"I know if I was in Mexico I would make an effort to learn Hispanic."

I agree Nolan, in Canada I went to a "Lycee Catholic pour de jeunes femmes". French and Latin were requirements even in grade school.

I'm having a blast learning Spanish - the more alcohol I drink, the better I speak, so my Cuban friends tend to keep me liquored up.

Seriously though, how can one understand a culture without having some understanding of their language?

Oh BTW - Great Forum Icon!

In my high school (I am not sure if this is true of all high schools) it was required of us to take at least 2 years of a foreign language. I think a large reason why Americans are so resistant to learning other languages is because up until recently it hasn't really been necessary to learn them -- I mean, we are much, much more isolated than Europeans are, and French has always been part of Canada. Whereas in, say, Switzerland, you've got something like four languages to deal with.

My prediction is that as the Spanish population grows, many more of us will grow up knowing Spanish, and it will become part of America in a way that no schooling can teach.

I clicked on this thread thinking this was going to be about something George W. Bush said. But you know, this raises an important question: Why do people keep electing ignorant, mean, and misinformed people to positions of power? It's not cute or funny that powerful people are borderline retarded, it's a shame and very frightening.

LMAO! Iwas posting the same sentiment as you posted this! Thank goodness for preview!

It definately sounds like a classic GW-ism.

Oh, I definitely agree that Americans should become more multi-lingual. 4.5 years of high school French, but do you honestly think I have the slightest ability to hold a conversation with a native French speaker?? I also agree that, to help them integrate smoothly into the maze Americana, immigrants should be encouraged to learn English as soon as reasonably possible. That said, I think this good ol' boy Tennessee judge has lost all sense of reason. To threaten to terminate parental rights in this context is an outrage, and is nothing more than a raw attempt at tyrrany by majority.

Great points Rose.

Myself - I have studied other languages to help me understand the diversity of cultures on this rock we call home. Absolutely fascinating. I really get excited when I recognize etymological connections and similarities across languages.

Thanks on the icon, just be careful where you walk

I learned Latin on the advice fo Dan Quayle so that I could speak with the people of Latin America.

Live and learn I suppose.

Ok, I resisted the urge to post as long as I could, because I am sure I'm gonna get flamed for it. I have to say that I think this really misses the point. Personally speaking, I am not adverse to learning any other languages.
For example, if I decided to move to France, I would make sure that one of my first priorities was to find a French class as soon as possible! One reason is I would be terrified to be in a country where I couldn't communicate with people.... I mean what happens if there is an emergency and I can't ask where the hospital is, or understand the doctor's instructions? Would I just die because I can't understand my neighbors telling me the building is on fire, Get Out!!
Another reason is just basic common sense as well. I would never expect 50% or more of France to learn English just because I, as an American, decided to move to France and would presume it is their responsibilty to learn to communicate with me.

So my point is that it's not that Americans are adverse to learning other languages, it's more that if other people choose to move to America, it should be their responsibility to learn enough of our language to be able to effectively communicate.

Ok, flame away...

No doubt. Those classes on the Canadian language were just baffling.

Eh?

Dontcha know?

Well I would at least try, to speak the countries "main language".

For example: If I went to Germany, I would try and learn German. It's not that hard to understand. I think the point of this thread is to get the idea across some are quite lazy in even bothering of learning english (which is the majority language although Spanish is a close second).

Here's the way I look at it: We go out of our way to learn their language, why can't they do the same?

Aboot what?

Because they have the freedom to choose not to. Oh, wait... sorry, thought we were talking about America.

aboot how to spell Canada... it's C eh N eh D eh!

Yes it is a freedom, but it's also common sense.

Bunch a hosers

My point exactly! If people don't have the common sense to try to communicate with the natives, why should we go out of our way for them or make special considerations for them?

You speak Choctaw?

Who said she wasn't trying? I am relatively sure she speaks some English, just not enough to satisfy the judge.

I bartend part time and we have many staff members that are from Mexico. A good portion of them do not have the greatest English skills. I hear some of my co-workers echo the sentiments of this judge. I think they are ignorant to the actual facts.

In my case, I help and have helped several of the kitchen staff with their English studies, especially sitting with them and correcting their pre-tests. They seem very eager to learn English, I just don't think they always have the resources educationally, monetarily, or otherwise to fully achieve the goal without some assistance from native English speakers.

This judge could have been much more of a humanitarian had he simply pointed her to some resources rather than giving her an ultimatum involving the removal of her children for her custody. That is one of the most fucked up things I have ever heard and I think that if he tried to actually take those kids he would find his ruling being overturned in apellate court.

Goddamnit Nolan is awesome.

I agree, but I bet if the story was about German immigrants not knowing how to speak 'American', the reaction would not be the same

I had a little discussion with some of my wife's friends a few months ago. They are all Polish and were criticizing how all signs in public places in the Chicago area are bilingual (English-Spanish). They also complained how there are so many Spanish radio and tv stations. Of course, to them, it all meant that Spanish speaking people were stupid.

I then asked. "Excuse me, but what language would you be speaking if I was not present? Polish, of course. Where do you do all your shopping? Polish stores, of course. Where are all the friends you hang with from? How long have your mom and dad been in the USA? Thirty years? And how come they do not speak ONE word of English?" But, but, but...

Why are there so much Spanish speaking folks in the USA? Well, history! Sad, plain and simple.

-> Spain was a colonizer

-> Most of the Southwest belonged to Mexico at one point in time. You take the land, you take the people that live in it.

-> We supported Dictator Fulgencio Batista in Cuba. Castro came in and all our Cuban friends fled to the US. Same story with many other Latin American countries.

And so on, and so on...

Now, should immigrants learn English when they come to live here? Of course!

But reality is that immigrants, regardless of where they come from, will be more comfortable speaking their own language and following their own culture in their new home. Many will never have a true need to speak English.

I personally totally enjoy the many cultures and languages we have in the USA. It makes it a much more interesting place to live. I don't have to necessarily fly to, say, Mongolia, in order to meet her people and enjoy her culture.

And if I sit next to a couple of Mongols at a restaurant and they are speaking in their language, I don't immediately think they are talking about me. That would be egotistical

Just remember that we are one of the few nations in the world where the 'natives' are really foreigners...

- T -

Well, except for the *actual* natives