I hastened to point out that I was editor of an ethnic paper, but it was too late.
Now, as prices for oil and other commodities slide, economists and environmental researchers warn that the loss of forest cover may be hastened, leading to new clashes as governments in the region try to maintain growth rates and spending levels by driving deeper into the jungle.
She broke into laughter, and I hastened to add that we respected her views and I was hoping that she would treat my views the same way.
This time around, the baby is a Carter, whose arrival was hastened by Linda falling down the stairs in fluffy pink boots.
Following the 1949 merger, however, the NFL's integration hastened; by 1952, the Washington Redskins were the lone roster without a black player.
It rapidly populated the new territory of California, which America had just seized from Mexico, and hastened the day that the Golden State became a state.
In the past two years, drought has hastened the decline of Kurdistan's primitive agriculture, provincial revenues are falling and the unemployment rate 13%, according to disbelieved official figures is spurring an exodus to other provinces.
But these tragedies merely hastened the struggling airline on its route back into full government ownership.
In the late 19th century, hot southern summers hastened the invention of three fizzy drinks: Coke in Atlanta, Pepsi in North Carolina and Dr Pepper in Texas.
Deindustrialisation hastened unions' decline.
This was not, Germany's Mr Schröder hastened to add, an effort to exclude anyone or to work against NATO.
