MRS H HAMER (Letters, May 7) states that she is fed up with the moaning of the Muslim community. I think a lot of other people are, too, but the moaning appears to pay dividends.

Muslims have their own self-styled 'parliament' in London - goodness knows what for - and want separate schools, funded by the state, etc.

I came here from Mexico 19 years ago. I haven't asked for anything (my husband says I wouldn't get anything anyway as I'm not an ethnic minority!) and have managed to live quite happily with the laws of the land.

Even though I now have British citizenship, I still tend to regard myself as a guest in your country.

As something of an outside observer and unbiased onlooker, I do not think it is really fair of the British to take the attitude of being "fed up" with these people, or complain about what they do or don't do.

After all, who let them come here in the first place? And who gave them special treatment with interpreters and benefit leaflets in their own language?

When I first applied for citizenship, I was told that, in order to conform, I must be able to hold intelligent conversation (or write legibly) in the English language. But then, I'm not an "Ethnic minority".

MARIA E F AYRE (MRS), Union Road, Oswaldtwistle.

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