Posted: July 16th, 2007, 10:18 am
I just realized .. I DO know 2 more things. God, it amazes me how much I know sometimes!
1) My grandfather and Soccermom's great gands did not speak a word of English when they got here. They all made an effort to learn English, but were much more comfortable in German and spoke it as their first language to the day they died. Even worshiped in German Evangelical churches .. in German .. which their kids kind of resented. But that was back in the day .. back when the Italian neighborhoods (in NYC, Boston and elsewhere) spoke Italian, the Russian neighborhoods (NY, Chicago) spoke Russian .. and so on and so on. I think that US history is very multilingual.
2) Canada seems to have not suffered by having 2 languages. I think it's a pain to have nearly all of your packaging printed in French and English (someone pointed out that many 'regulations' .. whether expressed or implied are much harder on small business than they are on big biz) .. and I think Canadians have some small pride in having retained their multicultural/multilingual history.
I am not even hinting that Canada has a leg up on the US .. quite the contrary .. I am forever grateful that my maternal grandparents crossed the border and came here. But I think that having more than one language is a good thing .. both in our past (both places - US and Can) and in our future. I think that first and foremost, the US and Canada are places where you can "make your way in the world." If you believe in freedom, believe in hard work, are honest and upstanding, then you can carve out a life for you and your future generations. But I really have no idea how you keep out the 10% (or whatever number) are total scumbags .. nor how you keep those future generations out of gangs and terror cells. You sure can'y point to Britain as a place that has it figured out.
ps - I don't see the 'hatred' or vitriol that some claim to read into this thread. Honest opinions - expressed with passion - a true debate. I value what each of you has to say - whether I agree or not.
1) My grandfather and Soccermom's great gands did not speak a word of English when they got here. They all made an effort to learn English, but were much more comfortable in German and spoke it as their first language to the day they died. Even worshiped in German Evangelical churches .. in German .. which their kids kind of resented. But that was back in the day .. back when the Italian neighborhoods (in NYC, Boston and elsewhere) spoke Italian, the Russian neighborhoods (NY, Chicago) spoke Russian .. and so on and so on. I think that US history is very multilingual.
2) Canada seems to have not suffered by having 2 languages. I think it's a pain to have nearly all of your packaging printed in French and English (someone pointed out that many 'regulations' .. whether expressed or implied are much harder on small business than they are on big biz) .. and I think Canadians have some small pride in having retained their multicultural/multilingual history.
I am not even hinting that Canada has a leg up on the US .. quite the contrary .. I am forever grateful that my maternal grandparents crossed the border and came here. But I think that having more than one language is a good thing .. both in our past (both places - US and Can) and in our future. I think that first and foremost, the US and Canada are places where you can "make your way in the world." If you believe in freedom, believe in hard work, are honest and upstanding, then you can carve out a life for you and your future generations. But I really have no idea how you keep out the 10% (or whatever number) are total scumbags .. nor how you keep those future generations out of gangs and terror cells. You sure can'y point to Britain as a place that has it figured out.
ps - I don't see the 'hatred' or vitriol that some claim to read into this thread. Honest opinions - expressed with passion - a true debate. I value what each of you has to say - whether I agree or not.
