In this case, 'foreign' is not synonymous with overseas.
A foreign accent is any accent that is foreign to your brain - and obviously there is a multi-dimensional spectrum of 'foreign-ness'.
The author has erred in his judgement, however I can see now why other non-native-English speakers would easily make the same mistake.
The irony of misunderstanding a topic about the importance of communication!
Back in Australia there are many distinguishable accents - many I detest; yet just because I find them foreign in no way make me racist.
There is a fine, but definite, line to cross for a comment to be racist, and pg did not cross that line.
In this case, 'foreign' is not synonymous with overseas.
A foreign accent is any accent that is foreign to your brain - and obviously there is a multi-dimensional spectrum of 'foreign-ness'.
The author has erred in his judgement, however I can see now why other non-native-English speakers would easily make the same mistake.
The irony of misunderstanding a topic about the importance of communication!