Comments for Voters Reject Obama's call for Bilingualism »
Posted By RedRiverJ 1 year, 4 months ago in NewsBarack Obama said yesterday that "instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English," Americans "need to make sure your child can speak Spanish." A national telephone survey conducted last month by Rasmussen Reports found that U.S. voters overwhelmingly disagree with the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
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RedRiverJ1 year, 4 months ago
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Klarissa1 year, 4 months ago
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This is what Obama said:
Voters Reject Obama's call for Bilingualism
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Barack Obama said yesterday that "instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English," Americans "need to make sure your child can speak Spanish." A national telephone survey conducted last month by Rasmussen Reports found that U.S. voters overwhelmingly disagree with the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
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donald511 year, 4 months ago
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Gee Klarris, as a former educator I'd have thought you'd be more broad minded to the idea that what he meant was for Americans to broaden their horizons. We'll be less self centered, if we learn more about other people! But, such is how you right wingers spin your lies and deceptions!
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Klarissa1 year, 4 months ago
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really, Donald, I am tired of Obama's supporters saying , "What he meant".
He said what he said.
One of the things that bothers me about Obama's supporters is that I read a lot of personal interpretation of what he said, giving it a meaning that fits with the supporter's "hope".
He didn't say anything about adults, he said, "Americans need to make sure your child can speak Spanish", implying that English will not be the language of the land when the children grow up.
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lum-chate1 year, 4 months ago
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obama's an internationalist, he says it's in his DNA.
His mother had families with 2 different Muslim men.
His father supposedly was married to 6 women. I think this spanish stuff is just a feeler for what he's setting America up for.
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socialnetworkin1 year, 4 months ago
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Personally, I think both McCain and Obama are 2 sides to the same coin. Voting for either one will demonstrate how short-sighted most Americans can be. The man who has consistently shown that real change can occur is Ron Paul.
He stopped his campaign, but, he's still in the race.
http://www.CampaignForLiberty.org
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schmirt1 year, 4 months ago
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Frankly, it seems to be in Obama's tendency to mock America at every turn. Whether it is those that "kling to bibles...guns" or if America is "a country we were never truly proud of until..."
Its more the "DNA" of the leftist and elitists to mock Americana. Academia worships idealistic collectivisms as they are detached from the working America. Hollywood stars decry the base American culture as they jet-set about vacation villas throughout Europe and win affection from the anti-American glitter-otti.
Obama is just a product of the leftist elitist indoctrination of the Ivy schools and the hardcore anti-American racial politic that dominates to urban grievence culture.
Obama is working to win the votes of the middle now. The left will tolerate his deceptions because they value power over principle (the ends justify...).If he can avoid the mocking of country and family so common among his crowd, he will succeed.
On the other hand, Obama is God isnt he?
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Klarissa1 year, 4 months ago
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DNA??
Obama is 50% Caucasian from his mother's side and 43.75% Arabic and 6.25% African Negro from his father's side. While Obama's father was from Kenya, his father's family was mainly Arabs. Obama's father was only 12.5% African Negro and 87.5% Arab (his father's birth certificate even states he's Arab, not African Negro)
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lum-chate1 year, 4 months ago
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Take a look at Obama's father & his live relatives in Kenya.
They are 100% African Black, there is no Arab blood in that clan. They are Muslims as a segment of Black Africans are but they Obama's Luo Tribe immediate family are black not Arab.
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DeadXXXManXXXTalkin1 year, 4 months ago
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''really, Donald, I am tired of Obama's supporters saying , "What he meant".''
"implying that English will not be the language of the land when the children grow up."
why are you allowed to speculate on the implications of what Obama says, and 'Obama's supporters' are not?
that's not cricket
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obiefrommuskogee1 year, 4 months ago
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Its good advice to have your child speak Spanish. I regret not starting my kids on a foreign language at an international school at an early age. Spanish would be a top choice. Americans who are bilingual are getting all the top jobs.
Klarissa, you inferred that Obama meant the English language will go away. That's ridiculous. That's your own mindset, not his.
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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What everyone says is interpreted by whoever is listening! You choose to interpret to mean something negative because it suits your partisan agenda to do so.
Donald51's interpretation of what Obama said is just as valid and probably more accurate than yours, because it doesn't come couched in political bias.
You have made a gigantic s-t-r-e-t-c-h to imply that Obama meant that English would not be the language of the land when the children grow, and you have the nerve to accuse others of "personally interpreting" what he said!
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injest1 year, 4 months ago
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Gee Donald "what he meant" was Americans should learn Spanish.
Now if he meant to say "broaden their horizons" he would have included German French and the "other" 180 languages California requires ALL government documents to be written in, ya think!
Vero Pusillanimous.
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mompro1 year, 4 months ago
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"What he meant" as compared to McCain always saying "They took that out of context". Good grief, it's all say and explain later these days. How about universal sign language?
Oh, that's right. We would have to agree on the signs for everything. Gee, guess that won't work either.
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svensun1 year, 4 months ago
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NO, donald, he didn't ask Americans to 'broaden their horizons', but to NARROW THEIR HORIZONS!!!
HE SAID: :"instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English", SO HE WANTS TO LIMIT THE 'HORIZONS' OF AMERICANS; he wants to make OFF-LIMITS the goal of requiring immigrants to learn English as a topic for debate by the American body politic!
He wants to STIFLE DEBATE, and SILENCE PEOPLE, not 'broaden their horizons'!
Nice try at spinning what he said, but he said it, and if you support him, you're STUCK WITH IT!
