You are right, you moron, we should publish everything in English and Spanish, that way we can totaly ignore the decision our founding fathers made that this country should make English the national language.

And hey, Joey, if you don't like other people being called moronic than go to another site, you idiot.

I'm not sure I agree with you about the languages thing. I mean, America consists completely of people who came from other countries and cultures. Aside from the Native Americans, there ARE no real American Natives, you know what i mean? The Indians were the only people here when we settled as a Colony, and therefore the rest of us obviously came from elsewhere. Why then is it not obvious for us to speak many languages and whatnot? I mean, very few of us 'originated' in America, not all of the settlers spoke English, so, wouldn't it make more sense for us to speak and know numerous languages? I think I would be more proud of America if we showed off our diversity more. (not only the diversities of the people we have now, but also those who helped to contribute to our society)

And I completely agree with you on the food issue!!

~Becca

Of course we should learn about other cultures, countries and learn different languages.

But we shouldn't - as Americans in the United States of America - allow for immigrants to demand that we publish/print things in two languages.

If you can't read our language, then get out - arrogant?

Not in my opinion.

Let's assume I go to Mexico and DEMAND they print something in English and speak in the language I speak.

I'd probably get laughed at, cursed at and then taken to jail.

But no, because America is so "accepting" and doesn't want to "offend," we'll gladly print ballots in two languages, offer English as a second language in schools, etc.


But sure, other countries' goods help us out a lot, just like we help them out.

And food - you forgot food. Of all the things, you forgot food.

If it weren't for other cultures' food, man ...can you imagine what dull menus we'd have to choose from?

And yeah, the whole pinning "moronic" on someone's views TOTALLY discredits their opposing argument.

If you want name-calling, turn it on Jerry Springer.

While I didn't put in in words very clearly, My point still stands stong.

Um... That point of mine about us not giving the other countries credit for what they supply us with didn't go over like i'd meant it. I mean... well, I never hear any sort of 'thanks' for what they supply us with. I suppose it's stupid for me to want such a thing as it's all buisness, but still, all i hear about is how America is strong by itself, and i never hear a word about the other countries who help us out.

I suppose I'm a little more aggrivated about our ethnocentric natures rather than egocentric. I'm not by any means saying each and every one of us disregards or doesn't care about learning about other cultures, but some do. I think that we need to learn about other countries, (this includes Languages, beliefs, backgrounds, etc.) in order to understand them for a number of reasons.

To anyone who doesn't see the benefits to learning other languages, all I can say is that you're fooling yourself. There are definately reasons to learn other languages.

We are isolating ourselves. We are cultivating an ignorant society. Since september 11th, I've seen so much discrimiation against arab americans, and people of the Islam Religion. Normal people are called in for questioning about Al Queda, simply on the basis of their appearance, culture, and beliefs. If we don't learn about the Islam religion, how are we to differentiate between the Islamic Extremeists and the Normal Muslms who want nothing to do with the Extremeist views? We'll find ourselves looking around saying 'they all look the same to me' without really getting to know their cultures. And LANGUAGES are a part of culture!

We should learn more languages not only to get to know other cultures, but also so that we can communicate with them! The traders who deal with other countries that make the most money are the ones who take the time to learn a little bit about the country they are associating with!

I have quite a few other points I could bring up, but it would be too difficult to touch on each one.

And Marine16?

quote:

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This is the most moronic point I have ever heard in favor of learning a second language.

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Thank you for rudely disregarding my points without asking for more clarity on my part. You've really made me happy that I started a new post.

Please let me clarify if I'm not making sense or whatnot, the ideas are just a bit jumbled in my brain.

~Becca

We have not "bailed out" every country in existence. There are two parts to that. A bail out assumes financial need. It also puts coercive economic measures in a favorable light, when often it's quite the opposite. Secondly, not every country.
It's not benevolent, and it's not universal.
And for that and many other reasons it's nowhere near fair.

Becca, I agree with you about the U.S. sticking their (our) noise into every country's business, but I think we've been more than fair to the other "cultures."

Come on, some schools require you to speak SPANISH first.

We don't require that ALL immigrants take the citizenship test to become a legal citizen.

We bail out every single country that has ever been created - yes, EVERY.

I think that's pretty fair. I don't agree with it all, but it's fair.


Hmm, but respect for other countries' goods?

I go to the store, buy a product that was shipped from China and go home.

I paid about um, 10 times what it cost to make it in China - I think the BUYER isn't getting credit (but then again, that's business).

"I brought up the point that in America (at least in my school district)we aren't required to learn a 2nd language, while other countries are required to learn english. "

This is the most moronic point I have ever heard in favor of learning a second language. If all the countries that 'count' know our language, why should we need to learn theirs?

"We also get lots of products from other countries and don't seem to give them much credit."

Maybe I missed the Made in Japan, Made in Hong Kong, Made in China and all the other marking.