Krazy Kiwi wrote:

> You need to take your blinkers off guys .. it happens everywhere .. not
> just to the Yanks or the Japs.  I have a few examples.

No question that it happens.  While I might argue that in some of your
examples, the product was different, in others, it appears to be similar
enough to be comparable.  The question, however, is whether it's OK.  I
think most of us know the answer, even when we come from the favored area
(not specifically referring to Australia here).

> I've never heard of a discrimination case between one country & another so
> if the story is correct it will be interesting to hear IF they can sue and
> on WHAT grounds. Curious kat.

I've never hard of a suit between countries except, perhaps for the various
U.S. sanctions against countries for what we perceive to be civil right's
violations.  The original sanctions against the Taliban in Afghanistan were
based on their treatment of women.  So were the ones in prior years against
South Africa for their treatment of black residents.  Actual discrimination
suits here in teh U.S. are not between countries, but between the
discriminating entity, which has sometimes been the U.S. government, and the
individuals or class of individuals who have been disadvantaged.
Discrimination cases by those of Chinese, Hispanic (mostly Mexican, Cuban
and Puerto Rican) Italian, Native American (includes both Indian and Eskimo
populations) have been common.  Cases by black people are usually tried on
the basis of color rather than ethnic background.  The penalites for all
crimes here, if shown to be motivated by hate on a prohibited basis
(theoretically, everyone is covered), carry greatly increased penalties.

The downside of this, aside from the tendency of the disadvantaged to blame
others for their problems while forgetting to do something to help
themselves, is that it leaves us singularly unprepared to deal with
something like the Terrorist activities we've experienced in the last few
months.  The attacks are both on a national basis and a religious one and we
simply have no way to deal with either.  There are Islamic people still
living and still protected by our laws.  In fact, there is an Islamic temple
right up the street from my house.  We can not bring ourselves to act
against those who are here, even those who are here illegally, on a national
origin or religious basis, even when we are attacked on that same basis.  If
it were not so deadly, it would be most interesting.

I've gone far from the original point.  I can't confirm that the Mike Ball
operation actually charges more based on national origin.  Before I chose or
recommend a Mike Ball trip, I'll know to my own satisfaction, that they do
not discriminate as suggested or will have, hypocritical as it seems,
decided I care about the trip more than the discrimination issue.

Lee