[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by Glice

What a curious imagination you have Ned.

pftttthaaaa haaa haaa

[Rob Instigator]

I never knew Ned's Atomic Dustbin was part of an actual musical subgenre

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by knox

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qICL8zH6Gw

i have seen that movie a trillion times but never dubbed-- this version is superfuckingbrilliant

[knox]

we need to find this dvd now.

[Magic Wheel Memory]

Originally Posted by knox

that is bullshit. pure language fascism.
people should speak the language they wanna speak.
if they are working, paying their tax and not comitting any crimes it's not anyone's business whether they learn YOUR language or not.

you might not know this, but some people suck so BAD at learning languages they will never become fluent. It's not because they don't want to, they just can't.

unless you are trying to say you should all learn native american languages to live in that land, of course. (because you did say primary language (s))

that's life isn't it?

i want them all to be like me, i won't tolerate them speaking another language in MY MY MY MY country, oh well.

better suggestion: why don't you sort out a more comprehensive effective public transport system so everyone doesn't have to drive? too much fucking fuel there. Not everyone wants to pollute to make a living.

Thanks for your reply, Knox. Please allow me to RESPECTFULLY answer some of the points you brought up:

1. You made reference to MY language and "MY MY MY" country. You've got it all wrong. This is not about ME, and it is not MY country. America is the country of all Americans. The vast majority of us speak English, and we want to be able to communicate with EACH OTHER. It's hard to do that when we don't have a common language.

2. You said I want them all to be like me, and I won't tolerate them speaking another language. Please try reading my original post again. As I said, I embrace diversity. I live in New York City, one of the most diverse cities you can find. Very few of my co-workers are American. It's one of the things I love about living here. And as far as I'm concerned, people can speak any language they want to. But if they live in America, they should know how to speak English.

3. As for Native American languages, what is your point? By "primary language," I meant the language most commonly spoken here now, not what was originally spoken here hundreds of years ago. At what point are we no longer responsible for the sins of our ancestors?

4. As for some people being bad at learning languages, yes, I'm sure there are some. Perhaps there's a way to make exceptions for such people.

5. Finally, I probably agree with your point about public transport, but unless you propose to eliminate individual driver's licenses completely, I don't see how that pertains to this discussion.

[Magic Wheel Memory]

Originally Posted by Glice

The idea of monolinguism doesn't really exist, except in the UK and US.

Can you elaborate on that? Maybe with some examples? I'm not the greatest world traveler, but it seems to me that the US is not monolinguistic. I discussed this with an Egyptian co-worker today, and he thought it was ridiculous that in America, when you use an interactive phone menu, you have go out of your way to specify if you want to continue in English.

[knox]

Originally Posted by Magic Wheel Memory

3. As for Native American languages, what is your point? By "primary language," I meant the language most commonly spoken here now, not what was originally spoken here hundreds of years ago. At what point are we no longer responsible for the sins of our ancestors?

The answer is never! Accountability.

I think somebody mentioned that really soon 50% or more of the americans will be speaking spanish, is that what the problem is?

If not, why don't you just let people take their lame driving tests in whatever language they want to because that's really none of your business.

And FIY many other countries (all the ones I've been to, except for the UK) have shitty phone menus in more than one language. It doesn't bother anyone.

(Did you just do the Egyptian co-worker thing like "I'm not a racist I got a black friend"? wondering)

btw, you don't even have to say you are white.

[Magic Wheel Memory]

Originally Posted by knox

(Did you just do the Egyptian co-worker thing like "I'm not a racist I got a black friend"? wondering)

btw, you don't even have to say you are white.

I guess this can't be a thoughtful, respectful debate. You really are an asshole. How race could have anything to do with this is beyond comprehension, since any race you can name is represented by immigrants coming to America from countries where English is not the primary language. What race would NOT be affected by what we are discussing?

And as for the "Egyptian/I'm not racist" thing, come visit me in New York sometime and see how I live. There are a few other people on this board who can already vouch for that.

[knox]

Originally Posted by Magic Wheel Memory

I guess this can't be a thoughtful, respectful debate. You really are an asshole. How race could have anything to do with this is beyond comprehension, since any race you can name is represented by immigrants coming to America from countries where English is not the primary language. What race would NOT be affected by what we are discussing?

And as for the "Egyptian/I'm not racist" thing, come visit me in New York sometime and see how I live. There are a few other people on this board who can already vouch for that.

I really don't care.

I just don't get the part that 'any race I can name is represented by immigrants coming to America from countries where English is not the primary language'....???? why do you speak English then? curious.

[pbradley]

Originally Posted by Magic Wheel Memory

we want to be able to communicate with EACH OTHER.

No, we don't. Shut up.

[knox]

Originally Posted by pbradley

No, we don't. Shut up.

exactly.

people should be free to communicate with whoever they want to, in their subculture of choice.

nobody tried to 'integrate' with the natives to unify the 'nation'.

so, guy-who-called-me-an-asshole, whatever your ancestors did, just stop trying to do it again.

[pbradley]

I think the whole idea of associating language with national identity, particularly in a country which is premised on being a nation of immigrants, only serves to obfuscate self-entitlement and laziness.

[HaydenAsche]

That noise that came from the mouths of people in Alabama was English? Who knew? Sounded like primal tones to me.

[HaydenAsche]

And, really, I like people who don't speak English. Gives me a chance to brush up on my swahili and spanish.

[jennthebenn]

Originally Posted by Magic Wheel Memory

I guess this can't be a thoughtful, respectful debate. You really are an asshole. How race could have anything to do with this is beyond comprehension, since any race you can name is represented by immigrants coming to America from countries where English is not the primary language. What race would NOT be affected by what we are discussing?

And as for the "Egyptian/I'm not racist" thing, come visit me in New York sometime and see how I live. There are a few other people on this board who can already vouch for that.

Speaking as an actual, offline friend...you know you done fucked up expecting
a respectful debate on the Internet, right?

"Zoos are inhumane."
"Fuck you, you gay fag."

[amerikangod]

I'll defrost Hitler's frozen brain before I let my grandkids speak a word of Mexican't.

[space]

Originally Posted by knox

The answer is never! Accountability.

what if I refused a grant from Tejas on account of it being "blood money"?

what if my other ancestors were founding members of the underground railroad?

what if a bad spanish test for my son is where he "only" gets 100%?


do these things balance out for 600 dead mexicans? please tell me they do.

[Magic Wheel Memory]

Originally Posted by jennthebenn

Speaking as an actual, offline friend...you know you done fucked up expecting
a respectful debate on the Internet, right?

"Zoos are inhumane."
"Fuck you, you gay fag."

This is true. This is true.

[Magic Wheel Memory]

Originally Posted by knox

exactly.

people should be free to communicate with whoever they want to, in their subculture of choice.

nobody tried to 'integrate' with the natives to unify the 'nation'.

so, guy-who-called-me-an-asshole, whatever your ancestors did, just stop trying to do it again.

I called you an asshole because you implied that I'm racist. That's a serious thing to say about someone you know so little about. Nothing I have said on this board gives you any reason to believe I am racist.

[amerikangod]

Originally Posted by Magic Wheel Memory

I called you an asshole because you implied that I'm racist. That's a serious thing to say about someone you know so little about. Nothing I have said on this board gives you any reason to believe I am racist.

I always assumed that your avatar was a jab at Koreans.