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oh.. and given the one way nature of western influence over foreign nations and the assimilation into THEIR cultures your analogy falls way short.
Dont see too many hamburgers being sold at the Indian mcdonalds, eh? same cultural significance of preserving a common national identity.
All illegals and those who harbor them are criminals. This is the law. Press 1 for English? What in the hell is that? Press 1 for Spanish ...maybe but this is my country. I should have to press 1 for English? Other immigrant groups brought their culture here and they learned English. And we thrived. The Mexicans on the whole are different. They seek to remain Mexican while they drain our country. There was no instant welfare for my people when they came over. They worked and when they got sick they still worked. They did not form enclaves where you see more Mexican flags than American. The Mexican President recently said that Mexico has no borders. He said where there are Mexicans, that is Mexico. Well guess what. The USA is now Mexico.
Spare me the Xenophobic analogies. This is about being American First. Something the other immigrant groups of the past would proudly admit to. Not the Mexicans. They are Balkinizing our country and if you can't see that you must be an ostriich. Get your heads out of the sand.
They're not sold at Indian McDonald's because Indians wouldn't go there... purely an economic decision
Perhaps you might understand, since you seem so sensitive to the issue, why other countries might not like us foisting our culture on THEM. When the French talk about that, everyone complains that the French hate America and are arrogant.
Duh
Here in Sweden they REQUIRE ALL students to learn english and then CHOOSE a third language to learn as well. It hasnt fractured the culture nor has it harmed the SWEDISH language at all. Swedes still speak swedish and their language is in no danger of being diminished because they REQUIRE a second *and third* language be learned.
I think its a very unfounded fear to believe that requiring the learning of the spanish language threatens our culture or english speaking in any way.
Your ignoring the fact we are NOT requiring English be learned at all. Schools are teaching students completely in Spanish.
Im pretty sure sweden is not the hallmark that America wants to use in guaging THEIR culture.
I've lways said that a certain amount of American laziness makes us want to insist that english remain the international language of business. I've always said that we should take initiative to learn other languages in order to communicate better with our global neighbors. Hell, we all know that language is not static and will probably gel into some post-modern dialect in 50 years.
My point is this:
English speaking American's pay the taxes that suport the public school. Sure, spanish speakers pay taxes too but no where near the participation as the majority which, currently, is an English speaking population. I am suggesting that their concern that our common American identity is being forced to assimilate rather than being assimilated into, BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL, is not only valid but has the potential to fragment the common identity of America and will eventually lead to what all significant competing social identities lead to: conflict. Why learn english when one can rationalize forcing American kids to learn spanish? It's totally ass backwards. Taxes shouldnt be used to force America to assimilate to latino culture any more than it should be used to force america to assimilate to christian dogma. Let private ventures for spanish speaking kids carry this burden if they feel so strongly about it. It's the same advice I give to people who think Int. Des. should be taught as an alternative to evolution. Sure, this salad bowl culture may have a wide range on the Average American experience but, here in the midwest, you won't be finding second graders learning how to spell in mandarine chinese.
I am not saying it is, I am simply pointing out that just because a nation requires another language be learned dosent MEAN the main language is erroded or that the culture is fractured as you seem to fear would happen from such a thing.
and I would reply that just because it worked in sweden doesn't mean it will work in a nation with a significantly larger role to play in global politics. Your country chose to hop on the bandwagon when it figured out that business was being conducted in English. However, there is no reason to force spanish to be taught on par with English since spanish is not the international language. I assure you, if the international language of business were latin then we'd all be teaching latin as a second langauge and no one would bitch about it. As it is, you don't learn english because there is a giant influx of immigrating english speaking people pervading your nation.
Its a true statement that just because somthing works in one place dosent mean it will work in another....but its MANY nations who require second languages be learned and they arent giving up their native language to do it either.
There isnt a good reason to limit our education, especially when those limitations are advocated due to fears or anger at illegal immigration. We are denying ourselves a benefit as well as an oppurtunity.
Spanish is the second most spoken language in the western hemisphere, its a good reason right there to learn it and for our education system to require it.
As you pointed out, the US plays such a more significant and larger role IN GLOBAL economics/politics, all the MORE reason to be proficient in other languages.
I am not advocating the LIMITATION of education. By all means, take spanish as an elective. I am saying that forcing AMERICAN kids to learn spanish via AMERICAN taxes is no more sound than making them learn int. design. This is still America, Ruby. Like it or not we still speak english here as a population and latinos can either assimilate this direction or pay for their own catch up opportunities. A public education is not a right. It's not a protected status. This is a benefit that WILL reflect the will of the majority population that sees this kind of thing as a slap inthe face of their, otherwise, benevolence. And rightly so. Again, if YOUR country forces it's kids to learn english it is because of business and not because of a flood of immigrants who can't speak whatever language is your native tongue.
Also, be that as it may that spanish is spoken by so many people... but, Ruby, Those people are not in AMERICA where these kids will live and learn. Certainly, tax payers should not have to bridge a gap just because of the external popularity of any identity. I hear catholicism is pretty popular too.. So why arent we teaching our kids to pray to the virgin mary in public schools?
Our global role is well served by ENGLISH.
hence your nation hopping on board the language train.
Your comparisons are false really. Religion isnt the same as learning another language. You seem to attach far too much POLITICAL motivation and ideology to it. It simply expands our own education as well as our own communication with the second most spoken language in OUR OWN NATION OF THE USA as well as the language of most of our neighbors.
We do plenty of business with latin american (all spanish speaking nations) and the way its going...we wont get to DOMINATE them in the area and will find ourselves vying for our place in their economies and having to actually negotiate with them etc. It seems to me that what we require in our education system are the things we feel are important to learn and beneficial...I think spanish meet those criteria rather well.
Your ignoring the fact we are NOT requiring English be learned at all. Schools are teaching students completely in Spanish.
