No English Required

[julianne]

It is fine for people from other counties to fly thier flags and be proud. I know people fly thier confederate flags out of racism and hate, I know that. Not all do though. I don't want it flying in my yard b/c I don't agree with it and they lost the war. i just know it doesn't all stem from hate and I was afraid Julianne though maybe I was racist or something so i got on the defensive.

Nope, I didn't get the feeling that you were racist from your post. I just gave my OPINION on what the confederate flag meant TO ME. I even said "to me", and ended my post with "in my opinion". It's just my opinion, and I don't consider my opinion to be the right one---just the one that belongs to me.

To me, it DOES all stem from hate.....but I don't make that statement with the assumption that I know everything about the subject of the confederate flag, because I don't. I readily admit that my opinion IS based on not having all of the information. I am sorry if you felt I was attacking you, and if my post inferred that, I do apologize. I didn't mean for it to be an attack on you at all.....just was giving my 2cents on what the flag meant to me.

Again, I don't claim to have the right opinion. I have been wrong before......once. Just kidding.....I've been wrong many many times just today!

 

[windovervocalcords]

Nope, I didn't get the feeling that you were racist from your post. I just gave my OPINION on what the confederate flag meant TO ME. I even said "to me", and ended my post with "in my opinion". It's just my opinion, and I don't consider my opinion to be the right one---just the one that belongs to me.

To me, it DOES all stem from hate.....but I don't make that statement with the assumption that I know everything about the subject of the confederate flag, because I don't. I readily admit that my opinion IS based on not having all of the information. I am sorry if you felt I was attacking you, and if my post inferred that, I do apologize. I didn't mean for it to be an attack on you at all.....just was giving my 2cents on what the flag meant to me.

Again, I don't claim to have the right opinion. I have been wrong before......once. Just kidding.....I've been wrong many many times just today!

I love your attitude and your writing. Keep posting LOTS! WS needs you.

 

[2sisters]

Nope, I didn't get the feeling that you were racist from your post. I just gave my OPINION on what the confederate flag meant TO ME. I even said "to me", and ended my post with "in my opinion". It's just my opinion, and I don't consider my opinion to be the right one---just the one that belongs to me.

To me, it DOES all stem from hate.....but I don't make that statement with the assumption that I know everything about the subject of the confederate flag, because I don't. I readily admit that my opinion IS based on not having all of the information. I am sorry if you felt I was attacking you, and if my post inferred that, I do apologize. I didn't mean for it to be an attack on you at all.....just was giving my 2cents on what the flag meant to me.

Again, I don't claim to have the right opinion. I have been wrong before......once. Just kidding.....I've been wrong many many times just today!

It is such a sensitive topic so I did not want to be misunderstood. My apologies to you. I was maybe a little jerky about it.

 

[reb]

i'm still waiting for someone to expain to me what is so insulting and controversial about expecting immigrants to learn the english language... not to mention making an effort to become legal citizens.

 

[BhamMama]

It is fine for people from other counties to fly thier flags and be proud. I know people fly thier confederate flags out of racism and hate, I know that. Not all do though. I don't want it flying in my yard b/c I don't agree with it and they lost the war. i just know it doesn't all stem from hate and I was afraid Julianne though maybe I was racist or something so i got on the defensive.

You are right, some do, most don't. Our families died for what they believed in just like the other side. The ones that I know that fly it fly it for that honor. And I can understand people from other countries wanting to fly their flags. With or without the American flag. I see it this way, and this is my own opinions after reading and study, if I hated one flag, I'd have to hate the other because they both flew over something horrible. I may not understand the politics of a country that they come from, but pride is not a bad thing. It may be seen as arrogance, but it could also be a sign that they don't want to forget where they come from. I totally understand that.

We might not agree with their choices to fly a Mexican flag, but it is part of them. I don't want folks to come here and become a whitewashed version of an American. Retaining culture is important. I really don't even have issues with them speaking their own language in public. I agree they should learn English to have a voice...if they are going to be a part of this country and want to have a say, like voting etc, it's imperitive they learn English.

But to totally forget where they come from? I hope not. That goes for they way they dress, the foods they cook, the ceremonies and festivals they bring. It's exciting and we are better people by learning compassion.

For the ones that just want free money, insurance etc. I dont have to judge them. Not my place. But you can't judge a whole race of people by what a few choose to do.

 

[windovervocalcords]

i'm still waiting for someone to expain to me what is so insulting and controversial about expecting immigrants to learn the english language... not to mention making an effort to become legal citizens.

Geez reb-

talk about a one track mind!

Maybe you've missed it but we're all in agreement that if you can learn the language it is to your benefit to learn english.

Should we kick hispanic elders out because they refuse to learn english?!

How about some kind regard for the elderly?

 

[2sisters]

i'm still waiting for someone to expain to me what is so insulting and controversial about expecting immigrants to learn the english language... not to mention making an effort to become legal citizens.

I am not really sure, I had no idea this thread would get so heated! I don't think it is offensive to expect that. it would certainly make life easier for them.

 

[reb]

no windover, i certainly do not have a "one track mind"-- just trying to being the issue back to the whole basic point of the discussion (... remember...?), after everyone started meandering all over the place talking about confederate flags, speedy gonzalez, who's racist and who's not, etc. all those things are deflecting away from the basic issue at hand.

