Mom Upset Over Son's Assignment to Recite Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish

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jm838

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And I believe the Founding Fathers had it right the first time, when they explicitly left out anything that declared English as our national language. To sum it up rather nicely, Thomas Jefferson said, "“The government that governs least governs best.” Why on earth would you want one more thing that the government gets to tell you what or how to do?

I wouldn't, and you have an entirely valid point. I just think everything works better when you stick to one "official" language. It's really low on my priority list, so I guess I haven't given it much thought, but that's my gut reaction. Since we all know how dangerous gut reactions can be, I'll try to think on it a little and flesh out a more developed opinion. Really though, it doesn't matter what our government says. Whatever the most predominant language is, that will be the language of our country, and I don't see that changing from English any time soon. But, once again, it's not really the central issue here. The point I was trying to make was that, regardless of personal opinions on languages, we should all be able to agree that the intent here was not to make a political statement, and the assignment in question was completely harmless.
 

nofearfactor

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Im a quarter blood American indian,as well as French-Scottish-Irish. I remember my nearly full blood Osage-Kaw indian grandfather speaking some indian with relatives when I was little,but they were also mixing it with English. My grandfathers parents his mother was full blood indian and his father was half indian and half French. So he knew how to speak English, native American, and French. He then learned better English when he went to the school for indian children at Chilocco. His parents spoke English,indian and French when he grew up,and he had other relatives who spoke French,indian,and English. Today alot of my friends and relatives my generation are learning to speak our tribes language thru classes put on by our tribe so it doesnt get lost. When I get the time I plan on taking some classes and learning some more. My half blood indian mother knows it and is taking classes to refresh herself. She also goes to France every other year to visit French relatives she has tracked down,she speaks French fairly well,and our close relatives in Louisianna speak a mix of French,English= Cajun. So,in my ancestry,English was not the dominant language,but it came to be as the country and my people grew with it,on both sides of my family.

I was born in California in the United States. My parents spoke English so I learned English growing up as a toddler,then spoke it in school as it was taught there,but also spoke some Spanish because so many kids spoke English and Spanish in our neighborhood and in school. In the neighborhood I lived in in the San Diego area English and Spanish was mixed together,Spanglish?. Mexico was just a few miles from us.

With that said,I have no problem with my kids learning another language or even given an assignment in another language. English is what I speak fluently,even though I know some of the more common Spanish in spite of taking 2 years of HS Spanish and a year of French in college. I really cant remember half of either of it. But IMO its educational for them to know another language,especially a language that is spoken in this country by a large population, whether some people want to deny the truth,thats their business,we are a multi lingual society here even though I do agree that English is the main and 'official' language of our state and country,as well it should be.

English settlers brought their language here and introduced it to our young country,and now for many centuries it has been widely spoken in this country,along with many other languages. People have died in wars supporting this 'new' country,its flag,and its new 'official' language. My father and his father,Scottish-Irish descendants, were Marines who fought in wars for this country. But there are still to this day many other languages spoken in America besides English. Spanish being spoken though is a hot topic right now because people are so sensitive with the illegal immigration issue right now,so anything Spanish speaking is going to be a hot topic to some.

I was watching the program on KOED the other night with the travelor dude,he was in Amsterdam. Ive been there a few times and was interested in the program. The guy who is the travelor/narrator was asking his guide how she learned such good English. She said that in school there they HAD to learn Dutch,German, and English. It was required.

So I was sitting there wondering about all of the countries in the world that probably have their kids learn English in school so that they can understand it when they are either in America or in speaking to an American that they may come in contact with some where in their country or in the world some where. It may be our 'official' language,but apparently it also is a dominant language in the rest of the world. I wonder if some German mother some where gets upset if her kid has to learn our POA in English in English class for an assignment in their school in Germany? Or a Mexican kid learning it in English class in Mexico?

To each their own I say. Every one has their own reasons for everything they do. No right or wrong when it comes to what you believe in and what you will stand up for.
 

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