THE EDITOR, Sir:

Now that the United States elections are at fever pitch excitement and President Obama seems to have an easier path to electoral college victory, the Republicans hate groups, big money spenders, racist fringes, special interest groups are pulling out all their stops to make him a one-term president, but that's politics.

This brings me to the question, is the US a racist country? I have made my own analysis. My illogical reasoning to many might be confusing, but I decide to take the high road and make a fair analysis. These are the questions I wish to pose.

Who are the dominant sport personalities in the US who make hundreds of millions combined per year? What percentage of non-white holds executive posts in government and the private sector? Would a racist country dominated by white elect a non-white president, have a non-white attorney general, two non-white secretaries of state, appoint scores of non-white diplomats, declare a public holiday in honour of a black civil-rights leader?

Aren't there criminal sanctions against racial discrimination? Would China, England, Italy, Japan, Russia, Australia and India elect a member of a minority group to be head of state? I think certainly not in my life time.

More than 50 visits to the US spanning more than 30-odd years, I have never encountered any form of racism and I am black. While my gross period of stay is roughly two years, that give little criteria to make a judgement about racism in the US.

Despite the foregoing, there is blatant display of racist groups, highly influential individuals whose utterances betray their feelings, white hate groups, prominent politicians who shows lack of respect for the president because of his colour, but is it realistic to categorise a country because of a minority whose moral compass has steered them in the wrong direction?

A country should be judged by its high standard and the opportunities it offers its citizens.

Finally, should President Obama get a second term, will there be talks of racism? What if Romney wins? Will it reveal that the country is polarised racially?

Tony Miles

tonymiles@gmail.com