 

[reb]

elderly hispanics don't usually work at airports. no one's talking about kicking any elderly mexican people (or any other kind) out of the country. we're talking about our pathetic immigration "policy" (or lack thereof)-- and how this relates to the recent ruling at the austin airport.

 

[windovervocalcords]

If that's your personal definition of myth - then perhaps not. But - I just checked the dictionary to be sure - and there's no definition of myth that I see that is an exaggeration. So I'm afraid you're using that word wrong. From http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861632231

details--

I confess to not being "detail oriented". Anyone who knows me would know that lol.

And i am not always "concrete" either. You are probably right about what the real meaning of the word "myth" is. But what I really want to know is "What is the meaning of IS?"

I wouldn't want to meet you in court lol.

I hate court. I'm into philsophical "smooziness" sorry to be so imprecise.

Gets me into major trouble around here.

 

[windovervocalcords]

elderly hispanics don't usually work at airports. no one's talking about kicking any elderly mexican people (or any other kind) out of the country. we're talking about our pathetic immigration "policy" (or lack thereof)-- and how this relates to the recent ruling at the austin airport.

reb

we are talkin about a number of topics here that's why it gets so confusing.

I don't have strong airport security opinions except that I don't wnat to be singled out and picked on at airports. Do you?

 

[2sisters]

reb

we are talkin about a number of topics here that's why it gets so confusing.

I don't have strong airport security opinions except that I don't wnat to be singled out and picked on at airports. Do you?

Oh but that opens another can of worms. Should middle easterns be singled out since the majority of terrorists are middle eastern? I am on the fence there. I guess we should all be singled out to keep it fair.

 

[windovervocalcords]

Oh but that opens another can of worms. Should middle easterns be singled out since the majority of terrorists are middle eastern? I am on the fence there. I guess we should all be singled out to keep it fair.

1. Middle easterns should not be singled out.

2. Neither should anyone else.

3. I do not agree that the majority of terrorists in the world are Muslim.

 

[2sisters]

1. Middle easterns should not be singled out.

2. Neither should anyone else.

3. I do not agree that the majority of terrorists in the world are Muslim.

Thats why I figure we all need to be singled out. Wind, the majority of people who have committed terrorists attacks are muslims. We are on the wrong thread too by the way

 

[2sisters]

Soooo, back to immigrants and the English language. Tell us what you think.

 

[Details]

details--

I confess to not being "detail oriented". Anyone who knows me would know that lol.

And i am not always "concrete" either. You are probably right about what the real meaning of the word "myth" is. But what I really want to know is "What is the meaning of IS?"

I wouldn't want to meet you in court lol.

I hate court. I'm into philsophical "smooziness" sorry to be so imprecise.

Gets me into major trouble around here.

Kinda fits into the topic at hand - if we don't speak the same language, it's hard to communicate.

You know, in our bizarre English language, the question of what the meaning of is is is a real question. I forgot the context, but 'is' can have several meanings, which will change the meaning of a question.

 

[Details]

Oh but that opens another can of worms. Should middle easterns be singled out since the majority of terrorists are middle eastern? I am on the fence there. I guess we should all be singled out to keep it fair.

I'm not in favor of 'fair', I support 'effective' (at least, when the two goals are mutually exclusive). But there are methods that are both. And, some degree of fairness is a significant part of effective. Israelis use 'behavioral profiling' - it's not race or religion specific (good thing, since the terrorists also know we're on the lookout for middle eastern looking people).

 

[reb]

excuse me..........?? the majority of terrorist acts in the world are not carried out by muslims?? well, would you please enlighten us, is there some information the rest of the world does not know?
taking a look at the 22 of the biggest &/or most well-known terrorist acts since 1972 (26 if you count all 4 on 9/11- here are your statistics:

15 were by muslims (19 counting all 4 on 9/11)... and
all carried out by organized and far-reaching groups.
2 were by the IRA.
2 were by american christian nutjobs, acting alone.
1 was by a japanese apocalyptic ex-buddhist freak who
invented his own religion.
1 were by sikhs.
1 is by the US government (nicaragua).

if you look at more comprehensive lists, it becomes clear that although muslims may not have been the worst offenders years ago when people started keeping a record... but more and more recently they are OVERWHELMINGLY responsible for most terrorists acts. and that is a fact that cannot be disputed.

look at the US state dept list near the bottom of this page, and tell me what other group or religion has that many organized groups, who have killed more people...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamist_terrorism

(and yes i know i'm on the 'wrong' thread- we should probably this back over to the other one!)

 

[czechmate7]

Dang, I had to bake Christmas cookies tonight and miss all the fun in here....:doh:

 

[cappuccina]

...fly the Confederate flag...LOL

Yanno, when you people talk about "Middle Easterners", you really need to be more specific...I am an Armenian person; there are also Middle Eastern people from Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Palestine, Israel, some also count Morocco and Libya (in North Africa)...And, as far as Arabic people go, there are Muslim Arabs of various groups ranging from moderate to extreme, there are Chaldeans (Christian Arabs), Coptic Christians from Egypt, Jews, etc. So when you talk about "Middle Eastern" people, who are you talking about...Please be more specific...

As far as the Confederate flag goes...It would be the same as flying the flag of the Third Reich in my opinion...It's not cute, or funny, and while it is historical, I think that many find it offensive...