Fortunately for you, Lucky, most other countries don't require fluency in their language as a precondition to immigration or residency. Yes, it helps to know the language, but don't forget, there were Italian families (and Germans, and Poles, and many, many other countries) that immigrated here at the turn of the 20th centuries that knew and spoke little English until the second generations or so. Now, some of the sixth or seventh generation of these same people want to raise the bar?

Diki....it's NOT about what happened in the past, who spoke English when, what's politically correct, who's Civil Rights are being violated, etc. It's about consideration for other people, as in....if your intention is to settle into a foreign country and that country is kind enough to allow it, then you put your ego aside and do what's best for your adopted land. You learn English! You don't ask the rest of the country to take the time to learn YOUR language (so they can also wear an "internationl" label).

Anyhow, this topic is so far off course now, I even forgot how it started. Enough of this, and May The Force Be With You! I'm going out to waste another few hours at Sam Ash to do the salesman's job and learn how the M3 works.

L

Assuming that you're settling in an English-speaking country, then yes, then you'd better learn English. As long as you embrace the new culture and people, in other words, blend in, you shouldn't have any problem. If, however, you wish to reside in your "old country" in the new country, assimilation will be a very slow process or in many cases, even non-existent.



Once again, you adapt to the country, the country not to you. You adapt to them (locals), they (locals) not to you.

Taike



[This message has been edited by Taike (edited 08-13-2009).]

I simply think it is a different case between when an individual moves to another country, and when a large number from the same community move all at once. Given the latter, integration isn't quite the pressing need, as we have seen at many points in America's history. What is going on now has happened many times before, and somehow, we have not become a multilingual society in any official sense.

But it is curious to see that the same people that think that learning another language would be a good thing (if one moves to another country) seem to be the ones most worried that it might become a necessity here in the good ol' USA... All this admiration for members who are multi-lingual, in truth primarily because they NEED to be (and their education systems recognize the need), but concern that we might have to do this ourselves, one day...

The truth is, there is only one language in the USA... the language of MONEY

Tell that to the American Indians...

Sorry, posted to wrong thread

[This message has been edited by rikkisbears (edited 08-14-2009).]

Nice one ,Rikki
What a breath of fresh air to this thread which seems to have gone off key


------------------
Eddie from Rotherham
Skype:eddiefromrotherham
www.yamahakeyboards.info

PSR9000

Different story, mi kola. Unless you meant something else. The forced cultural assimilation process is a never-healing wound.

I have several close friends that are Native American: Flatfoot (Crow Rez, Billings, Montana), Cherokee (North Carolina), Apache (New Mexico), Lakota, Dakota and Nakota (Pine Ridge and Standing Rock), Comanche (Nez Perce Rez, Idaho) and Cree (Canada).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u3VOZ4n4aM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DonrHJADai0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9mJpL67QUw&feature=related

Taike

Too much schnapps, Rikki?

Whoops,
that was supposed to go to th Ejam.
How EMBARRASING. haahaa

I was wondering where my ejam post went.
best wishes
Rikki

(naa, too much friday bubbly (champagne).

best wishes
Rikki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Taike