IF Anthony Tang (South China Morning Post, April 7) honestly believes that the term gweilo is never used in a derogatory manner, perhaps he would be so kind as to let me know where he buys his rose tinted glasses. My dear father-in-law and many others disagree with him. It is not what you say, it is how you say it! I presume Mr Tang refers in his Biblical paragraph to the third person in the Trinity, the Holy Ghost, the comforter (John 14:26). He is, of course, quite correct. The word ghost is used quite innocuously in English and many other languages, just as English swear words in other languages can cause no offence. Alas Confucius (if he existed, History of Western Philosophy, Bertrand Russell, pub. 1946) has been incompletely quoted by many. In the Analects of Confucius on the question about wisdom, from a Kan Ch'ih (A 6.20): ''To devote oneself earnestly to securing what is right for the people, and to show reverence for ghosts and spirits so as to keep them at a distance may be called wisdom.'' It is heartening to see that Mr Tang has a knowledge of the attributed teachings of Confucius even though by association, he does not pay them too much heed. ''If one is not capable of serving man, how can one serve ghosts?'' HUGH A. CAMERON Cheung Chau
