A COUPLE of weeks ago, readers may remember, I had an e-mail from an American taking me to task for my views on her and her countrymen and women.

My comments in this very column have resulted in another electronic missive from another American reader -- this time more in sorrow than in anger.

Harold Simms, of Salem, Oregon, said: "It is sad to hear that Americans and British are still expressing their particular views on what is wrong with each other," before going on to relate an example involving his own family, which is rather too personal for these pages; during the course of relating said tale he does use such Americanisms as "humor" and "realize", however.

However, he also included a few pertinent quotes to illustrate the differences between our two great nations including: "The Americans are identical to the British in all respects except, of course, Language." (Oscar Wilde) and "We the British and Americans are two countries separated by a common language." (G.B. Shaw).

"I say don't worry about the nitpickers in our society, life is too short to worry about such things," says Harold. And who can argue with that?