I will preface my thoughts on the great intelligence that the general public possesses by saying that I am NOT expressing my views on the immigration issue (or "migration issue" as many of our bright citizens have called it). My thoughts on the immigration issue and requiring English to be spoken by all are so deep, complicated, and filled with "if"s, "but"s, "only"s, and "except for"s, that I couldn't begin to type long enough to express them. The one thing I will express my feelings on today, however, is the irritation it causes me when people who will argue that they shouldn't have to speak CORRECTLY when using English becuase "You unnerstud whut I said, din ya? Then it don't matter none," begin arguing that it is somehow a disrespect to our country or the English language for immigrants (or "them Mexicans" as they are widely known by these people) to speak anything other than English when they are inside the borders of the United States. Case in point --
In a public news conference given by the President of this great country earlier this week, in the one sentence I listened to (because when I hear his voice or see his face, I immediately change the channel since, as a "retired" English teacher, he makes my skin crawl) he used the "word" (I use the term lightly) "hisself" three times. The man, who is the PRESIDENT OF THE FREAKING UNITED STATES, used a word that is NOT A WORD three times IN ONE SENTENCE!!! Now, I know this is not surprising coming from Dubya, but (and I remind you that I am NOT in any way trying to express my opinions on whether or not immigrants should speak, sing, write, or spit in English or their native tongue) this is the man who is arguing that IMMIGRANTS should only be able to sing the National Anthem in English. It makes me wonder, could Dubya, 'hisself', sing the ENTIRE National Anthem in correct English? I mean, do you think he can actually pronounce ALL of those "BIG words"? I doubt it.Now, as if that wasn't bad enough, then I saw THIS GUY during "Headlines" on Leno the other night.
Now, I'm not even talking about the fact that he wants us to boycot MEXICO -- not the Mexicans in our country, but the ACTUAL country of Mexico. I mean, is any of our immigration problem REALLY their fault? I think if someone were angry about the immigration problem, one would be better served to boycott Mexican establishments -- or protest at the White House, but that's not even my problem with his sign!!! (and let's not even get into the fact that so many of the "Mexicans" aren't even FROM Mexico, but other Latin and South American countries.)
My problem lies in the second of his two signs. I don't know that I can even express my frustration with this man and his sign. I think the picture really speaks volumes for itself. If you can't look at that second sign and figure out why I HAD to blog about it, then you probably don't enjoy most of my rants.
I guesss my point here is not to try and impress upon anyone that immigrants should be able to speak whatever language they want OR that they should all have to speak English all of the time. MY point is shouldn't we worry about getting the people in our country who "speak English" to ACTUALLY speak English before we worry about anything else? I mean, the majority of the people who are arguing publically that it's a travesty (though they would NEVER use that word because they've never heard it) for "all them Mexicans" to speak "Mexican" rather than "American" are the ones who say things like "Them Mexicans ain't got no sense if they can't speak American rather than Mexican. I can't understand nothing they say." REALLY!!!!!!!!!
Whooo, I feel MUCH better now. :-)
Love & Shipoopies!
Leslie
