Interesting thread.... I would never argue that xenophobia is good, but it does seem to be the natural reaction of most people when they meet something they don't understand -- like a different language or culture. I think differences scare people and when we're scared we react with anger. What we have to do is keep in mind that words are just words, skins are just skins and people are just people. That way, the world isn't so scary and we don't have to build our little mental fortresses and shut everybody out who doesn't think or act exactly as we do.

Enough of that rant.

Tim... Getting set to go to England for a month this fall, so I guess you've warned by about the ribbing I'm likely to take. Funny, but when my very English wife goes with me to the U.S., the comment she gets most often is "I lo-o-o-ve yoah accent." She just smiles and says, with all sincerity, "I love yours too."

See you at the Press Club....

ddw