To Ynna. Thank you.

Submitted by mariana (United States), Mar 2, 2007 at 22:25

Response to Ynna :

Thank you for your kind remarks and your voice in this discussion. I am sorry you didn't have more time, and hope you'll add more, because I am always excited and energized by hearing from new immigrants who appreciate and enjoy my [our] country, and are willing to become part of it and to bring your own, unique and individual contributions to our society.

My grandparents pounded- America's the best country in the world; Education's the key to success and the most important responsibility of children - into us, and my parents, born in the "neighborhood" [as was I] American born, were totally bilingual and bicultural; their first languages were interchangeably English and Italian....much as my [soon to be 5 yr old] grandson is totally, fluently bilingual in English and Farsi [yes, Farsi! and beginning French ] with a lexicon and articulate command of both languages most of my college students lacked in their native tongue, English.

Selecting Spanish as the "foreign" language to make compulsory, is part of the "pc" anti-American agenda on the part of "educators," jackanapes, "pointy headed intellectuals" and those who advocate illegal immigration and amnesty, "Azlan," and the "Reconquista." I can't stress this too much, because there has been an active, concerted effort and dedicated movement since the late 60's, which has had a great deal of financial backing and support from the Ford and other foundations, and "ethnic" grants from the US government [our Tax money at work]. [in addition to our D.Pipes, read Victor Davis Hanson, David Horowitz, Gigi Geyer {her immigration book}].

This campaign is bearing fruit considerably beyond their own wildest expectations, I'm certain. These people so reflexively and maniacally "Hate America First," that they are unwilling or unable to think long enough to project the ultimate and inescapable outcome of their handiwork. Do we need to become a Canada [remember "Viva Quebec Libre?"]? France [where over 10,000 cars have been torched, with neighborhoods where Sharia -not Fr. law- is practiced and Gendarmes refuse to go], "Londonistan" [where their Muslim "Bobbies" can decide what jobs they will or will not do]? Netherlands? Bosnia? Tower of Babel?

Now, the reflexive response of these creatures, will be to deliberately insinuate that I'm against speaking and learning foreign languages which is, of course, absurd. I studied 4 [can read 3], and my daughter is fluent in at least 6, her husband has at least 4, so that's not an issue. The issue is this: The only way to truly succeed in this or any other country, is to have a reasonably fluent command of the English [country's] language. Here, one must be able to read and write English well enough to be able to understand and make yourself understood; to continue to improve to increase your working vocabulary, and understanding of nuances and idiomatic expressions, thereby facilitating your climb up the "ladder of success," to lead a more fulfilling life in this country. If there is anything to be learned from "Old Europe," with its dying cultures and "...istans," it is that tolerating and permitting areas or districts in their cities and countries to become totally alien soil - isolated and insulated from the country at large, breeds murder, mayhem, ignorance, anger, hatred, subversion and insurrection.

This is not what happened in America when we talk about our "Melting Pot." America always had ethnic neighborhoods, particularly useful for those just entering the country. These neighborhoods often included people from the same villages, families, and background and therefore were/are wonderful resources and fonts of knowledge [to outsiders] presenting exposure to another culture [especially and most easily the foods] and language. In the late 19th through the Mid 20th Century, it was required that immigrants have someone sponsor them and guarantee that they would absolutely not become a burden to society. "Sponsors" were required to prove they were financially able to be responsible for 10 years, or until the immigrant got on his feet. No Welfare programs, SSI, Medicaid, "stipends," rent subsidies, or any such thing existed, and had they, immigrants would not be eligible. Ethnic neighborhoods were places where new immigrants could function within a somewhat familiar and sheltered area, find the foods and other products they were used to, while learning English and the American Way, among people who understood their language and needs and could help them learn.

The sooner they were able to "go out" into the city at large on their own, the sooner they could find higher paying jobs, increase standard of living and gain independence. While there were Italian, Jewish, Irish, German, Puerto Rican, etc neighborhoods in NY when I was in public school there, all instruction was done in English in elementary and Jr High schools, as well as High Schools [where foreign languages were introduced]. Teaching foreign languages in those Elem & Jr. Highs these days is, of course, a wonderful improvement, and methods for teaching foreign languages vastly improved. NY State Regents Exams in H.S. assured that graduating students were literate and competent in the subject matter; T&F and multiple choice questions were minimal, so students had to comprehend what they read to write out answers in grammatical and syntactically correct English. Many immigrants then [and now] were totally illiterate...speaking only regional dialects, unable to read or write at all in any language, and not even speaking their native country's language in a manner intelligible to the majority of their former countrymen. Italian immigrant kids in my elem. school classes, who spoke no Eng. were immersed and, with the help of [all non Italian speaking teachers] and their classmates, became sufficiently fluent within 6 months to be able to function and learn more easily. A dear friend and mentor of mine, who taught ESL in Rome to Italian teachers after WWII [so they could go out and teach Italian youth English], and who later, largely wrote the English as a Second Lang. curriculum for the US State Dept. for the large # of immigrating Cuban refugees in 1960, used immersion and had them on their feet, and out on the job market within 6 months. No one need tell you how successful Cubans immigrants have been in this country. They never had to suffer "pc" "bilingual/bicultural" classes, which would have held them back and kept them from [ever] learning either English or Spanish properly, as California students have done since the late 60's. "Spanglaise" doesn't get you that great, high paying job.

Ye Gads, this is way beyond what I had intended; this subject obviously "pushes my buttons" and "rings my chimes." But it's so offensive that we're letting people come here [most illegally] who hate us, hate our way of life, refuse to learn our language, refuse to accept the concepts of religious freedom and tolerance of others, and demand we conform [submit] to the garbage and practices that caused the conditions they had to escape in their own backward countries. It could be so simple. We knew how to do all this stuff, and did it well for over 200 years. Americans in those days, were smart enough to laugh at and hoot down these destructive fools. I mourn the loss of the America which was filled with Americans who truly understood and loved this country and the liberty it affords us; had no patience with seditious fools; had self-respect and self-confidence, and understood the goodness and greatness of our country. People had a lot less material "stuff" [and even food and necessities] in those days, but, they felt a lot happier and more fulfilled. ma

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