by Dennis Krivda

Created on: October 27, 2009

Not so long ago, while still living overseas, I made the mistake of entering into a debate over America's foreign policy with a non-American.

For whatever reason, I can get pretty passionate when it comes to discussing topics of such magnitude. And those who know me can tell you that I can also get pretty darn blunt with people when discussing just about anything. (That's just who I am.)

Once upon a time I used to invest a lot of emotion in my discussions of politics because I worked for the federal government as a young man. I felt (and still feel) that a lot of good people working for the US government honestly strive to make our world a better place. Nowadays, though, I don't invest so much feeling into political discussions. Sure, I still enjoy a good spar now and again, but just with a little less zeal.

As it was not so long ago, I tripped lightly into a discussion of America's foreign policy with the non-American just to see if "I still got it." I'm happy to report that, indeed, "I still got it."

As my discussion with our foreign observer progressed, I realized that I had heard just about everything he was saying sometime before. I had already heard the blood-for-oil chant regarding Iraq. I had heard the Israel-US conspiracy theories before. I had heard the US domination of the world strategies before. I had heard the oppression of the masses theories before. I'd already heard the charges of a new crusade against Islam several years ago.

I'm telling you, I've heard just about everything before. Well, at least I thought I had heard everything before until my foreign opponent shocked me with a new indictment of Americans in general.

I could hardly believe my ears when the loud-mouthed out-lander accused Americans of being hate-mongering xenophobes.

Despite my disbelief, I immediately recognized how feeble such a charge is and could only chuckle at that ridiculous notion while my opposition meant it in all seriousness. 'America the xenophobic society,' I thought to myself. 'That's a new one. How far out of touch with reality is this dude?'

(In case you don't know the meaning of xenophobic, I'll happily tell you so you too can see just how laughable such a labeling of Americans really is. Xenophobic: unduly fearful of anything/anyone foreign. A xenophobe is anyone who fears all things foreign.)

I think you can instantly recognize the absurdity in such an assessment of Americans. I could barely contain my laughter when I asked the guy if he'd ever

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