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obiefrommuskogee1 year, 4 months ago
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Actually svensun, you are way off base. Talk about LEAPING TO CONCLUSIONS--
So on the one hand, critics of Obama are saying " This is what he actually said" so you can't argue what he meant. Now svensun comes along and is making an argument about what Obama meant, based on nothing Obama said. It's really pretty funny.
Obama's statement is the opposite of stifling debate. It is encouraging going the extra mile by learning another language to be inclusive. It is the grass roots pragmatic Obama speaking. Sometimes you need to actually make an effort to get something done. People who don't want to go global will just get left behind.
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svensun1 year, 4 months ago
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So, obie, are you claiming that Obama DID NOT say that Americans should stop 'worrying about whether immigrants can learn English'?
Did he NOT say that? Does he believe that it is still appropriate for Americans to INSIST that immigrants LEARN English, that our schools should focus on THAT GOAL?
I can tell you that in California, the citizens of this state were 'worrying about whether immigrants can learn English' so much that in 1998, 63% voted for Propositon 227, which says, in part:
"f) Therefore, It is resolved that: all children in California public schools shall be taught English as rapidly and effectively as possible.
Article 2. English Language Education
305. Subject to the exceptions provided in Article 3 (commencing with Section 310), all children in California public schools shall be taught English by being taught in English. In particular, this shall require that all children be placed in English language classrooms."
So what does B. Hussein mean, exactly?
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AnteUp1 year, 4 months ago
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donald51 ~
Well put. The wars are global - the economy is global -
health crises are global - and shortages of resources
are global as well. So what could be wrong with encouraging
our students to be fully able to participate in this
global society?
My guess is because he said "Spanish" - Hispanic,Latino or
Mexican, the very mention of the word is like a flash point
right now. When's the last time anyone voiced concern about
the Russian mob? No way - we are too busy demonizing Latin
Americans. There are school districts that brag about their
distinction of having a high graduation rate of students
with Russian and Chinese language skills. They regard this
as progress - mention Spanish and the reaction is entirely
different.
I've had plenty of beefs with Obama lately - but his
entreaty that we embrace the concept of multi-lingual
skills is not one of them. He was speaking about LANGUAGE -
it wasn't an immigration issue.
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TimALoftis1 year, 4 months ago
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My advice would be instead of taking a snippet of his quote that was used in this article/poll solely for the purpose to misled is to instead watch his entire speech that he made from Powder Springs Georgia. It's very clear as to where he was going with this subject. Americans are lacking compared to many other counties in the area of foreign languages. For instance our FBI and military has a severe shortage of people that can speak the languages that can help us in the fight against terror. This really is a no brainer...
DIVERSITY - Don't Fight It...Embrace It!!
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Klarissa1 year, 4 months ago
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This is what Obama said:
Voters Reject Obama's call for Bilingualism
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Barack Obama said yesterday that "instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English," Americans "need to make sure your child can speak Spanish." A national telephone survey conducted last month by Rasmussen Reports found that U.S. voters overwhelmingly disagree with the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
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Spinward1 year, 4 months ago
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What he MEANT was that he wanted all American children to grow up in a healthy, nurturing, and intellectually rich environment where they were encouraged to expand to their own unique creative capacities and that those expansions should be encouraged to take on an understanding of diverse economic and social perspectives as we evolve into a more global society in which we can all live together as one community in perfect harmony with each other and the planet.
If you need my help interpreting any of Barack Hussein's other remarks let me know. My life as a public servant is dedicated to smaller minded people who can't fully grasp the greatness of our savior and lord, Barack Obama.
You may kneel before him now.
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tchef1 year, 4 months ago
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Spinward1 year, 4 months ago
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My high school offered foreign languages as electives, but sinse you can't get a good job without speaking English, most of my friends have forgotten the language they spent a couple of years learning.
Oddly, they do remember what they learned in auto-shop, making me wonder which was more valuable. Hmmmm....
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tchef1 year, 4 months ago
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I wouldn't agree with that. I do all my own work on my cars and you have to know what your doing. Both skills are equally valuable.
In today's society having a second language is an asset. The business world is definately more global than it was when I was growing up.
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tchef1 year, 4 months ago
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We do, it's still hard for a person who doesn't speak English to move up in this country. Many companies offer services in both English and Spanish to increase their business and bring in more potential customers.
They can learn English and those who stay do. From a good many of the posts I see here many of you seem to think that they should learn to speak English before they even set foot in this country.
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slyboy21 year, 4 months ago
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When traveling it's a good idea to have a little knowledge of the language used in the country visiting/working. I've visited places where the locals are much more helpful if you try asking questions in their native tongue. However, the system in the US is now almost catering to those who speak Spanish. So when many immigrants come here and find out they don't even have to speak a different language to work within the society they don't even try. There are people who have lived here in the US for 10 years and still don't know a single word of English.
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tchef1 year, 4 months ago
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I guess is depends on where you work. When I was working in hotels the Spanish employees where learning English as fast as they could that way they could get moved up. Otherwise they could only work under those who spoke both languages.
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Georgia501 year, 4 months ago
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Spinward,
We need not speculate on the posibility that what Obmaa "MEANT was that he wanted all American children to grow up in a healthy, nurturing, and intellectually rich environment where they were encouraged to expand to their own unique creative capacities and that those expansions should be encouraged to take on an understanding of diverse economic and social perspectives as we evolve into a more global society in which we can all live together as one community in perfect harmony with each other and the planet" and they all lived happily ever after in the Land of Oz.
