NaBloPoMo: I couldn't help myself

Maybe it was the pinchy boots I was wearing. Maybe it was the headache from grading papers. Whatever it was, I couldn't help myself. We were talking about the Civil Rights Movement in class yesterday and I wanted to get my students thinking about whether or not it was a success. The last question I posed to them was, "have we solved the race issue in this country?" I got a lot of varying answers and after awhile my British student raised her hand. She chose her words carefully, but essentially said, "it's known in other countries that America is quite behind in that regard, there's just so much racism." Her comment prompted another student to ask her if black people are treated differently in England than in the US, to which she said, yes, they're treated just the same as everyone else. At that point, another student interrupted:
Him: "Yeah, but it's not like you guys would ever elect a Middle Eastern Prime Minister! Would you???
Her: "Well, no, I suppose not..."
Him (getting more aggressive): "Yeah, that's what I thought. You guys really hate Middle Easterners over there."

Internet, it was out of my mouth before I knew it: "[snort] Whereas in this country, we love them."