AFTER being condemned as being small minded and ignorant for airing my views over South Ribble flying the Rainbow flag, Citizen letters, August 17 and 24, I did not hide behind a nom de plume.

Expressing one's view is a privilege of living in a free country and I would be the last person to force my views onto anyone.

It seems like those who have replied to my letter have a talent for stating the obvious.

None of us can help the way we are born, be it sex, colour, creed or culture.

That is all the more reason why we should try to understand one another and make the world a better place to live in and I feel sure that we do not need a flag flying event to realise this.

Schooling in my day was to prepare you to go out into the world to earn your living so why are one section of the community so hell bent on getting Section 28 on the school curriculum.

It makes one wonder what the future holds.

To JRB who raised the political issue, my working life was spent as a trade union activist and shop steward, so I hardly think that the Tories would want me, or I them.

W Southworth, Highfield Avenue, Farington, Leyland.