THERE is a term which can be applied to comments such as those of Mr S Jones about the Welsh (Letters, February 10) - cultural bigotry.

Nationalism is such a misused word; it is far more to do with heritage and history.

Look at history - England has been invaded so many times and its indigenous population decimated that it's a wonder we are not all speaking Latin, Norse or some other such language while having Julius Caesar round to tea.

Most of 'our' language has been imported and derived from invading cultures. So exactly how English do you feel now, Mr Jones?

The Welsh have kept their heritage, even in the face of such adversity and their language is rather ancient and steeped in myth and legend.

If anything, it is the English who display the worst kind of nationalism when they, for example, go on holiday. God forbid - they don't speak English abroad and don't eat chips with everything.

A collective sigh of relief can be heard when the Englishman abroad drunkenly staggers back to dear old Blighty and the fallout factor falls back to zero.

I, by the way, am English, but of Welsh parents. I would far rather call myself Welsh than English because some Englishmen's behaviour is disgraceful.

ALUN DAY, Moorfield, Whalley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.