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We first discussed the proposal whether should be compulsory in the UK.

But what does it mean to be British? Kathryn sent us this text message:

British is linked to being a citizen of the world, all schools i went to had a very multiple ethnicity which was easily tolerated.

Felix in Latvia had this comment via text message:

Well, self-irony, dry, sarcastic sense of humor is something rather British. Although it will be quite hard to teach 8 year olds these qualities...

Violence in Brazil

Juliana from Sao Paulo sent us this message:

I live in São Paulo and now I am in the middle of this "civil war". I believe that our authorities should do something for us, police officers are dying as well as the common citzens (the police is protecting itself). And I really expect that our authorities show power, they are stronger than the gangs. We need the oficial army on the streets, we need the federal police but nothing happened so far.

But Ana Maria, who called from Sao Paolo, said that she didn't support the army being called out. She only wanted the federal police brought in to quell the violence and to find out who was behind the attacks. The police need better weapons.

The police are frightened on the streets. They don't have proper weapons.

Ros asked our callers, Ricardo, Marco and Ana Maria in Sao Paolo and Rolando in Rio whether anyone supported the gangs. The answer was no.

William in Cerquilho Brazil wanted the army to go into Sao Paolo. William said that President Lula will not be in power long with the riots going on.

Immigration in the US

We next went to the border between the US and Mexico to El Paso Texas, which sits right on the border. Across the Rio Grande River sits Ciudad Juarez.

Gene Savard, morning host of KTSM, joined us.

A lot of my callers seem to be against (immigration). We have a lot of people in this town with relatives over there (in Mexico).

But he said that a lot of his callers want to know if politicians are serious about controlling the border after 9/11. "Or are they just paying lip service during an election year?"

Charlie Edgren of the El Paso Times pointed out that the National Guard troops that US President George Bush is proposing will not be involved in patrols but will provide logistical support and support counter narcotics operations.

What are his readers saying?

The problem comes with the term 'illegal'. A lot of letters to the editor that we are getting say enforce the law.

He has not seen a lot of backing from his readers to add more National Guard troops to help control the border.

Corruption in Italian football

The accusations are mainly about last season, said James Richardson, a British expert on Italian football.

The allegations say that the manager of Juventus used contacts and his influence to make sure that friendly referees called his club's matches. But James said that picture might change over the next couple of weeks.

It sounds like the manager who has resigned might start naming names as he goes go down. His club might fall from Serie A to the third division of Italian football, a horrible blow for the team that just won the Italian league.

This is essential. There has been a climate of suspicion around all Juventus but all the teams. This is an extraordinary occasion. The Italian league has a god-given opportunity to put things right that for years have blighted the game.

Jose sent us this text message:

Though I'm a Portuguese living in France I like Juventus. As a great team I feel bad listening these news. This team doesn't need this kind of things.

Myrna called in from Verona Italy and said that Italian justice is slow. She expects more to come out over the coming months.