What a douche bag. Not only does he want to give away the sovereignty of the United States, now he wants you to speak Spanish as well. I don't think there could be a worse candidate for president anywhere!!! Since there isn't enough room on this forum for me to explain all the reasons I viciously despise Obama, I'll just say it's too bad that the other day his MD-80 jet didn't break up and go down in a high speed fiery heap of twisted burning jet fuel and razor sharp metal shards...
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Obama wants you to speak Spanish.....
Obama es fuera de su mente maldita.
English is the official language of the United States. When I call, say, AT&T, I shouldn't have to "Press 1" for English. I should have to "Press 1" for some language other than English if I can't speak the official language. And when I call technical support, I shouldn't have to talk to somebody who sounds like the Pakistani guy in the movie "Short Circuit."
But tell me, Zn. Is it possible for you to engage in political dialog without constantly wanting somebody to die?
How 'bout if we just go for bumperstickers like everybody else does. Here's a good one I saw earlier today:
OBAMA: Change we can bereave in 
.
Nick, sorry about cussin' in Spanish. My bad. 
Speaking more than one language is great, I suppose, but I think I need to learn to learn to just shut up in at least one of them. (What's that? No, it's not going to be English.)
JD--While English is certainly the predominant language in the US, did I miss any Congressional or other governmental act that made it the "official" language? I'm not being sarcastic here--my understanding is that the Constitution and laws of the US do not contain any mention of any "official" language at all. If I'm misinformed, please let me know.
Also, in our capitalist society, can the government really regulate such activitiy as private businesses choosing to ask customers to "press 1 for English" when they earn profits from customers who speak Spanish? I'm addressing my questions to you because you generally demonstrate good knowledge of law and other such matters. You're also usually courteous in your responses.
When I heard Obama's discussion of learning other languages, I took it to mean that he's encouraging US citizens to think beyond our own borders and understand that we truly live in a global society. Students in other countries typically learn two or more languages in school. Are we really so egocentric as to think that we don't need to be able to communicate with the rest of the world, or that they should bear the burden of being able to communicate with us with no reciprocal effort on our part? We as Americans need to take our blinders off and see beyond ourselves.
Io, I obviously don't disagree with you that there are benefits to studying a second language, if only for the challenge. I studied French for two years in high school and three years in college. Yeah, really useful nowadays, huh? And I also studied Latin. Seems those who speak that language as their native tongue are all dead now.
Perhaps I should have said "predominant" language, although I really would be supportive of any Congressional action to make English the "official" language of the United States. We are probably the only country in the world that grants citizenship to those who do not speak the predominant language - or, at least, we're the only nation in the world that puts their needs ahead of the majority's.
Think about it. Do you think you would be able to live in Mexico comfortably speaking only English? How about Russia speaking only English?
Now, I don't begrudge the assistance we give to those in our country who do not speak English at all, or do not speak it well enough to assimilate. In fact, I applaud the fact that many schools offer remedial instruction in English for the children of immigrants. BUT, my point on the "Press 1 for English" comment was that - in a logicl society - if 95 percent of the people already SPEAK English, why would you have to make a special request for English. Why not, "Press 1 if you do not speak English." (I know a non-English speaker won't understand that - just like they don't understand "Press 1 for English,"
It is not an issue of forcing non-English speaking citizens (by the way, how do they do that?) to speak English. That would be an encroachment on their culture. However, what gives THEM the right to demand that WE learn to speak Spanish, or Tagalog, or Sanskrit, or whatever, just to pander to them?
We are called the "great melting pot" of the world. Past generations of immigrants have immersed themselves in the culture - including learning to speak the predominant language - while retaining much of their own group identity. It has always been that way. But now, we seem to be in the process of being forced to adapt to those immingrants' culture, instead of the other way around.
We apparently are no longer a "melting pot." We are a nation with a bunch of individual ingredients all swimming around in that same pot, all trying to drown out the flavor of the other, none willing to work together to put together something palatable.
Our nation has fought numerous wars to preserve our freedom and out way of life, Io. There are many of who just don't think we'll sit quietly while those things are undermined from within.
And we do not have blinders on, Io. We know there are other cultures out there, and we strive to respect those other cultures - as long as they respect ours.
But you take the radical Islamic culture (and, notice, I said "radical" and not ALL Islamic culture.) Many of them are offended because we have dogs as pets (dogs are considered nasty animals by many followers of Islam.) I, on the other hand, am offended that some, in the name of Islam, fly airplanes into building and saw the heads off living, breathing human beings while calling for the total destruction of us "infidels."
