WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE TO SPEAK ENGLISH? (Humor and VANITY)

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[Ancesthntr]

WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE TO SPEAK ENGLISH?

An officer in the US Naval reserve was attending a conference that included admirals from both the US Navy and the French Navy. At a cocktail reception, he found himself in a small group that included personnel from both navies.

The French admiral started complaining that whereas Europeans learned many languages, Americans learned only English. He then asked: "Why is it that we have to speak English in these conferences rather than you speak French?"

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied: "Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you would not have to speak German."

The group became silent.

[Shryke]

Funny, I don't think the French remember that at all.

[MotleyGirl70]

LOL! Good one. :)

[Onelifetogive]

He then asked: "Why is it that we have to speak English in these conferences rather than you speak French?"

Because the Japanese speak Japanese and English, the French speak French and English, the Germans speak German and English, etc.

[Ancesthntr]

Another answer would be: "Because the US has been the world's leading nation for nearly 100 years, and will be for the foreseeable future, whereas France is merely a repository for smelly, obnoxious people with delusions of grandeur.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

We speak English now, but we already need to speak Spanish also.

[Howie66]

I speak mostly English, except when I am in the company of my fellow Cheeseheads. Then I kick into 'Sconnie-speak. Oh ya, der hey! Don'tcha know we can get drunker den youse!

GO!! PACK!! GO!!

[Howie66]

We don't need no steenking Spanish.

[PetroniDE]

I am Bilingual --- English and Profanity.

Expertise not necessarily in that order.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

I know you're kidding. I know I need to learn Spanish. I have had 2 experiences with middle class Latinos who are bilingual but chose to speak Spanish when they didn't want gringos to know what they are saying. One was at my retail job. I had 2 middle class ladies in line, I spoke to both of them & they both spoke perfect English. Yet when they spoke to each other it was in Spanish. The other, I was staying with some friends out of town & was invited to an event being held by their employer. A Mexican employee was preparing the food. I had spoken to both he & his wife who both spoke perfect English. While alone with both of them in the kitchen they spoke Spanish to each other. I mentioned it to my host who said the gentleman (who was the employee) had been "told about that". Don't they know it's rude?
Don't they care that they are rude?
The experiences with lower class Latinos is that they don't speak English period or it is so broken it is impossible to communicate about anything without spending most of the conversation guessing.
I have had one experience with a lower class Latino that only spoke Spanish to his coworkers because they didn't speak English.
I'm working 2 jobs & don't have time to learn a 2nd language but realize I need to just to survive in my country, & not because the income of this country is dependent on tourism.

On January 12, the day designated no shopping day to protest GW basically giving away citizenship to illegal aliens, I received 2 emails from separate organizations trying to get me to support GW on 2 separate unrelated issues. I felt paranoid, like a smoke screen was being released. I support GW on a lot of stuff, but he's sabotaging the war on terrorism & our economy, by doing this. He will be throwing open the flood gates, it didn't work for the US when Reagan did it & it will be even more disastrous now.

[Howie66]

I'm not kidding in the least.

I've lived in Texas for darn near 30 years and I've had more than ample opportunity to pick up quite a bit of Spanish. I can understand when Pedro and Maria are speaking in "private", I just choose NOT to speak to them in Spanish.

I figure that were I to decide to move to Mexico, then I'll speak in the local language. Since Pedro y Maria choose to come into my back yard, then it is incumbent upon them to "Se habla Inglise".

[quantim]

I bet they are learning it in Baghdad now too!

[Snagglepuss]

That was the same historic conference where the French Navy introduced their new, state of the art glass bottom warships. A new development to help them keep tabs on their air force.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

I agree, it is "our" home & we shouldn't need no steenking Spanish. But things are not getting better, they are getting worse. It is incumbant on the visitor to speak our language, but it ain't happenin'.

So when Pedro & Maria are speaking to each other in Spanish & you understand do you respond to them in English so that they know that you know what they are talking about?

[Howie66]

To answer your question.....I do if the situation warrants it, though only in English.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Cool. I don't know what they are saying currently & can not respond regardless of whether the situation warrants it.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Are you still in TX? Your about page is flying the Wisconsin flag.

[Howie66]

I'm currently living in Texas, but NFL (not for long). Where are you located?

[RICK77]

English is the Worlds Global Language PERIOD!!! 35% of the World Speak it, it's the National/Official language of ove 100 of the worlds 250 Nations. And over 1 billion people are learning it.

I don't see any other language taking it over most people have come to except it as the World Global Language and are persuaing hard to learn it.... Maybe with the excepton of the French and some "Latinos".

Lets get one clear about the Latinos in the USA. The Spanish only/mostly one's are basically America's New UNDERCLASS/POVERTY Class, in fact a recent survey by the Pew Hispanic Institute was that most US Born Latinos Speak only/mostly English and Watch the English Language Media most of the time.

I think in the longer term America will be a bit like Bolivia or Peru from a Langauge these countries have (a Spanish Speaking Upper & Middle Class, and a Indian Speaking Lower Class/Poverty Class)....

What this means for America is that we will have a English Speaking Upper/Middle Class and a Spanish/Spanglish Speaking Lower/Poverty Class!!! Many people also fail to realise the MASSIVE Intermarriage of Middle/Upperclass Latino's! Its OVER 50%, like th Italians / Germans / Spanish / Asians Etc.... The Middle/Upper Class Latnos are following the Melting pot root and fundanetall assimilating into Americas Middle/Upper Class Culture... But sayng that there is strong evidence to show a Sizable Chunk of Latinos will never reach the Ameican Dream and live in poverty striken Ghettoes similar to the Countries they have tried to "Escape" From.... Frankly the Good Ole' Excuse of "I have no time to learn English" is B/Sh@t. My G/Parents came to America from Germany after WW2, and spoke no English, within 3 years they worked 3 Jobs (between them) Raised 4 Kids + had the TIME to learn Fluent English WITHIN 3 Years (conversational English Within 1 year)!!!

PEACE!!!!