IF I hadn't already suspected it for a long time, the last few days running up to Christmas have now confirmed it -- this country has lost the plot with it's interpretation of what is, and is not, socially acceptable and/or 'politically correct.'

First, we had the utter nonsense about some parents not being allowed to take photographs, or to video record their own children performing in their nursery school nativity plays etc. Why? Because some local authorities believe that such events might attract paedophiles!

Then the British Red Cross, of all institutions, decides to have nothing at all to do with advertising our nation's Christmas festival. Why? Because it might offend people living in this country who are not Christians!

Lastly, we have the example, set by our very own Lancashire Constabulary who reprimanded a police officer in Great Harwood for displaying a small Union Flag (the size of a postcard) on the bulkhead behind the front seats in his van (LET, December 21). A colleague reported it and senior officers were said to be concerned at the potential political inference which Asian officers and the public could have drawn from the display.

Well, good for them -- I'm sure they have done more to set back race relations, both within their police force and within the area as a whole, than anything the BNP could have done (although they have now given the BNP even more ammunition to win further seats in East Lancashire).

The mind can only boggle at the sheer idiocy of organisations like these three.

It is only a matter of time before:

The photographing of children is banned by law, for fear of 'inciting' paedophiles.

School sports day (and especially swimming galas) are banned because the children's attire might just excite (sorry, incite) even more paedophiles to attend.

All this country's national Christian festivals, such as Easter and Christmas, are discontinued, perchance it should offend non-Christians.

All the national flags of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland -- and most definitely the Union Flag -- will have to be kept in our own homes. No mugs, plates, shirts, or indeed any merchandise whatsoever, bearing our national emblems, will be allowed on public display!

We will never again be able to sing our national anthem.

Think this is silly or too 'over the top' to be true? Well, who would have thought, only a few years ago, that the examples I have given would have elicited such a ludicrous response from the organisations responsible.

Patriotism and most certainly common sense are now dead.

NOEL EKE, Pickering Fold, Blackburn.