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

ga-li-da-s-ta-nv-hi

Who said anything about people being expected to be spoken to in their native language? The point was this Judge is demanding that this woman learn English.




yet another of your Kiamat edicts from on high. Obviously it isn't, or we wouldn't have issues regarding language for you spew out (wrong) opinions on. What a total shit-head bullshit statement that is, in that it's supported by NOTHING. Might as well claim "The US is a Tomato Dishwasher speaking country-period", or any other the sense that makes.

Pinko Taco

..

grueso

1. The woman *should* learn English if she is going to be in the US.
2. I never claimed the English was the lingua franca of the US, I *did*, however, say that the US is an English speaking country. As for proof-lessee
-We learn *what* language all through school? Here's a hint: English!
-%99.9 of the media in this country is produced in what language? Here's a hint: English!
-Our Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and every other piece of legislation that come through Congress is/was written in what language? You guessed it-ENGLISH!
-All of our street signs are in what language? Very good! English!

So, yeah, I'd say it was safe to say that the US is an English speaking country.


-Kiamat Dusk

ga-li-da-s-ta-nv-hi

Incidentally, road signs in Baghdad are in ...... you guessed it ... English !
No point here carry on.

p.s. I never heard an Iraqi speak english.

Wow. All that and all you could pull out were street signs? Are you even trying anymore, Lektor? If you haven't heard an Iraqi speak English, turn on the TV sometime. I've heard Prime Minister Allawi speak English a number of times. I've also heard Iraqis interviewed on the street speaking broken, but serviceable English.

-Kiamat Dusk

Wow a fellow pub on the attack ?? Hmmm maybe you are a neo-con. Let me clarify, as I was rolling through the countryside on the grand invasion I never heard an Iraqi speak english. Better ? Smooth them feathers.

You also ignored my disclaimer ---- No point here carry on.

*smooths his feathers.... Sorry, dude. I just get all worked up in a frenzy sometimes.

*sips some freedom from his W'04 mug.... Aaaahhhhh...much better.

Kiamat, I am afraid your figure of 99.9% of English speaking media is incorrect. For reference, check this out:

http://spanish.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp%2Ddyn/articles/A41905%2D2003Aug10.html

As far as street signs go... you might want to know that there's quite a few major cities in this country that have street signs in both English and Spanish.

No sense in getting all worked up about this... it's just a matter of adapting. People will learn foreign languages at their own pace if they learn them at all, in the meantime, we all need to be a little bit more understanding, compassionate and patient.

Leilany

You know! You're absolutely right! But, I am opposed to the racist behavior of our companies and city planners with their exclusionary practices.

Since the US has no official language and is such a melting pot, we should demand that every sign from the street signs to the McDonald's menu, to the ATMs be in every language on earth! In fact every TV show and movie should be simulcast and subtitled in every language on earth! Not to mention every newspaper, magazine, and book. Hell, let's throw Ebonics in there for good measure!

-Kiamat Dusk
Can't wait to see South Park in Urdu

PS: "Although Spanish-language television gets 5 percent of the total audience..." Sorry, %95 of the media in this country.

I have finally found something to agree with Kiamat on.

Seems like you're adapting nicely already...

BRAVO!

Except one problem... All of the above is slowly changing. While I agree that change can be good, it saddens me in this case. Thanks to the people of the same frame of mind as those that are arguing against these very points in this thread, we as a country have made and continue to make exceptions for those that are completely capable but unwilling to learn. That makes me wonder.... how many more years we will be able to say that the above is true?
People in all countries demand that their culture and customs be observed, that their children understand these. Are America's children and grandchildren to believe that our culture is simply this: You must learn to all other languages because we are the ones adaptable enough to do so. So many think our country is great... because we let them change our culture and WE ADAPT TO THEIRS, in our country.

Like Kiamat I lived in Japan for a time and quickly learned to get by in the language. I felt then and still feel that if I'm going to spend more than a couple of weeks vacation in a country it is an insult to the people of that country if I don't make a concerted effort to learn to communicate with them.

After reading the article I find myself agreeing with this judge's decision, not because I feel that everyone should be made to learn the dominate language of their country of residence, but because in the light of the particulars of the case mentioned in the article it makes sense. It seems that the judge based his decision on the fact that the mother's language issues were impairing her ability to care for her daughter and even to communicate with her.

'"If the mother is able to learn English, she will be able to speak with her daughter for the first time in a substantive manner and will show her that she loves her and is willing to do anything necessary to connect with her," the order read. '

I don't know what circumstances caused the daughter to learn a different language from her mother but I would think it practically impossible to raise a child well if one cannot communicate with them.

How has your culture changed as the result of non-english speaking immigrants, Stormy? And was it a bad change? How so?

Curious

Look, I'm not in the mood for any more arguements today, you either get the point or you don't. All I'm saying is that I think its reprehensible that this wonderful country opens it's arms to anyone (with the exception of those that wish us harm), and there are so many that are unwilling to learn to communicate with us or adapt to this life that they have sought out. It's just plain rude to expect that we are the ones who should go out of our way and be forced to adapt.

And on another totally tangetially directed note .... was that a word??/............
Two summers ago my brother and I were going diving in the Keys. On our way down we stopped in Florida City just before leaving the peninsula, at a Burger King. This was funny, the entire menu board was en espanol. No english to be found anywhere.
Thread released.

I think anything that debunks the concept of "birth rights" when it comes to geography is awesome. In addition, (even though I am a whack-job vegetarian) I praise Burger King for promoting a business practice that gets the privileged few all worked up over their loss of geographically implied entitlement.

Heh, did you say you speak Choctaw ?

HA! No, I don't. But neither does anybody else in this thread proposing that we should all be speaking the native language.