[Tyler]

Because the United States was founded on the fact that people have the right to choose how to talk, what to say, what to do, what religion to practice, etc. Making an official language would take away what this county was founded on. Though, I'm surprised they just didn't squeeze it in the Patriot Act somewhere.

[Concentric Eyewall]

Tyler, on May 7 2008, 02:38 PM, said:

Because the United States was founded on the fact that people have the right to choose how to talk, what to say, what to do, what religion to practice, etc. Making an official language would take away what this county was founded on. Though, I'm surprised they just didn't squeeze it in the Patriot Act somewhere.

There are some people who justify the United States' adoption of an official language on the basis that "our country was founded upon English," but then go and support the Patriot Act. Very contradictory. Either use that argument, or say outright that what you're doing is not really what the country was founded upon in the first place!

This post has been edited by Concentric Eyewall: 07 May 2008 - 01:58 PM

[LocalOnThe8s]

I {and most other people} really don't want to learn Spanish for the illegal immigrant's sake.

[Concentric Eyewall]

LocalOnThe8s, on May 7 2008, 03:02 PM, said:

I {and most other people} really don't want to learn Spanish for the illegal immigrant's sake.

That doesn't even make sense

[Felix Saenz]

From Wikipedia. The article was about Spainsh language.

[Felix Saenz]

On Wikipedia, It's said that about 20 states speak spainsh.

[LocalOnThe8s]

I'm saying many of us americans are learning spanish because of the illegal aliens. Not all illegals are necessarily hispanic though.

[Concentric Eyewall]

anthony97, on May 7 2008, 04:54 PM, said:

From Wikipedia. The article was about Spainsh language.

anthony97, on May 7 2008, 04:58 PM, said:

On Wikipedia, It's said that about 20 states speak spainsh.

Okay, now I have no idea what YOU are saying

[NYCTWCjunkie]

LocalOnThe8s, on May 7 2008, 06:08 PM, said:

I'm saying many of us americans are learning spanish because of the illegal aliens. Not all illegals are necessarily hispanic though.

This is true. Americans learning Spanish is not solely because of illegal immigrants' presence in the country where they affect our way of life in regards of communication, it should be for the benefit of understanding all Spanish-speaking people. I'm not just talking about Mexicans here. The point of my statement earlier is the fact that the high majority of illegal immigrants that come from Latin American countries very little English where they cannot communicate effectively or do not speak any English at all. And because of the fact that many of those Spanish-speaking people either are remarkably slow at learning English or refuse to learn English altogether effects our way of life here. That is a part of the assimilation issue.

AND furthermore, because of this problem, local and state officials including those in school districts are bowing down to special interest groups on behalf of these people (especially those in this country illegally) to have US learn Spanish instead. This is what I'm angry about.

As far as the foundation of this country is concerned where English is primarily spoken, research one of Abraham Lincoln's speeches. Seriously, dig it up. If you cannot find it, let me know and I'll happily show you guys. At the same time, English is the most universal language in the world and a lot of that has to do with the fact that international business is conducted in English.

And Felix, I don't know what you are talking about as far as only certain states having people that have Spanish as their first language. That is so not true. Every state in the union has people that speak Spanish, but to put it accurately, there are a number of states that have a significantly higher percentage that do (such as California) as compared to others where there may be very few.

[Concentric Eyewall]

NYCTWCjunkie, on May 7 2008, 05:30 PM, said:

LocalOnThe8s, on May 7 2008, 06:08 PM, said:

I'm saying many of us americans are learning spanish because
As far as the foundation of this country is concerned where English is primarily spoken, research one of Abraham Lincoln's speeches. Seriously, dig it up. If you cannot find it, let me know and I'll happily show you guys. At the same time, English is the most universal language in the world and a lot of that has to do with the fact that international business is conducted in English.

Noone doubts that. However, I'm saying don't use the "the country was founded on..." logic unless you actually follow everything the country was founded on, no cherrypicking (e.g. the Patriot Act)

[P71nnacle]

Well, my grandfather was a legal alien and didn't speak English that well, but he still worked hard enough to have the boss of a company leave him money in her will....

I don't believe in formal languages, although English is a plus to learn. Reminder that with a few exceptions, every person on this board had people in their lineage who came from another country

[DJK5555]

NYCTWCjunkie, on 05 May 2008 - 11:45 AM, said:

Do you guys even know what Cinco De Mayo is? It's NOT a real holiday!

I've been thinking about this lately. It seems like to most Americans, Cinco de Mayo is not much more than a Hallmark Holiday for Corona, Dos Equis, Tecate, La Campana del Taco (Taco Bell), y cada Madre y Padre restaurante mexicano en Los Estados Unidos (that's "every Mom and Pop Mexican restaurant in the US" for those of you who can't understand my broken yet grammatically incorrect Spanish).

I really don't care either way. Cinco de Mayo gives me an excuse to eat food I like (tacos, burritos, enchiladas), and that makes me happy.

[DJK5555]

I was just reading a little about Cinco De Mayo. I'm no scholar at history, but if this is accurate, then the Battle of Puebla (Cinco de Mayo) may actually have more significance to US history than it does to Mexican history.

Quote

Cinco de Mayo is not the celebration of Mexico's Independence Day. Mexico celebrated its independence from Spain on Sept. 16, 1810. The fateful May 5 Battle of Puebla took place 41 years later in 1862. That's when the 4,000-strong Mexican Army commanded by Gen. Zaragosa, under Mexican President Benito Juarez, defeated 9,000 invading French troops dispatched by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. The weakened French then abandoned support of President Jefferson Davis of the Confederate States of America, allowing President Abraham Lincoln to crush rebel forces and end war between the states.

I still stand behind this statement, because to a vast majority of the American public, it holds true...

Quote

It seems like to most Americans, Cinco de Mayo is not much more than a Hallmark Holiday for Corona, Dos Equis, Tecate, La Campana del Taco (Taco Bell), y cada Madre y Padre restaurante mexicano en Los Estados Unidos (that's "every Mom and Pop Mexican restaurant in the US" for those of you who can't understand my broken yet grammatically incorrect Spanish).

This post has been edited by DJK5555: 28 March 2010 - 01:25 PM