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I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree totally with you. We really are going to be busy with Arabic speakers for a long time to come. So long, in fact, that American schools should immediately make plans to begin teaching Arabic in our schools in order to make it easier to understand these people and what they are up to (especially terrorists). I'm serious about this; I think you are, too. We cannot afford to remain so "cut off" from a major world civilization, some of who members have lethal issues with us.
What do you say, educators? What do you think?

Everybody should learn Arabic so we don't even need translaters, and this is because it looks like we are going to be involved with things Arabic for a long time. It can't be that hard to learn, considering that 3 year olds on the streets of Baghdad and Cairo can speak it. . . . American schools should immediately make plans to begin teaching Arabic in our schools in order to make it easier to understand these people and what they are up to (especially terrorists). I'm serious about this; I think you are, too. We cannot afford to remain so "cut off" from a major world civilization, some of who members have lethal issues with us.

The average American . . . I among them . . . is too lazy, too busy, not capable, or simply not interested.

I am forever amazed, and somewhat shamed, to see on the news some Afghani out in the middle of some swirling dust pit speaking better English than I speak the prevalent non-English language spoken around here. When and how did they learn?

What you're asking, not unreasonably, calls for quite a revolution in education. Think of the politics set to boil up over that!

I have learned a foreign language, used it in my work for more than 20 years, retired, and taught it at two universities.

There is no better way to learn a culture than to learn that language. The danger is the teacher. One can teach in order to impart understanding of that foreign culture or one can teach to convert to that foreign culture.

I think Arabic teachers who are muslims would do their damnedest to convert and subvert.

But if one wants to learn, one could be careful to choose a good teacher. I like the Pimsleur Arabic CDs, ten for $40 at Barnes and Noble and they walk you through the ropes, reinforcing at every step.