like to admit.
Your crossword setter is confusing race with ethnicity which is, of course, not to be confused with nationality. Race is not a biological construct but a complex social and historical one. The present debate about Irish Travellers is about recognising their ethnicity (warts and all) and if we cannot get the language right then we will be banjaxed from the start.
Using the logic of the clue would justify those who argue that Travellers are genetically different from settled people. The problem, this logic would continue, is a genetic one and not a social or justice issue.
Hence a reason to give up trying to solve the differences between the settle groups and the Traveller groups and exclude them from society. This is scientifically very dodgy and, of course, racist, which also goes for the clue.
I will bow to your more learned science correspondent on this issue. -Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL RAFFERTY, Railway St, Dublin 1