As ye sow, so shall ye reap

I see that the Hollywood actress Halle Berry has sparked controversy in the United States after suggesting that a distorted picture of her made her look like her "Jewish cousin", on account of its prominent nose. As is to be expected, the cry of "racism" has gone up from some quarters, although not with anywhere near the volume that would be raised if a white actress had made similar remarks. Ms Berry has now issued what the Daily Mail describes as a "grovelling apology".

In these days when an accusation that one is a racist, however irrational, can destroy one's career, I feel an instinctive sympathy with anyone who has the charge undeservedly levelled against them. And I do feel that the reaction to this comment has been over-the-top: what she said was hardly in the Mel Gibson league, after all, still less in the realm of the really hardcore Jew haters. At the very worst, what she said was mildly distasteful.

So, in these circumstances, I would usually be expressing the hope that this ridiculous story, such as it is, would blow over as quickly as possible. But then I remembered that Halle Berry is one of the most vociferous race baiters in Hollywood. She'll raise the cry of racism against a white person whenever the opportunity presents itself. Well, now the tables are turned, she's getting a taste of her own medicine, and I don't have the slightest bit of sympathy. I very much doubt that this latest incident will kill her career, but hopefully it will at least damage it a bit.