What we KNOW is what Obmama's past tells us: he left his children wide open to the racist, anti-white, anti-American, and anti-Christian hatred and bigotry of Rev. Wright and his ilk. The senator can shove his faux altruistic idealism up his arse sideways.
America needs a leader. We most definitely do not need a hypocrite who lectures us on how to lead our lives.
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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"What he MEANT was that he wanted all American children to grow up in a healthy, nurturing, and intellectually rich environment where they were encouraged to expand to their own unique creative capacities and that those expansions should be encouraged to take on an understanding of diverse economic and social perspectives as we evolve into a more global society in which we can all live together as one community in perfect harmony with each other and the planet."
So you DO know what he meant, but you still choose to act like an ass! Oh well, some folks prefer the low road!
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NoSpinDave1 year, 4 months ago
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all this is is yet ANOTHER example of Barak "The Fraud" Obama telling one group EXACTLY what they want to hear.
This guys act is to transparent, it seriously calls into question the intelligence of ANYONE who this this FRAUD is truthful.
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Spinward1 year, 4 months ago
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spkguy1 year, 4 months ago
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AllSpunDave
And just, who is this John McCain anyway???
http://www.propeller.com/viewstory/2008/07/11/j...
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Endoscopy1 year, 4 months ago
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What a bunch of garbage having people speak their native language and it be acceptable to having the government and other businesses forced to talk them. This article is about Spanish but we have groups that speak German, Romanian, French, Chinese, Japanese, etc. If we do this with Spanish all the other language groups will be standing in line for their language to be accounted for. Then everybody should be forced to learn several languages.
Obama doesn't think things through to their logical conclusion.
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Spinward1 year, 4 months ago
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I went to France, so I bought a phrase book ($6) and learned what I needed to in order to get by.
I didn't have the nerve to assume they should speak English as I have respect for thier culture, customs, and national heritage of which their language is a big part.
Why Obama has no respect for our national heritage I have no idea, but OUR PRESIDENT SHOULD RESPECT OUR CUSTOMS AND HERITAGE.
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Spinward1 year, 4 months ago
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I feel insulted and now I'm a bigot?
I speak English and I'm proud to speak English here in America.
I also speak Russian for when I'm in Russia.
I also speak Tagalog for when I'm in the Philippines.
As for his comment that it was embarassing that we don't speak other languages here, he's the embarassment.
I wonder how many blue collar union votes he's going to win on this topic.
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bubba21 year, 4 months ago
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(I still won't vote for McCain, but ...)
This is silly. I would have expected Obama to have more sense than to say something like that.
Immigration is one issue for which I am very 'conservative'.
While I am not in favor of a 'border fence' - the borders need to be more strictly monitored, and ALL employers that hire illegals to work for them should be prosecuted.
The process to become a citizen is long and hugely bureaucratic. But, if someone from another country really wants to live and work here, they can get their green cards and go through the legal process to reside in our country.
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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Bubba2, I'm disappointed that you've bought into the crap that his statement was about immigration. The statement had nothing to do with immigration per se, and everything to do with preparing ourselves for the future, which, like it or not, will be a global one.
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GHOSTWHOWALKS1 year, 4 months ago
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Dionys1 year, 4 months ago
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GHOSTWHOWALKS1 year, 4 months ago
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KazamaSmokers1 year, 4 months ago
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KazamaSmokers1 year, 4 months ago
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No - the English did. That's why his people ended up learning English. Did you think they came here speaking Irish?? I think everyone here must be missing the irony of someone who is Irish-American screaming that people should be forced to learn English. I'm betting several of Ghost's ancestors died for believing just the opposite.
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Grrr1 year, 4 months ago
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More disinformation from Klarissa.
From german.about.com:
...the United States has never had an "official language"â;;English, German or any otherâ;;and doesn't have one now. Nor was there any such vote in 1776. Congressional debate and a vote concerning German probably did take place in 1795, but dealt with translating US laws into German, and the proposal to publish laws in languages other than English was rejected a few months later.
It is likely that the myth of German as the official language of the US first arose in the 1930s, but it dates back to the country's earliest history and another similar story. Most scholars suspect that the US legend originated as a German-American Bund propaganda move to give German added weight via the spurious claim that it had very nearly become America's official language. By mixing wishful thinking with certain historical events in Pennsylvania, the Nazi-influenced Bund produced the national vote story.
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Spinward1 year, 4 months ago
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I hate to point this out, but my family also came here from Ireland and learned English AFTER the revolution. No crown here, just a bunch of people who don't speak Gaelic.
My ancestors wanted a job, so they learned English. That turned out to be a smart idea.
As a side note, Arnold Schwartzenegger came to this country from Austria and didn't speak English, but he decided to learn it. Imagine where he would be today if he had insisted everyone else learn German.
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Spinward1 year, 4 months ago
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I said, "...my family also came here from Ireland and learned English AFTER the revolution." I said this to impress upon you that the United States was not under the crown when my ancestors arrived. I did not say "right after the revolution", as that would incorrectly convey that I am 150 years old!
In English, the word "right", when placed before the words "after" or "before", would mean the same as "immediately" as in "immediately after" or "immediately before", which you will notice I did not do. I hope that helps you out as your English proficiency improves. Feel free to ask for help at any time and don't get discouraged. We all make mistakes as we learn something new.
WELCOME TO AMERICA!
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KazamaSmokers1 year, 4 months ago
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So if it wasn't the 1700s, it was likely the 1800's, and VERY likely it was after 1845. Around that time the number of Irish-speakers in Ireland was around 20% and the overwhelming majority of these were bilingual. This was because of years of British law that banned the Irish language. Your g-g-gfather would have to have been very unique to not know English upon his arrival.
