JULIET Morgan (Letters, September 24) accuses me of making an "ignorant remark" when I wrote (September 20) that America is loathed by many.

I don't loathe America, Juliet! I've visited the USA four times, and like much about your country and its people. Yet the average American is insular and rather ignorant about world affairs.

It's a fact that, worldwide, many don't have the 'capitalism and christianity' philosophy imposed upon them. Britain had a similar problem 100 years ago, when we used 'christianity and the crown' as our excuse for acquiring a world empire.

British, and now American, imperialism inevitably has caused resentment. So-called 'terrorism' is usually a consequence of the exploitation of poorer weaker nations by arrogant powerful countries.

You can learn a lot from the past, Juliet.

Colin S Jeffrey,

East Mount Road,

York.

Updated: 14:04 Saturday, September 29, 2001