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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Attention all Americans






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IMHO the USA does not 'own' the word American

People from Canada to the tip of S. America are 'Americans'

It looks rather pretentious to think we own it!!

what bothers me even more is when you hear--'Speak American!'
 

DTR

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IMHO the USA does not 'own' the word American

People from Canada to the tip of S. America are 'Americans'

It looks rather pretentious to think we own it!!

what bothers me even more is when you hear--'Speak American!'

I personally can't remember hearing anyone ever saying "Speak American" I do however quite often hear "Speak English".
 
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The only time I've ever heard someone say "speak american" was when my 6 or 7 year old cousin asked some peruvian relatives "when is [your child] gonna grow up and speak the universal language, american?" :crackup: Soon after I told him that more people spoke mandarin chinese, and american was not a language :p
 
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I overheard two guys working in a 7-11 speaking Vietnamese here in Houston

so I told them " if you guys are going to live and work here-- then you need to speak our native language....


so learn some Spanish!!!!"

btw if I worked or lived in , say... France, how would I feel if they refused to help me, wait on me or speak to me if I did not know French???

my 2 cents
 
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I look at it this way. If I was to immigrate to Say..Germany I would learn to speak German, and not expect them to Learn English to deal with Me. If You voluntarily move to a country where Your native tongue is not the native language You need to Learn the language spoken there. Remember You are CHOOSING to Live in that country.
 
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Just saw this in an avatar or sig somewhere, but it's apt nontheless..
We_free_the_shit_out_of_you_by_Pencilshade.png


Huzzah!

But it's ma home.. :beer: and I love it.
 
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so is there some pill you take that gives you instant German or English or are you supposed to stay the f*ck out until you are fluent?? its a big wonderful world out there and it does not revolve around "amerika".????


BTW travelers from the US DO expect those in foriegn countries to speak English and they for the most part they try to accomidate us.
 
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:huh: You directing Your comment to Me haKzaw1?

Yea Americans make some of the worlds WORST tourists!
 
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I think it's incredibly rude to go to a country without speaking the local vernacular at least semi-fluently, or having someone with you who can. I would never go to france without a fluent french friend. I would especially never MOVE somewhere without speaking the local popular language. Sorry, don't come to america without speaking english and I won't come to mexico without speaking spanish. At my old school, they got rid of the gifted education program to fund a program for "visitors" who couldn't speak english :rolleyes:
 
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so Will, if you won a free trip to some froiegn country and did not have a freind to translate for you --you just would pass it up? my first few trips down into Mexico were a real learning experience-I ordered octopus soup in a resturant without knowing what it was and the lady that served me allowed me to order the pollo and took away the purple soup no charge!

I have taught myself a working knowledge of latin american spanish- but still have along way to go when it come to understanding everything i hear. You guys do know that at one time NO ONE living in north america spoke english and that we forced native americans to not speak thier native tongue= a fact that I am not very proud of as a north american. having things bi-lingual helps others to learn English- which I assume is what you want. last question-- why all the hate??

if you want more folks speaking english why not volunteer your time to teach it?

thats what I do.
 
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European immigrants forced the natives to speak english because they had a better military, better technology, etc. If the mexicans want to try to annex america or something, they can go ahead and try... However, I'm not saying that you SHOULD try and assume control over another country and change the language, which is why I'm against putting a burden on people by going somewhere you can't communicate. If I won a trip somewhere I couldn't speak the language, I would probably try and give it to someone who could actually communicate with the locals.

I don't want more people speaking english, I just want them staying out of my county if they can't. I have no problem with people speaking a language of their choice, but I'm sort of tired of trying to get fast food in california and having the guy get my order wrong half the time because he can't understand "fries". If you want to speak spanish, live in a Spain or Mexico or something. If you want to speak english, live in the UK or USA or Canada or something.
 
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:huh: You directing Your comment to Me haKzaw1?

Yea Americans make some of the worlds WORST tourists!


i disagree. i think americans make the best tourists.... we tip well, and are courteous when abroad.... but i think americans have the worst tolerance for touristis in our country.

i've been all over europe and have been treated with nothing but open arms. the only place i have been that doesnt really like americans is Spain.


michael
 




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