The simple stupidity of speaking one language...

[catnhatnh]

...and thinking that is enough appalls me....and to think that repeating something (like an anthem) in a second language somehow denigrates the original is absurd....I have read reports that a spanish "Star Spangled Banner" is somehow not the same....well then God save the King....which is EXACTLY the original text-should NEVER be "denigrated" by singing anything you are used to...My spanish is poor,and my french worse...But that only means I am stupid-to suppose another language is wrong is dumber still...

[babylonsister]

1. I agree. America has been moranic (sic) by not insisting we

speak more than one language, a la Europe. But we were a different country and culture, and it was never such a big deal until now. I'm 50 years old, and wish I could speak something fluently, especially Chinese at this point. But Spanish would have been good also. :hi:

[neoteric lefty]

2. Too bad that the state department already posted a version of

the National Anthem in multiple languages including spanish. By the logic of some of these nativists, our State Department is a anti-American group of bastards.

http://usinfo.state.gov/esp/home/topics/us_society_values/national_symbols/anthem_spanish.html

[cboy4]

3. It seems like there are a disturbingly large number of people

around here lately who demand that EVERYONE in this country speak English.

I think diversity is great. I love culture, including learning other languages -- but this whole immigration debate has really turned a lot of people into bigots.

I mean, it's fine to be against illegal immigration, but boy oh boy....I haven't heard so much ugliness in a long time.

Very sad

[JDPriestly]

5. Everyone should learn English -- and Spanish and other languages

[JDPriestly]

4. Learning languages is fun and humbling. I love it.

[aquart]

6. Yes, Europe's history is an admirable one.

Many tiny nation-states bloodily separated by different languages mere streets away.

And what are they doing today? Uniting under one set of laws, one currency, all the things we began with.

They can't choose one language because that would mean war......so they study very hard to learn as many as they can so they can talk to as many fellow Europeans as possible. And they laugh at Americans, who can talk to each other without a day in school.

By all means, let's divide ourselves by language. That always works so well.

[tom_boy]

10. Admirable?

They are a unique group of peoples, but those Europeons
(confession: I'm a Euro-American) have a long and bloody and terrible history. I think each country made an effort to put the world under its bootheel, and the cost of empire was unknown dead, and countless cultures erased.

Since the beginning of peace is the ability to communicate, I wonder how much grief the world would been spared if these peoples had been able to speak the same tongue.

[lvx35]

7. We don't need a curse of Babble.

Nothing against spanish or the culture, but things will go a lot more smoothly if everybody speaks the same language, and we don't have to fill our brains by managing two or more. But that's just my opinion.

[cboy4]

8. Most Latino immigrants are able to communicate in pretty darn good

English because they do realize things, in your words, will go "a lot more smoothly."

I just don't get what is such a "curse of babble" talking about the joy of knowing another language(s)?

[lvx35]

9. I'm a huge admirer of those who can pick up languages quick

but I'm not one of them. I've always dreamt of speaking chinese or hindi but when I sit down and try I its really daunting.

[Nobody]

11. Everyone should be required to learn a foreign language

ANY language. Start in pre-school. You learn a foreign language, you learn your own better. Starting young allows the child to process two languages natively. You can't acquire a native language when you're an adult.

Even picking up a few grammar tidbits as an adult gives you insight into your own language's grammar. You learn that there are more than one way to process a thought. Maybe that's what the right wing is really afraid of.