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Originally posted by mink:
Umm, I think his ship has sailed. You know, it's not something I feel strongly about. You could make a good argument for the language thing either way. His tone, however, clearly bespeaks xenophobic hostility.

Overall, I guess my feeling is that homogeneity in language is a trivial matter compared to all of the other types of pandering that are going on in our society. Of course, my overriding philosophy is libertarian. Let Home Depot do what they like, and let Mr. Letter Writer write stupid letters to the editor and not shop there.

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Originally posted by kaneman:

Quote:

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Originally posted by mink:
Umm, I think his ship has sailed. You know, it's not something I feel strongly about. You could make a good argument for the language thing either way. His tone, however, clearly bespeaks xenophobic hostility.

Overall, I guess my feeling is that homogeneity in language is a trivial matter compared to all of the other types of pandering that are going on in our society. Of course, my overriding philosophy is libertarian. Let Home Depot do what they like, and let Mr. Letter Writer write stupid letters to the editor and not shop there.

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I would disagree that his ship is sailing. This is, in my humble opinion, a valid position that has merit and is a concern of many. "A nation without a common language, a common culture, and secured borders is destined to fail" may not be a new quote, but it is heard more and more. And not just by neocons. It is a concern of many Latin Americans that believe too many of their fellow immigrants are being left behind, due enlarge part, to the fact they do not have to learn English. This makes it harder for them to assimilate into the "American" populace.
The average business owner is not going to learn a language at 50 years of age in order to communicate with employees. This closes off a huge piece of the employment pie.
I also believe a lot can be lost in translation. What good comes from having(battery is dead, will finish thought later)......

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Originally posted by JonnyQuest:

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Originally posted by kaneman:

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Originally posted by mink:
Umm, I think his ship has sailed. You know, it's not something I feel strongly about. You could make a good argument for the language thing either way. His tone, however, clearly bespeaks xenophobic hostility.

Overall, I guess my feeling is that homogeneity in language is a trivial matter compared to all of the other types of pandering that are going on in our society. Of course, my overriding philosophy is libertarian. Let Home Depot do what they like, and let Mr. Letter Writer write stupid letters to the editor and not shop there.

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I would disagree that his ship is sailing. This is, in my humble opinion, a valid position that has merit and is a concern of many. "A nation without a common language, a common culture, and secured borders is destined to fail" may not be a new quote, but it is heard more and more. And not just by neocons. It is a concern of many Latin Americans that believe too many of their fellow immigrants are being left behind, due enlarge part, to the fact they do not have to learn English. This makes it harder for them to assimilate into the "American" populace.
The average business owner is not going to learn a language at 50 years of age in order to communicate with employees. This closes off a huge piece of the employment pie.
I also believe a lot can be lost in translation. What good comes from having(battery is dead, will finish thought later)......

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I wouldn't say I have an overriding philosophy about anything, but I often find myself strongly sympathizing with libertarian philosophies. I agree, let him boycott the stores he doesn't frequent anyway. It's the underlying sentiment that lies barely concealed that "worries" me. There are some that do more than write letters.

I am humbled to have caught the notice of Kaneman so quickly by this post. I agree that the immigrants are placed at a disadvantage by not knowing the common language of the land. But the piece the employment pie they get, while hardly appetizing by and large, seems to be large enough to cause concern that they are stealing our jobs, according to some, which is in direct contradiction to those same voices' concerns about the welfare rolls becoming unsupportable when referring to another group. And America is made up of countless unassimilated indigenous groups.

Much indeed is lost in translation (I'm first generation state-side on the one side and second on the other: seen it in action, often to the amusement of all), but the 50 year old immigrant isn't as likely to learn a new language either.

You are clearly a good argumentator. And I may not disagree with your position. I await your recharge. (taking unfair advantage of the forced silence...)


"Well, here I am."

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Originally posted by JonnyQuest:
Did I say we were all trolls? Or was it Mink?

At any rate, it isn't impossible to become successful here if you don't speak English, but a damn fine interpret you can trust is invaluable. My Grandparents came here without benefit of the language and managed to participate in the American Dream just fine. By hard work, thrift and the ablility to point and utter some syllables. With time their English of course got better. They already knew three other languages fluently and my Grandfather learned only as much as he needed while my Grandmother the extrovert fared much better. You don't have to win the American Dream, you just gotta Show.

"Well, here I am."

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Originally posted by kaneman:
But, is it not better to Place? Yes, it was you in a different thread.

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