Trucker ticketed $500 for poor English

[Laughing Man]

Ah, denial... it's not just another river in Egypt.

Pete how can you say with certainty that what he believes is based on fear?? I am for an official language in EVERY country not just my own. If I were to go to another country I would make every effort to learn the native language AND retain my own. My language is a part of who I am but I cannot expect everybody to conform to me now can I?

 

[Scuba Pete]

I believe the NEED to have an official language is completely based on phobia, both ethnic and language based.

 

[Laughing Man]

I believe the NEED to have an official language is completely based on phobia, both ethnic and language based.

So if you were to decide to move to Japan tomorrow and did not want to learn Japanese do you think that everybody should accommodate you and learn English?

 

[Scuba Pete]

So if you were to decide to move to Japan tomorrow and did not want to learn Japanese do you think that everybody should accommodate you and learn English?

I know for a fact that I could make it in Japan speaking only English. People do it all the time as well as Russia, China, Afghanistan and so on. Do you feel our soldiers need to learn any of the Iraqi languages.

That is different from a court mandated "official language".

 

[Storm]

I know for a fact that I could make it in Japan speaking only English. People do it all the time as well as Russia, China, Afghanistan and so on.

And it's just as rude and stupid when we do it.

Do you feel our soldiers need to learn any of the Iraqi languages.

Not really a good comparison, as our soldiers are not immigrants. However, I think they should, ideally. Of course, ideally, they wouldn't be there in the first place....

 

[Magic Man]

Ah, denial... it's not just another river in Egypt.

Yes, apparently, it's something you're well acquainted with. Maybe you could explain where the fear is in my view. For it to be a phobia, I would have to be afraid of something. What in my posts has led you to the conclusion that I'm afraid of something?

I believe the NEED to have an official language is completely based on phobia, both ethnic and language based.

Then you're wrong. As I've said, some people may fight for it based on a dislike or fear of other groups of people. I don't, and I've made that quite clear. I love other cultures and peoples. I love celebrating them for who they are. It has nothing to do with fear. It has to do with communication...you know, the whole reason we have language in the first place?

 

[Laughing Man]

I know for a fact that I could make it in Japan speaking only English. People do it all the time as well as Russia, China, Afghanistan and so on. Do you feel our soldiers need to learn any of the Iraqi languages.

That is different from a court mandated "official language".

First of all Arabic is the official language of Iraq and our troops do get training in basic Arabic. Secondly yes you may be able to go for a while without learning the language of the land you are in but you will have an incredibly hard time finding any kind of decent employment, not to mention doing other things such as driving for example (Those one way streets can be dangerous if you go the wrong way down them). Not to mention all of the people you won’t be able to communicate. And in Russia especially it’s going to be bad news if you can’t understand what the police are ordering you to do, they don't play around.:slap:

 

[Scuba Pete]

It has to do with communication...

Then by all means work on your communication skills. I can definitely see the need.

But why would we want the government to get into the business of who speaks what. Who cares? If I go someplace and can't communicate, I will find somewhere that I can. That's why we have so many ethnic neighborhoods. Making it legally binding smacks of xenoglossophobia and supremacy issues. It is what it is.

 

[Scuba Pete]

First of all Arabic is the official language of Iraq

And look at the mess they are in. I rest my case.

 

[Storm]

And look at the mess they are in. I rest my case.

Right, it's all because they have an official language. C'mon, Pete, this crap is beneath you.

 

[Laughing Man]

And look at the mess they are in. I rest my case.

Exactly what Storm said. There is absolutely no correlation between a nation having an official language and any kind of turmoil it’s in.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Exactly what Storm said. There is absolutely no correlation between a nation having an official language and any kind of turmoil it’s in.

So obviously you both feel that it won't SOLVE anything. I agree. Let's not have it.

 

[Storm]

Would you PLEASE STOP TWISTING OUR WORDS? It's rude and annoying and beneath you. So is putting words in our mouths.

 

[Scuba Pete]

It's not my fault if you can't follow your illogic in this.

 

[Storm]

No, what's your fault is reading your own agenda into our statements. What's your fault is that you throw the word "bigot" around so much that it doesn't mean anything anymore. What's your fault is that you misrepresent the statements of others.

Your twisted interpretations bear no resemblance to our actual statements.

 

[Scott C.]

I believe:

- People who come to live in the US should do all they can to learn English as well as they can.
- People who come here and learn English should also do all they can to pass their native tongue on to their children.
- People who live in the US and speak English as their native tongue should try to learn other languages.
- When people from one country visit another country, they should take their dictionaries along and try to communicate the best they can in the target language.
-We should appreciate the diversity of language and celebrate knowing multiple languages.
- We should have a common language in the US, that everybody speaks or is trying to speak. I vote for English, since it's the most popular here.

To me, this is common sense. People should do what they should do and we shouldn't have to pass laws on common sense.

 

[Storm]

I agree on all counts, Scott.

 

[Scuba Pete]

No, what's your fault

Now you sound like my wife! EVERYTHING is my fault!

However, I don't believe I called you or anyone else a bigot in this thread.

 

[Storm]

Not directly, maybe, but by association. You called Matt a xenoglossophobe several times, and accused him and others of supporting bigotry, of having their actions rooted in bigotry.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Not directly, maybe, but by association.

That would be a "no".

This whole thing about the trucker being fined is precisely WHY we don't need an official language. It's far too open to abuse like this.