Is America the greatest country in the world?

[Unkotare]

Up until the last 20-30 years or so, people who came here to live were expected to accommodate their culture to fit into ours including accepting our Constitution and flag, learning the language, and familiarizing themselves with our laws.

And that is still what happens today.

 

[Unkotare]

yes... but i'm shooting for greatest country in the universe.

As far as we know...

 

[Unkotare]

what has happened in the US with atrocities like the 'Patriot Act' and random police checks? Clearly unconstitutional bull fertilizer is dispensed all the time with very little protest from the Prozac-age American electorate.

Unconstitutional according to whom? Your emotions do not carry the force of law.

 

[High_Gravity]

what has happened in the US with atrocities like the 'Patriot Act' and random police checks? Clearly unconstitutional bull fertilizer is dispensed all the time with very little protest from the Prozac-age American electorate.

Unconstitutional according to whom? Your emotions do not carry the force of law.

Welcome back son!

 

[bigrebnc1775]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mtG0aHCJfQ]Most Honest Speech on Amercan Reality. Ever. FACT.^ - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Unkotare]

what has happened in the US with atrocities like the 'Patriot Act' and random police checks? Clearly unconstitutional bull fertilizer is dispensed all the time with very little protest from the Prozac-age American electorate.

Unconstitutional according to whom? Your emotions do not carry the force of law.

Welcome back son!

Thank you!

 

[Foxfyre]

Up until the last 20-30 years or so, people who came here to live were expected to accommodate their culture to fit into ours including accepting our Constitution and flag, learning the language, and familiarizing themselves with our laws.

And that is still what happens today.

No it isn't. Again and again, even in examples posted in this thread I believe, the American flag is considered offensive to some people and therefore should not be flown while their previous country flag is not challenged. We have more and more complaints and protests against children being 'coerced' into memorizing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or being expected to show respectful protocol for the National Anthem and presentation of the flag. More and more people discourage certain patriotic songs or traditional heritage music because somebody might be offended.

There are nore and and more P.C. restrictions on what American Christians and Jews can do in the public sector while more and more accomodations are made for Islam. So many things that used to be as revered as Americana and as traditional as Mom and apple pie in American culture is being challenged or looked down on as somehow inappropriate or possibly offensive to somebody. And how many states now print everything in at least two languages as Hispanic immigrants are no longer expected to learn the language of business and commerce that would greatly enhance their assimilation into the American culture.

The previous generation, no matter what their country of orgin and no matter what their ethnicity might be, would have been incensed at having to press #1 for English. I have looked into the eyes of new immigrants and have seen the joy when they finally mastered enough English to competently recite their oath of citizenship. And they knew exactly what they were reciting too.

Borders, language, culture, and self governance are what has made the unique American culture. When one or more of those start becoming ambiguous and fuzzy, that culture starts coming apart at the seams.

 

[Unkotare]

Up until the last 20-30 years or so, people who came here to live were expected to accommodate their culture to fit into ours including accepting our Constitution and flag, learning the language, and familiarizing themselves with our laws.

And that is still what happens today.

No it isn't. .

Yes, it is. You are still confusing home-grown leftist extremist bullshit for something else.

 

[Unkotare]

I have looked into the eyes of new immigrants and have seen the joy when they finally mastered enough English to competently recite their oath of citizenship. And they knew exactly what they were reciting too.

That same joy exists today in newly naturalized citizens all across our great nation.

 

[Foxfyre]

I have looked into the eyes of new immigrants and have seen the joy when they finally mastered enough English to competently recite their oath of citizenship. And they knew exactly what they were reciting too.

That same joy exists today in newly naturalized citizens all across our great nation.

In some cases I'm sure it does. And in some cases we can all read the signs: "This was once Mexico and will be again" or some such as that. When we no longer expect those born here to appreciate being Americans, how much less will we expect of new immigrants?

 

[Unkotare]

Hispanic immigrants are no longer expected to learn the language of business and commerce that would greatly enhance their assimilation into the American culture.

Of course they are, most of all by themselves.


Don't kid yourself that a 50 year old Polish potato farmer went in one side of Ellis Island and came out the other speaking English like Eliza Doolittle, and don't doubt that by the 2nd generation Latino-Americans haven't mastered English and by the 3rd and 4th use it almost exclusively even at home. Reeeeelllaaaaaax on that front and direct your energy to the real problem; home-grown leftist bullshit.

 

[Unkotare]

I have looked into the eyes of new immigrants and have seen the joy when they finally mastered enough English to competently recite their oath of citizenship. And they knew exactly what they were reciting too.

That same joy exists today in newly naturalized citizens all across our great nation.

In some cases I'm sure it does.

In just about all cases. Show me one naturalized US citizen marching around with one of those stupid 'this be Mexico' signs.

 

[Unkotare]

When we no longer expect those born here to appreciate being Americans, how much less will we expect of new immigrants?

New citizens expect it of themselves. What you need to worry about is the former.

 

[eots]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWr9mgIsgzQ]WHAT WOULD JOHN WAYNE DO ?...JW.vs eots - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Foxfyre]

That same joy exists today in newly naturalized citizens all across our great nation.

In some cases I'm sure it does.

In just about all cases. Show me one naturalized US citizen marching around with one of those stupid 'this be Mexico' signs.

I don't expect new immigrants to be more or less patriotic than our natural born citizens. And maybe you're right. Maybe the new immigrants are better than those of us born here. Maybe they do appreciate us more. And maybe not, Maybe new immigrants are just as susceptible to infusion of entitlement mentality and big government solutions as are some who are born here. Maybe new immirants push for the same absurd political correctness and dismantling of American cultural institutions. I don't know. I haven't been a part of that for some time now so I don't know what people are being taught in immigration classes any more.

At the time that I was involved with all of that, the idea of pressing #1 for English was unheard of, however.

 

[Unkotare]

Pressing 1 for English is for the most part a decision by private companies to accomodate the greatest number of potential customers, not a cultural crisis. Not sure why you're so hung up (so to speak) on that one.

 

[Unkotare]

At the time that I was involved with all of that, the idea of pressing #1 for English was unheard of, however.

That's because you couldn't press anything with your old rotary phone.

 

[Foxfyre]

Pressing 1 for English is for the most part a decision by private companies to accomodate the greatest number of potential customers, not a cultural crisis. Not sure why you're so hung up (so to speak) on that one.

I'm not hung up on it, and I don't CARE what private companies do. It is just one of the many symptoms that I see that have diminished us as the greatest nation that has ever existed.

While I think it is fine for private business to do business in any language they choose--there was a time their choice would have been English however--now in many states you can't call a city, country, state, or federal office without being instructed to Press #1 for English. If the same requirement that new citizens or those holding Green Cards have at least a rudimentary working knowledge of English was still in effect, that would not be the case.

A common language, borders, culture is what creates cohesiveness among a people. Add those plus recognition and protection of unalienable rights, and you have the greatest nation in the world. Again when the edges start fraying and the concept sbecome blurry, we have a much tougher time holding it together.

 

[Unkotare]

Pressing 1 for English is for the most part a decision by private companies to accomodate the greatest number of potential customers, not a cultural crisis. Not sure why you're so hung up (so to speak) on that one.

I'm not hung up on it, and I don't CARE what private companies do. It is just one of the many symptoms that I see that have diminished us as the greatest nation that has ever existed.

Pressing 1 for English has "diminshed us" as a nation? You engage in that kind of hyperbole and claim not to be hung up on it? Come on now...

 

[Unkotare]

If the same requirement that new citizens or those holding Green Cards have at least a rudimentary working knowledge of English was still in effect, that would not be the case.

It is still in effect.