And I know you're referring mostly to immigrants from Mexico in your post, but let me point that the vast majority of Hispanic immigrants who follow the rules learn to speak English on their way to citizenship. The idea is to "assimilate" them into our culture and our lifestyle.
Nowhere else on the fact of the earth, other than in the United States, would the government stand still while 15 million people come into the country illegally, refuse to learn the language, refuse to "assimilate" to the culture, lobby to take over a vast part of the country (Mexifornia, anybody?) and demand that WE change to accommodate THEM.
Enough is enough. This is the United States, land of the free and home of the brave. Some of us are still brave enough to point that, while we are a generous people who give and give and give to help those less fortunate than us, we have grown wearly of catering to those (including some of our own citizens) who take, and take, and take and contribute nothing to society.
And I am not saying, "America - Love It Or Leave It." I'm saying, "Americans - Be One, Or Be Gone When Your Visa Expires."
There ya go, Io. Is that a civil enough answer for you?
By the way, Io, nice moon, by Jove! 
Obama ist ein blödes arschloch hurensohn......
Yes it is possible for me to discuss politics without wishing someone dead, but when someone like Obama the anti-Constitutional socialist who thinks he's the Messiah wants take away my rights and alter my way of life to benefit someone else, I can only hope that they die......Also as unfortunate is it is, the best way to preserve freedom is to eliminate the enemies of it.....
Know why Obama is giving his acceptance speech at Invesco Field? Its the only place in Denver big enough to hold his ego......
I was thinking of a "Run Obama Run" bumper sticker for the front bumper of my truck.....Something like that.....
Many countries have multiple languages and accommodate according to who speaks what language. In Belgium, a small country, has three predominate languages, and some areas can't speak the other two at all. In India, they have 29 languages spoken by more than a million people! And, most can't speak the other 28 (not to mention there are hundreds that less than a million speak).
It's true that a majority of people in the United States speak English, however if you look at it more closely, you'll see that many areas speak mostly Spanish. Many counties in California and Texas speak mostly Spanish, and some are trying to make Spanish its official language. So if you don't like it, you can move somewhere else.
Yeah, that's the point of making English the "official" language of the United States. "If you don't like it, you can move elsewhere."
Now, Bobloblaw, is that any more outrageous if I say it than it is when YOU say it, as you just did?
Wrong, if they don't like the fact that we speak English they need to GTFO!
Look at the cultural strife being caused by those who move to Sweden and don't speak Swedish, or those who move to Germany and don't speak German, or those that move to France and don't speak French and its beginning here. Now, adapt or GET OUT!!!!If they don't like the fact that we speak English, then they should move. Now, unless you're a tourist there is no way in hell that I'm going to bend at all to accommodate you, if you moved to MY country you need to learn and speak MY language and assimilate into my culture or GO HOME!!! The biggest assholes in the world are people who move to another country then try to force those people to adopt their language and culture...
The whole point of what Obama was saying is that he thinks immigrants should learn English, but we need to get off our asses and work hard too.
This is America... we're a proud nation of people who can do things for ourselves. It's about time we quit sitting around expecting the rest of the world to learn English and started teaching all of our children a 2nd language... Whether it's French, Spanish, Arabic, or Chinese.
Teaching our children Chinese and Arabic should be considered a matter of national security. We need more intelligence analysts than can speak the languages.
It's a no-brainer that we should be learning Spanish. Spanish is the predominant language on this side of the globe. It's also helpful in dealing with all the immigrants who are coming here.
On top of all that, Spanish and Chinese should pretty much be required for a business degree in today's world.
"ernest-penfoldonline- It's a no-brainer that we should be learning Spanish. Spanish is the predominant language on this side of the globe. It's also helpful in dealing with all the immigrants who are coming here."
WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!
Make life easier for the 20 million criminals living among us at our expense? Excuse me, but are you &$*@$&% crazy?
I was merely saying "Get Out" in a local level. While I'm fully support that immigrants must learn English, as we have this problem in the UK also. Though, I am also in full support that we need to acknowledge that some areas are changing culturally, and should be able to change a county's language if that's what the people can speak.
More than that, though, I'm completely in support of Americans learning a different language. Especially since America as a world power is declining, and China is going to be the predominate power in the next 20-30 years. Chinese and other languages should be offered in most grade schools (even at elementary levels).