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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What you don't seem to see, is that that same principle needs to be applied to those of us who have lived in America all our lives and never bothered to learn any other language! It is simply a smart thing to do, as it can be seen quite clearly that many languages have been the "lead" language across the centuries.
We are still an American society, true enough, but we are also becoming a global one and with that, we should be wise enough to understand that we need to learn a second language! Since the population of spanish speaking citizens in this country and others is growing rapidly, it makes SENSE prepare ourselves as much as possible for a new dynamic in our culture by learning Spanish.
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KazamaSmokers1 year, 4 months ago
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KazamaSmokers1 year, 4 months ago
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As opposed to insisting someone learn English? Look there are people in Louisiana and Maine whose primary language is French and they've been in this country longer than you or I have. Also, as long as Puerto Rico is part of the U.S., we are de facto a bilingual nation. Stop being so uptight about it, folks.
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Spinward1 year, 4 months ago
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I agree, BUT the solution is not is us learning a second language.
If we truly care and are compassionate and we have a deep love for our fellow man and we all desire to live in harmoney with nature and each other... teach immigrants to speak English.
They could then get higher paying jobs and afford the many exciting new tax increases Obama has in mind for them.
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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Immigrants ARE being taught English! But, just like you, many of them are reluctant (stubborn) and do not wish to learn the language of their current environment!
Their attitude and yours are identical - tell the other guy to do it my way! Neither of you are too bright, at least, your attitudes would indicate that you're not. You're behaving like ostriches with your heads stuck in the sand: "Go away, don't bother me!" And when the waves of change overtake you, you are going to drown!
I have a Korean sister-in-law. Her youngest daughter is now 30 yrs old. My sister-in-law REFUSES to speak much English. It burns me up that she has lived here all this time, but made no real effort to learn the language! It's ridiculous!! I see that same stubborn mindset on this board among some posters! Either learn another language so that you can get along better in this world, or you will be just like her, limited and dependent on others to help you navigate through new territory.
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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Aside from Him being Divine, and therefore capable of speaking all languages, He was, in His humanity, also multi-lingual! He spoke Hebrew, Aramaic, and Italian/Spanish. Probably other regional dialects also...perhaps Samaritan, Egyptian, Persian, Cyrian...
He had enough sense to understand and appreciate the value of learning the prominent languages of His day.
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Harbeas1 year, 4 months ago
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What a stupid remark(obama). I would like to see some politician champion english as our national language. Then maye we would not see all these instruction manuals printed in 250 different laguages. If you think this is done at no extra cost, think again. ANYONE living in America should speak our language. Ditto for any American living in a foreign country.
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Aidenag1 year, 4 months ago
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They don't make manuals with so many different languages for Americans that dont speak english Harbeas... They make them that way because the product is sold in many countries, and it costs less to print one manual of larger size for everyone, then to have specific manuals, made in smaller production runs for each nation...
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Grrr1 year, 4 months ago
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Certainly seems to me that, yet again, what was said is being misunderstood, perhaps intentionally spun by the usual talking head suspects. It was obviously a statement about the benefits of multi-lingual education and the sorry state of education and the job market in general in America, not support for immigrants not learning to speak English.
Of course, that's only obvious to sane people. Or at least reasonably intelligent ones.
If you want to stop illegal immigration, enforce the employment laws. Simple. Of course that would be against the wishes of big business.
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Klarissa1 year, 4 months ago
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What is there to be misunderstood about, he said, "Americans need to make sure your child can speak Spanish", implying that English will not be the language of the land when the children grow up.
You just don't want to admit that his statement bothers you.
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donald511 year, 4 months ago
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The Ugly Americans (ref: the book of the same title published in'59 by Lederer) are alive and well on this one. Heaven forbid our state department has no young people coming in that can speak the foreign languages necessary for a viable assignment overseas! Ow, I forgot, the only requirement for government service under the repugs is loyalty to your terrorist party!
As we read here there are hundreds of dedicated repugs screening every phrase of Obama's and bouncing them against past surveys to creat fault and deception!
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nonparted1 year, 4 months ago
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Wow, its a whose who of unprincipled repugs voting for this fabricated story... so typical of you right wing sycophants! You folks just love to validate eachothers lies and deceptions!
hey donald u forgot to mention dems for they also fit directly into ur statement
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ADAGUY1 year, 4 months ago
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I didn't take a foreign language in high school because I was too lazy! Now, I really wish I had. Being able to speak Spanish opens a few doors of opportunities.
I believe that we should require our children to learn other languages, after all, we are bordering a nation of Hispanics on one side, as well as French on the other side.
Should we learn these languages to make life easier for immigrants? NO, we should learn these languages to make ourselves more versatile.
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bluetexasvalley1 year, 4 months ago
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In the area in which I live -- close to the Mexican border -- you'd better know English AND Spanish if you want a job. Our retailers depend on the Mexican buyers (who account for 40% of retail sales) for their livelihood to a large extent.
Almost all of my extended family is bilingual, at least. There is more to being bilingual than just speaking another language. It makes you much more broadminded, tolerant of other cultures, and makes you think in abstracts rather than limiting you to unilateral words.
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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If you speak 3 languages and are whining about learning Spanish, you're an embarrassment to yourself! Why would you not be willing to learn the one that, outside of English, is most likely to have an impact on the world as we know it?
Book learning but no common sense?
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Spinward1 year, 4 months ago
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I live in a free country.
I can learn what I choose to learn.
