He is not trying to excuse it though, he is highlighting a regional difference in culture and perspective that happens even within US borders, which is a valuable contribution to discussion. It should lead to a further exchange of views and perspectives by the people involved, not to punishment.
Fine, but you're saying that as though you assume I downvoted him, I didn't. My comment was from before his edit
This is right. Sorry about that. In the future, I'll try to avoid editing a comment after someone else has commented on it.
I think it's fair enough editing comments like you did, mostly it doesn't cause any confusion.