Hey, maybe we could cut a reciprocal agreement with China. We'll let our kids learn their language, their culture and their values if they'll let their kids learn our language, our culture, our values.
Oh, wait. In China I believe you can still face the firing squad for teaching Western values. Never mind. (You can also get imprisoned for years or shot for trying to sneak into their country without a valid passport or visa ... but who are we to judge?)
JD, its funny that you bring up unjust imprisonment. Have you heard of Guantanamo? Abu Ghraib?
Our hands are not free of blood when it comes to humans rights abuses, sir.
It's funny how you can't discuss anything without changing the subject to something more favorable to the conservative position. Just like the Chinese government, you can't handle other points of view, so you seek to bury them by launching an anti-communist tirade?
All I said is that we need to teach more of our children to speak Chinese. In the next few years, as you grow old and die, China is probably going to eclipse the US as the biggest superpower in the world. Economically, they're already there. They own a huge amount of our national debt and are getting rich off our backs. They have a huge trade deficit with us and are getting rich off our backs thanks to the Republicans and free trade.
Republicans don't mind sending all our jobs overseas in the name of free trade, despite the fact that we all know the Chinese are oppressing their people and workers in horrible conditions. And how can an American worker compete with that? We can't.
It's time you get your act together JD. Quit supporting scumbags who send our jobs overseas while at the same time bashing on the deplorable human rights conditions that are making it so profitable for China to take our jobs.
Actually, Ernest, I didn't change the subject at all. And as far as human rights abuses, I really haven't heard lately about anybody in the United States being shot or imprisoned by the government for speaking a foreign language or expressing an anti-government opinion. Have you? Have I missed something?
And, yes, the United States has most definitely been guilty of human rights abuses over the course of its history, most notably in allowing the institution of slavery to exist for 76 years after the U.S. Constiutution ws ratified, its government-sanctioned treatment of Civil Rights protestors, and its internment of Japanese-American citizens at the start of the second World War.
But I'd say the jury is still out on those wonderful human beings being imprisoned at Guantanamo and, to some extent, at Abu Ghraib (which, incidentally, was Saddam's prison of choice for torturing political prisoners prior to his overthrow.)
I'm quite sure you could possibly adopt a couple of them and let them stay at your house, but the last I heard, the United States is trying to deport about a hundred of those remaining prisoners at Guantanamo, and THEIR OWN HOME COUNTRIES DON'T EVEN WANT TO ACCEPT THEM BACK. What a fantastic bunch of good citizens they must be, huh?
Only in America could be have a sizable group of citizens who support easing sanctions against Cuba, whose human rights abuses have been clearly documented since 1959, while condemning their own government for taking people out of the mainstream who were actively trying to kill Americans. God bless America. And God help us.
By the way, what's up with the Bobloblaw screenname? Worn out the ernest-penfold one already?
Well said JD. I often question the patriotism and love-of-country of those that try using the supposed "abuse" claimed against those being held at Guantanomo and/or Abu Ghraib. It all boils down to "You can't have it both ways". We can't remain a free and souveriegn country by bowing to other countries and playing sweethearts with possible terrorists. We do what it takes. Sure, some things are uncalled for, but blame those individuals, not the country as a whole. Maybe those that want to blast our soldiers for the way they "conduct business" should be given the chance to either try their jobs for a month or go live in another country for a month or more to see just how good they have it here.
Firstly, if you are insinuating that ernest-penfold and I are the same, that is not true. We may have a few view points the same, but not all.
In terms of China, you are correct that it isn't democracy, and rightly so. Democracy right now in China would only weaken it. No matter what the party title is in China, they are not communist. They gave up that path over 30 years ago, when it became capitalist. In the 30 years, the government has made the average economic growth in China 9% per year! (the fastest growth for any country ever) Also, in the past 30 years, over 400 million people have risen above the poverty line. I read in a recent report that China will equate the US economy in 20-30 years, and will double the US in 2050. If China was a democracy or a republic, they would never attain this feat.
Sure, they don't have the same standard of human rights as Western countries, but they aren't western. Though they are adopting more and more Western principles, they have their own morals and beliefs. They will probably adopt a form of democracy in the future, but until then they are on the right path.
And in terms of Guantanamo, I believe that in times such as these, then people will suffer; even detainees; its inevitable.