I speak English because I was born in the U.S. and my parents spoke English and I never moved away.
I speak Russian because in the U.S. military (I was and always will be a U.S. Marine) it was a benefit for me to learn Russiona because I would monitor radio transmissions all day.
I speak Tagalog because our company has an office in Manila to avoid the high personnel costs associated with liberal-policy driven labor costs in the U.S. and I want to earn a living.
I don't need to learn Spanish because I don't make money from working with Mexicans.
Embarrassed over it? Who are you that you should tell me that I should be embarrassed? This is what I don't like about liberals. No touch with real life, but very ready to tell everyone else what they should be doing. Obama in a nutshell.
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stephen-johnson1 year, 4 months ago
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((Barack Obama said yesterday that "instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English," Americans "need to make sure your child can speak Spanish."))
Actually, US parents should be sure that their children can speak ENGLISH. Unless they plan to immigrate to a Spanish-speaking country. Then they damn well better learn Spanish. You better believe that no effort will be spent there to accommodate English-speakers. Only the US is not expected to defend its language, its customs or its borders.
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jdhatl1 year, 4 months ago
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Please keep speaking Spanish and all other languages because it is so much fun to annoy these stupid Americans who can't even learn an easy language like Spanish. Everybody should learn spanish, it won't hurt you. And then you will be able to understand all the trash your employees are talking about you.
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BronxBomber1 year, 4 months ago
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I'm Hispanic, and I don't see why any of my fellow Latinos don't want to acquiesce, and try to adhere to this nation's language which is principally English. Immigrants from all over the world have come to the USA, & learned to adapt, and adhere to this nations overall customs and whatnot. I learned Spanish on my own, I was born and raised in New York City, but I realized that in order to get a job, and get ahead in this country, I had to learn English. I mean they are just being lazy,bull-headed, and ignorant to do otherwise.
If I was in a foreign country. I'd have to learn it's customs, and languages irregardless of whether I like it or not. If you are to live and thrive in a symbiotic relationship in a foreign country, then you better learn it's language, and customs amigo! Comprende?
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nostalgia1 year, 4 months ago
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There is absolutely nothing wrong with learning another language BUT
What are the ramifications of emphasizing Americans learn Spanish and not placing importance on Hispanic immigrants learning English?
You create a permanent underclass of people stuck in low paying jobs with little if any chance of advancement
Educate their children in ESL programs impeding their ability to learn English and you can extend the underclass for another generation or two
If more American citizens learn Spanish, there is even less need for Hispanic immigrants to learn English.
All this done under the guise of "compassion".
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cloud151 year, 4 months ago
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I understand where Obama is coming from on this issue, but I feel he was too direct with it and didn't take into consideration the feelings of the American public. Obama feels that eventually Spanish will be an important language in America, but what he fails to realize is that although we don't have an official national language, or national language is English, and should stay that way. Immigrants need to learn our language so they can adapt to our society. I'm not saying they need to forget about their past and native culture, because without those features of past immigrants we as a nation wouldn't be where we are, but they need to realize they came into our country, and they need to learn the dominant language.
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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I think that his straight forward manner of speaking is refreshing and honest! We are so used to being spoiled and mollycoddled! We are moving into a world stage where hard ball is being played! We can no longer have the luxury of always being soft peddled and spoon fed things that we need to hear. That such a to-do is being made over this very reasonable and pertinent comment is embarrassing and shameful!
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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If I didn't know any better, I would think that that is all Barack Obama said. Fortunately, I heard his speech and I know it's not.
Nevertheless, all this outrage is pure foolishness, because, like it or not, America is becoming part of a global network, and, surprise, surprise, Spanish is probably the second most popular language in the world. It would be to everyone's advantage, and particularly our children, to be able to speak it as a second language. Many of them will travel internationally, something that most of us will not do or rarely do in our lifetimes.
Obama thinks ahead of the times, which is why he is visionary and often villified for it. People have tendency to be afraid of change and reluctant to embrace it in any form, selling themselves short every time.
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NoWayMan1 year, 4 months ago
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exactly. obama is saying we're being outpaced by the rest of the world in terms of communication and language arts education, and this will hurt us in the long run. and it shouldn't be that way. if americans were to learn other languages, it would make us stronger, not weaker.
anyone who speaks more than one language knows this is true.
and...if spanish is second, does that mean english is third? cause mandarin is first. and what about hindi?
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nonparted1 year, 4 months ago
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Many of them will travel internationally, something that most of us will not do or rarely do in our lifetimes.
cushi this part of ur statemnt is pure spectulation and as someone mentioned before spanish is an elective course in HS.
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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It is a reasonable,logical and practical prediction based upon the rapid globalization of society.
In modern history, each new generation is traveling further and experiencing more than the one that preceded it. That is not mere speculation; that is fact.
If you want to remain where you are and keep your children from progressing, that's your prerogative. But do not be surprised or disappointed when the rest of the world leaves you behind.
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nonparted1 year, 4 months ago
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It is a reasonable,logical and practical prediction based upon the rapid globalization of society.
this statement above still sounds like speculation unless u have a crystal ball or a psychic and can see into the future. its just an educated guess and thats all it is nothing more
In modern history, each new generation is traveling further and experiencing more than the one that preceded it. That is not mere speculation; that is fact.
u maybe right but u can not base past facts to predict the outcome of the future because not all predictions from the past held water.
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Klarissa1 year, 4 months ago
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http://geography.about.com/od/culturalgeography...
1. Mandarin Chinese - 882 million
2. Spanish - 325 million
3. English - 312-380 million
4. Arabic - 206-422 million
5. Hindi - 181 million
6. Portuguese - 178 million
7. Bengali - 173 million
8. Russian - 146 million
9. Japanese - 128 million
10. German - 96 million
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Spinward1 year, 4 months ago
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Thanks Klarissa.
More people speak Chinese than any other language in the world... and guess what?
China is teaching their children ENGLISH!
Meanwhile, we're telling our children they need to learn Spanish? Am I taking crazy pills?
Liberal elitists speaking from think-tanks with no real understanding of what is going on in the world around them.
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memestryker1 year, 4 months ago
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Even the Chinese realized their many different dialects and even languages was hamstringing them economically, and they teach all children English.
When is the U.S. going to join the rest of the world in speaking English as the first language?
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ARRAY1 year, 4 months ago
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I did not hear Mr. Obama speak, but why Spanish? If he is only interested in education, then any second language would do - like German, or French. If he is interested in catering to Mexicans, then Spanish would be the obvious choice.
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NoWayMan1 year, 4 months ago
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if you seek out the enitre quote, which is not provided here (of course) Obama clearly is not just talking about English and Spanish. he's talking about how americans should be able to speak more than one language, whatever that language may be. and, as his example, he uses europeans who are able to speak english, french and german.
Obama's quote: "You should be thinking about how can your child become bilingual. We should have every child speaking more than one language. It's embarrassing when Europeans come over here, they all speak English, they speak French, they speak German. And then we go over to Europe and all we can say is merci beaucoup, right?"
(crowd applauds.)
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wvrussell1 year, 4 months ago
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I took French and Spanish in school, but would hardly would say I speak another language. But I was in a game site online and 2 people were conversing in French. Now some people must think the Internet is only in the US because they starting harassing them to speak English. They went on to tell this joke, in English of course (maybe it wasn't a joke): What do you call a person who speaks 2 languages? - Bilingual. What do you call a person that speaks 1 language? - American.
If the rest of the educated world is bilingual why not Americans? Are we falling behind the rest of the world? Doesn't have to be Spanish. By the way, I am now learning to speak German.
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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I went to college on a foreign language scholarship. I also took 3 yrs of french, 4 of spanish, and 2 of latin in high school. Even as a student, I was able to get higher paying jobs because of my ability to speak more than one language.
Those of you who are so busy turning up your noses at the prospect of learning spanish or another language besides English had better recognize how much you are cutting off your noses to spite your face!
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NoWayMan1 year, 4 months ago
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for americans to speak more than one language would give us an advantage in the international arena.
its a serious disadvantage for americans to meet with foreign interests (business, govt, whatever) and have them know how to speak our language, but we can't speak their language.
americans should strive to speak as many languages as they can. the more languages you know, the bigger advantage you have on the international stage and in life. and its fun to be able to communicate in more ways than one.
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Itachirumon1 year, 4 months ago
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Wow, Obie thinks Jesus spoke English, how sad are we? The first Bibles were printed in Hebrew and Arabic f*cker. You need to learn the history of your own religion sad man. Not everyone in the world is an English speaker and not everyone in this country supports your ****** up Lou Dobbs silent racist views.
I for one tried to learn Spanish in high school, I didn't do so hot because what I really wanted to do was learn Japanese but I didn't have the mental stability. It's not easy to learn a new language when you're emotionally suckerfcked in the head.
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CORVIDIVS1 year, 4 months ago
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... there's a gold mine out there for whomsoever concocts an easy system of scanning and reading codes on consumer goods for perusing packages in the language of their choice. ((I've been complacently complaining since forever about French on the back of everything salable in Canada[along with the Eternally Convenient, 'strategic' placement on shelves of most products with the French side out... talk about litigation paranoia]...))
There's nothing wrong with being conversant in more than one speak{excluding correct speak}but holding a nation hostage by more than one official language separates the nation within itself.
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Tango571 year, 4 months ago
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Just imagine if every American knew at least 3 languages, fluently...(we really aren't the "All that and more" we like to project, are we?) I have to admit when I travel abroad and meet so many people who speak many languages fluently, I am humbled and embarrassed at how shallow and educated we really are. I am in the process of learning Spanish, French and Italian. Hopefully someday attempt Japanese and Chinese. For now though, hostalveesta.
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mompro1 year, 4 months ago
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This is all just hot air considering our public school system is not in any monetary or staff way prepared to teach Spanish in such a complex manner. I'm not sure what the point of his comments were. We are not equipped to do it regardless. To learn a language casually is completely different than learning it for survival. We can't do it.
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slate1 year, 4 months ago
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who's gonna pay for me to learn this new language? It costs 600 dollars for me to buy CDs to learn on my own time,,,,, now I have to speand even more of my hard earned miney to placte someone that waltzed into my country?
Let's see, you company bills me out at over 70 dollars and hour,,, you pay me for my off time to learn this language I may consider it
not meant for you spin
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Georgia501 year, 4 months ago
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The international language of business is English. Air traffic must be conducted in English. International law requires that contracts b/t two non-English speaking nations must be in English. Maintenance logs for all commercial aircraft on the planet must be maintained in English.
But Obama says that when illegal immigrants--and let's face it, that's who he was REALLY talking about--come here by breaking our laws, it is OUR obligation to learn THEIR language.
Can this guy possibly make himself a greater object of ridicule than he already has?
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canadianrancher571 year, 4 months ago
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The idea of learning a second language is not a scary idea, the problem that arises from endorsing such an idea is then there is a push for bilingualism. Up here we have official bilingualism which means that government emploees must be able to converse in either language which in most areas is a complete waste, also government contracts must be tendered in both languages. We have had a large number of Chinese immigrants move into our area to work in a large meat plant and most of them know english and so do their children, these people wish to be a part of the community the same can be said for the people who have come from South America and the Ukraine, they have all made a great effort to learn english. Many of them have obtained their citizenship already and they are proud of two things, 1) I am a Canadian. 2) I SPEAK ENGLISH.
I put the second in capitals because when you greet them that is the first thing they say.
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slate1 year, 4 months ago
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There is nothing wrong with knowing as many languages as you can. The crux of this issue is borders, language and culture. When Obama said it's up to us to learn Spanish to appease those that came here illegally rather than telling them to assimilate if we refuse to do anything about, I just shook my head in disgust.
If I were to go to another country that speaks another language to live I would learn to speak, read and write that language. I would also hang on to my 'roots' while I assimilate into the local culture.
What Obama did is no different than Bush speaking Spanish during speeches. Both the Democratic and Republican parties will do nothing about the borders, language and culture of this country. Globalism is creeping in and soon there will not be any sovereign nations on the planet if we let it continue.
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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"When Obama said it's up to us to learn Spanish to appease those that came here illegally rather than telling them to assimilate if we refuse to do anything about, I just shook my head in disgust."
Why are you telling that lie? Are you THAT desperate? Obama made no such statement and you know it, Slate!
"Globalism is creeping in and soon there will not be any sovereign nations on the planet if we let it continue."
That is exactly the point, Slate. Globalism is indeed creeping in, and there is nothing we can do to stop it other than quit living! This is why we need to get prepared rather than throw tantrums, railing against the inevitable!
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Poulenc1 year, 4 months ago
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Oh, please!
What O. meant was that Americans should, in an increasingly "global" world, have more than one language.
As Spanish is undoubtedly of greater immediate use to Americans--than Spanish would be a good place to start.
It always amazes me when it's suggested to Americans they they expand their cultural horizons, a fearful hardcore always feels that they're being told they'll have to give something up.
No! It's about enrichment. Of smartening-up rather than digging one's heels into the dumb-down position.
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slate1 year, 4 months ago
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a fearful hardcore? I ain't skert and I ain't fooled as you seem to think. What Obama statement was had nothing to do with 'cultural enrichment' it was only about 'pandering' to a political group that can put him over the top that at this time in the game does not like him.
There is a HUGH divide between the African and the Hispanic community. Obama has one in his pocket, the other is up for grabs,,,, that;s why Both parties pander to the spanish speaking people, they will be the group that makes or breaks political parties from now on,,,,,
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Spinward1 year, 4 months ago
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What Obama MEANT was that he loves you and compassionately feels how painfully stupid you are. He MEANT to gently suggest that broadening your horizons to see past the walls of your trailer would enable us "small people" to spread his words of wisdom as dictated to us to other cultures so that we may all be able to revel in his greatness until the day that we may someday aspire to become a slight percentage of the wonder that he has become through his DNA which is far superior to ours in every way.
Let us all bow before him now.
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slate1 year, 4 months ago
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I speak enough Spanish to tell a worker on a site that you can't send your workers into an unshored excavation and such. I wouldn't mind learning Spanish just because I like the sound of it, but I want the Spanish I have to protect on my sites to learn the language of the country they are in, not for my good but theirs.
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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Again, Slate, the pendulum swings BOTH ways. There is no question but that non-English speaking people in this country need to learn the language of the United States of America. That in NO WAY,however, absolves us of a responsibility to learn a second language also, seeing that we are going global, regardless of our individual preferences.
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slate1 year, 4 months ago
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Look in the world all things are not equal no matter how hard your progessive heart wants that to be true.
These people chose to come here, just like all the people in the past 'except' the vast majority of those from the past came here legally and they learned the LANGUAGE of the land they came to and assimilated into the culture enough to become part of the culture.
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Poulenc1 year, 4 months ago
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Slate, is Obama suggesting that English be America's second language? Or even share "importance" with Spanish?
No. He's saying that Americans would do well to be bilingual.
To have more than one language.
I'm astounded that so many find this notion controversial.
Or CHOOSE to misinterpret Obama's words to cast him as...well, it comes down to being insufficiently American, doesnt it?
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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One more time for the challenged: Spanish is the second or third most popular language in the world and the second most popular spoken language in the U.S!! That has some bearing on him singling it out. Nevertheless, it was an example. Get it?
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Spinward1 year, 4 months ago
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What Obama MEANT to say was that he is wiser than all of us and that HE should pick the language that we all should learn so that we would not be an embarrassment to the rest of the world as he sees it.
Why anyone would be offended, I have no idea.
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slate1 year, 4 months ago
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No he said we shouldn't ask the illegals to learn our language instead, we should learn theirs, as usual the progressives want Americans to bend over backwards even after these people are here and making a living, and not coming in a legal way,,,, now we are supposed to not only pay for their healthcare, give them SSI, but now we are to go the extra mile and learn their language and not 'burden' them with the task of learing ours?
((Or CHOOSE to misinterpret Obama's words to cast him as...well, it comes down to being insufficiently American, doesnt it?))
Well, I suppose we can take the tact of spinning his actual words into whale what he really meant by those words was,,,,
And why only Spanish? hmmmmm? we have many nations languages here in this melting pot,,,,, the viets are here many of them, Lorea, Chinese, Europeans, pacific rim folks etc etc..... but you know dang well why he wants us to learn Spanish,,,, if you don't reread my other posts,,,
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slate1 year, 4 months ago
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slate, he was without a teleprompter
Yeah the pattern is forming,,,,, he looks more like an empty suit every day.... did you hear about the latest?
http://omg.yahoo.com/news/bernie-mac-makes-off-...
Obama just can't seem to find people worth spit to surround himself with,,,,, another one tossed under the bus of Change
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cushi1 year, 4 months ago
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"No he said we shouldn't ask the illegals to learn our language instead, we should learn theirs, as usual the progressives want Americans to bend over backwards even after these people are here and making a living, and not coming in a legal way,,,, now we are supposed to not only pay for their healthcare, give them SSI, but now we are to go the extra mile and learn their language and not 'burden' them with the task of learing ours?"
Another glaring mis-statement! Try again.
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slate1 year, 4 months ago
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lol you know I have post rebuttal OCD,,, unlike not having to learn a second of 14th new language if I damn well don't wanna, you post and I HAVE to reply,,, just ask a few people I've replied to 80 times or more,,, I'm the Eveready Bunny of posters,,,, if you want to not talk to me then you have to actually not talk to me or I WILL resond to every silly post you make under me name,,,,,,
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Spinward1 year, 4 months ago
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"No he said we shouldn't ask the illegals to learn our language instead, we should learn theirs..."
Well put, Slate. I find it terrible to lock people into a second class status because they can't compete effectively for jobs.
Liberal compassion is so misguided. Compassion for immigrants is making it acceptable for them to live in poverty? If we cared at all for these people, we would INSIST they speak English. Not for our benefit, but for theirs.
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TonyByron1 year, 4 months ago
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I was taught Spanish as a child but over the years forgot much of it because I rarely spoke it. I have worked in Mexico and other locations since and I basically had to re-learn the language. (Mexican and Castillian Spanish are not the same language) I have friends and family who have taken various languages in school and without exception they have forgotten most of it because of disuse.
Obama's silly multiculturalist admonition is disdainful of America and ignorant of the fact that English is the language of world commerce and science today.
Perhaps Obama should focus on teaching the current residents of the US English instead of Mexican and Ebonics.
And as for Obama? "I don't speak a foreign language. It's embarrassing!"
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Klarissa1 year, 4 months ago
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Obama is going to be busy!
The 2005 SIL enumerates 87 varieties of Iranian languages, per number of native speakers, the largest are Farsi (ca. 70 million), Pashto (ca. 40 million), Kurdish (35 million) and Balochi (ca. 7 million); to compare these numbers against those for other languages, see list of languages by number of native speakers.
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Poulenc1 year, 4 months ago
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Klarissa: "...then why didn't he say just that, instead of referring to the language of the majority of illegal aliens."
To paraphrase Cushi's comment, above: Spanish is the MOST LIKELY, MOST USEFUL language for Americans to learn as a second language. No?
It also HAPENS to be the language of the aliens you refer to as illegal. But your linking of the two, as if O., by suggesting that Americans learn Spanish was betraying the mother tongue/supporting illegality, is spurious, to say the least.
(I COULD say that English is, among other things, the language of the privileged in America, and Spanish, not--and that some people like to keep social lines well drawn--but I won't. Or did I just?)
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Poulenc1 year, 4 months ago
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K., you can't have it both ways: that people shouldn't learn Spanish (see your excoriation of O.'s suggestion above and above and above) AND that it's now a US language.
You never said that people don't NEED to learn Spanish, now did you?
Which proposition would render O.'s statement irrelevant, NOT wrong.
PS, learning Chinese would hardly be as useful as learning Spanish for most Americans. There are about 3.5 million Chinese in America versus 88 million (self-identifying)Hispanics, the largest minority in the country.
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Klarissa1 year, 4 months ago
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so you are saying that to live in the United States we must learn Mexican Spanish in order to talk with the underprivileged????
Most of them want to learn English and move up in the world, not be kept down with the excuse that we will learn their language but they don't have to learn English.
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Poulenc1 year, 4 months ago
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I'm saying that O.'s suggestion that our children become bilingual by learning Spanish is a good one, given the realities of America's social landscape.
Not to mention that being bilingual (or trilingual or...) is A GOOD THING!
Broadens the mind.
Improves your chances of getting a date.
Makes you a better citizen of the planet.
Jeeze!
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Klarissa1 year, 4 months ago
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I agree with what you have said here.
I think what is really in the back of my mind is that I wish we could have English declared the official language. Then, we could enforce the requirement than anyone becoming a citizen has to be able to read the election info in English.
The HS in Santa Barbara always had full classes of adults learning English - they were here to better themselves, and understood the importance of English in world wide communication, especially the internet.
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svensun1 year, 4 months ago
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Manhattan Institute Study, cont:
"* Immigrants of the past quarter-century have assimilated more rapidly than their counterparts of a century ago, even though they are more distinct from the native population upon arrival. The increase in the rate of assimilation among recently arrived immigrants explains why the overall index has remained stable, even though the immigrant population has grown rapidly.
* Yet the current level of assimilation remains lower than it was at any point during the early 20th century wave of immigration."
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Poulenc1 year, 4 months ago
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Thank you, Klarissa.
I'd agree with you about having an official language if I thought that English was somehow "in danger."
But its hegemony, let's call it, worldwide is almost absolute. The Chinese, I believe, are required to learn it....
(We could benefit, I imagine, from having something like L'Academie Francaise to protect usage--no, I take that back: our culture is too heterodox for that. Our strength lies in our various, informal, procrustean approach to our language.)
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