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People now realize that without unifying factors between new immigrants and residents of this country, we eventually will break up into specific cultural groups that will inevitably vie against one another for power over the direction of our country. We will become balkanized.

Although I have no problem with this ad, THIS is the point people simply refuse to get because they don't WANT to get it.

In a nation with so many differences among the populace--religious, political, ethnic, cultural--there has to be SOMETHING that ties us together on a social level. You simply HAVE to have a common language in order for all of those in the society to be on at least that common level--the ability to talk to each other, to communicate.

This has been perverted so people claim it's some form of cultural hegemony to insist that everyone in the country can be on the same page in terms of communication. In decades past, immigrants WANTED to learn, in fact, they would consider someone trying to STOP them from learning the nation's language someone who wanted to keep them down.

All who have achieved any level of success in this country have one thing and one thing only in common--they were able to communicate to the fellow members of the society.

Anyone--any parent--who resists having a common language is not only an arrogant pr*ck without an operating brain; he or she is actively assisting in the failure of his or her children for the rest of their lives.

I do have to agree with the point about private property. What one does with their private business is fine with me. The specific circumstances affecting the marketing decisions by a business owner are best left to the owner. They know their cliental, and bills aren't going to wait to be paid until social conscienceness is changed.

But as a general point on the debate I believe my words still stand.

Thanks for the posts.

My Grandmother lived here for 70 years and never learned to speak English. She was a wonderful and courageous woman, but she lived her life in a very small circle that included her family and a few friends on the block where we lived. Most of them came from the same small town in Italy.

Her sister, my Zia, learned to speak English very soon after arriving in 1921. She also had the love of her family and friends in the neighborhood, but her life included the larger cultural and commercial world beyond our small community.

Those of us who think that immigrants should assimilate into American culture without losing their unique ethnic heritage should not feel at all defensive about it. Those who shout the loudest about diversity are the ones who are trying to ghettoize new Americans for narrow political reasons.

We'll be rooting for Team Italia this Sunday, but only because Team USA has been eliminated.

In a nation with so many differences among the populace--religious, political, ethnic, cultural--there has to be SOMETHING that ties us together on a social level. You simply HAVE to have a common language in order for all of those in the society to be on at least that common level--the ability to talk to each other, to communicate.

Very good point.

So those of you saying "why can't McDonald's advertise how they want", they can...as long as they do it IN ENGLISH. Americans should know OUR language to live here. And the Non-Americans should NOT be catered to.