I am compelled to wear your badge of "bigot" with pride. Reasonable people are evaluating their preconceived notions, and bouncing these off of their individual experiences. I have traveled internationally, and continue to have dealings with offshore companies. Within the guidelines and constraints that exist today. Name-calling and castigation, especially among fellow Americans, is impolite.
You are right, I shouldn't call names, and I apologize.
All that does is cause more strife, instead of getting anywhere in discussions.
The best example I can think of is Lt Col Asad 'Genghis' Khan. He was, maybe still is, in Afghanistan with the 6th Marines. He and his men have tallied the most Al Qauda and Taliban Kills. I can't tell you what this man's religion is. I know that his family is from Afghanistan and he shares their customs. I don't really care what religion he is. I would call 'Genghis' a Patriotic Hero. http://www.geraldo.com/index.php?/archives/8_USMC_Forward_Firebase_Ripley_South_Central_Afghanistan.html
I know that the Kurds helped us in Iraq. I imagine that there are some Kurdish people who are Americans. I imagine they are proud that Hussein can no longer threaten their families. I would imagine that a lot of these people are patriotic Americans.
Don't get me wrong. I think the point to all this should be that there are good and bad people everywhere. We have Tim McVay and the likes of thugs like Charles Manson, the Middle East has UBL and Khalig Shake Mohammad, and the Demorats have Coward Dean and the likes of Mikhail Moore. There are bad people right here in the US. So, does that mean we shouldn't trust anyone? I love Ronald Reagan and this all give me the chance to say doveryay, no proveryay. Trust but verify.
Along with all that, let us not forget who we are. We are Americans. In peace or war we still have honor, dignity, respect, and integrity. Sometimes we fall short of our expectations but that's OK because we will still prove to be true in the end. Look at Japan. They are a great country today. The Japanese people are good people who contribute everyday to the world. They have a lot to be proud of. So does Germany. The ungrateful French are lucky they are not speaking German or English right now. And speaking of France and England, look at the difference in their former colonies. I think you will find that the British educated their colonies and helped those people showing honor and dignity, while former French colonies are not well off because their land had been raped and their people short changed. I ask you which country has more honor, dignity, respect, and integrity England, France, or the good ol' US of A?
My answer is the US if we work with people and show dignity, honor, respect, integrity, and justice. Doveryay, no proveryay, justice must be served. And so should respect, and honor, and dignity, and integrity. We can show people hope and a future, the likes of Al Quada can not.