[Yaelle]

...and that is the soft bigotry of lowered expectations. That is, they secretly expect better of Americans because they secretly think we are more sophisticated than the "ethnic" types for whom they would make excuses.

Bless you! Where were you when I was on the phone with him earlier? I needed that! "The soft bigotry of lowered expectations" indeed! I used similar arguments during the biligual ed debates. I had to learn 2 different languages as an adult, and lo and behold I did it, and was able to work. WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE if we don't believe others as capable?!

Thanks; this is a GREAT point, using their own point against them.

[Anamensis]

Glad to help. Here's another one-liner as per Arab men on planes: "Would you rather be dead than wrong? If so, doesn't that suggest to you that perhaps your ego is too involved in this matter?"

Okay, so that's two lines... (-: