Just when you thought we ran out of stupid. - Page 2 - Political Forum

indvdlthnkr · 04-08-2008, 04:38 PM

This is ridiculous. Last time I checked the signs are in English so learn the freaking language. Kinda vital to driving around.

FRYandBENDER · 04-08-2008, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choclosteve

I think it is unrealistic to expect the driver's test to be in farsi. I'm thinking it likely that they lose their case, but a lot of attorneys will get paid. But then, I'm not an attorney, nor do I know that state's laws. Do they need changing? As to English and Spanish, it suits me, and a lot of it is voluntary, and it makes things easier for those with one of those 2 languages, and that is a lot of US.

Sorry, I meant to say, do you think they should have a case? Personally, I don't care what language people speak when they come and live here, I just don't like people telling us that we should learn their language just to respect their culture or make them feel more at home. If I'm going to learn another language, which I would love to do (French, Italian, and/or Japanese) I'm going to learn it to use in their country, not in my own. I'm not even opposed to grocery stores where the clerks speak no English, I'll gladly walk on by to one whose clerks do.

I was basically wondering if you personally think that we are slighting these people.

choclosteve · 04-09-2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRYandBENDER

Sorry, I meant to say, do you think they should have a case? Personally, I don't care what language people speak when they come and live here, I just don't like people telling us that we should learn their language just to respect their culture or make them feel more at home. If I'm going to learn another language, which I would love to do (French, Italian, and/or Japanese) I'm going to learn it to use in their country, not in my own. I'm not even opposed to grocery stores where the clerks speak no English, I'll gladly walk on by to one whose clerks do.

I was basically wondering if you personally think that we are slighting these people.

You are going to learn another language faster if you practice it BOTH here and where it is the primary language.Working as a clerk is an excellent way to practice English, except that the pay is likely low. I seek out Spanish speaking clerks for the opportunity to practice my Spanish. Those Spanish speaking clerks are a treasure, for they make it easy for Latino tourists and shoppers, mostly at minimum wages. Those folk who come here not speaking English are mostly poor in education and economic opportunity, and more deserving of compassion than anger. Do we want to be like chickens, with their pecking order? I have traveled in countries where I did not speak the language, and I treasure the memories of those who helped me-and they are many. In return, I treasure the opportunity to return the favors to those who are struggling with coping with this ever changing strange country,

FRYandBENDER · 04-09-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choclosteve

You are going to learn another language faster if you practice it BOTH here and where it is the primary language.Working as a clerk is an excellent way to practice English, except that the pay is likely low. I seek out Spanish speaking clerks for the opportunity to practice my Spanish. Those Spanish speaking clerks are a treasure, for they make it easy for Latino tourists and shoppers, mostly at minimum wages. Those folk who come here not speaking English are mostly poor in education and economic opportunity, and more deserving of compassion than anger. Do we want to be like chickens, with their pecking order? I have traveled in countries where I did not speak the language, and I treasure the memories of those who helped me-and they are many. In return, I treasure the opportunity to return the favors to those who are struggling with coping with this ever changing strange country,

I'm not trying to get a hard on over these folks. I'm painfully nice to people, especially non locals. My beef is with people who come here and, like the folks in this article, start trying to sue state governments because we don't print our driving tests in their language. I love other cultures. My dream is to someday make enough money to get the hell out of the US and experience these cultures, but god damn, when I go I'm not going to expect them to speak english and go out of their way to make me feel at home. That is exactly why I want to go over to these places, to not feel at home. To see what it is like to live in their culture.

choclosteve · 04-09-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRYandBENDER

I'm not trying to get a hard on over these folks. I'm painfully nice to people, especially non locals. My beef is with people who come here and, like the folks in this article, start trying to sue state governments because we don't print our driving tests in their language. I love other cultures. My dream is to someday make enough money to get the hell out of the US and experience these cultures, but god damn, when I go I'm not going to expect them to speak english and go out of their way to make me feel at home. That is exactly why I want to go over to these places, to not feel at home. To see what it is like to live in their culture.

OK, I think that your beef is with a rarely occurring situation, that likely was encouraged by an attorney. Far more common would be non American, poorly educated folk being exploited and afraid to seek justice. And when you go to another country, you will find that people WILL go out of their way to be helpful, just as they do here, and a lot of them will be the more poor.

TheKentuckian · 04-10-2008, 02:34 AM

We are possibly the least homogenous nation on the planet, it is crucial that language unite us because honestly not much else does.

I'm no neocon but this should be a hardline for anyone wanting to maintain a national identity. If you're a one world goverment person then carry on as I'm not really even speaking to you.

I'm in love with the concept of America, if not the practice and would like to give it a go. English is crucial to that aim, in my opinion.

choclosteve · 04-10-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheKentuckian

We are possibly the least homogenous nation on the planet, it is crucial that language unite us because honestly not much else does.

I'm no neocon but this should be a hardline for anyone wanting to maintain a national identity. If you're a one world goverment person then carry on as I'm not really even speaking to you.

I'm in love with the concept of America, if not the practice and would like to give it a go. English is crucial to that aim, in my opinion.

English is THE most spoken language in the world, as well as in the US. I do not think that any other language will replace English as the most popular world and US language, followed by Spanish.

Demarcoa · 04-10-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choclosteve

English is THE most spoken language in the world, as well as in the US. I do not think that any other language will replace English as the most popular world and US language, followed by Spanish.

Actually English is the third most spoken language in the world, after Spanish and Mandarin. Check any major statistics database (or, if lazy like me head on over to wikipedia). BUT, in my opininion, there's no reason the government should expect anyone to speak a language other than their official one(s) for stuff like their driving tests.

FRYandBENDER · 04-10-2008, 01:25 PM

I thought that it went English, French, Spanish.

Demarcoa · 04-10-2008, 01:33 PM

Nope, French is actually pretty sparsely spoken in Global terms. The top five are Mandarin, Spanish, English, Arabic, then Hindi, and French is twelth.

KryssTal : The 30 Most Spoken Languages in the World