here has been a great deal of controversy about something called "racism" ever since the O. J. Simpson trial ended.

Sides have been drawn. Opinions hurled in every direction. But as is usually the case when people express themselves viscerally rather than cerebrally, there has been more heat than light. And nothing has been resolved.

Given all that, perhaps my two cents worth will be of interest to you.

Let’s begin with what I believe the word racism to mean.

To me, "racism" is the state of mind that projects nonphysical characteristics — either complimentary or disparaging — into individuals solely on the basis of skin color.

So if someone believes all whites are well-mannered or ill-mannered or that all blacks are well-mannered or ill-mannered, then that person is a racist.

But there can be no exceptions.

Clearly, if someone believes that only some whites are well-mannered or ill-mannered or that only some blacks are well-mannered or ill-mannered, then that person could not be a racist for the simple reason that he or she made a characteristic other than skin color part of the equation.

The first inference that flows from this definition of "racism" is that no one is a racist per se. Racism, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder.

The second is that as long as people are incapable of reading minds, the only racist anyone can know is a racist is the racist him- or herself.

Now one can, if he or she wishes, project the characteristic of racism into another as an opinion or even as an inference based on what that other says or does.

But projecting racism into another doesn’t make that other a racist any more than projecting courage into another makes that other courageous.

And the third inference that flows from this definition of "racism" is that there are relatively few racists out there despite the accusations and pronouncements of those whose power depends upon creating the perception that America is overflowing with racial bigots.

You don't agree? OK, prove me wrong.

Think about it.