[redwitch]

I'm going to ignore most of what was said but I have to chime in one issue. I loathe the fact that people don't have to speak English here any longer. The first time I came to the United States, I didn't speak a word of English although I was an American citizen. Neither did my mother. We both learned. We had to.

When we traveled overseas, my father pretty much made it the rule that we would speak the language of the country we were in out of respect to the people of that nation. Fortunately for him, he was a true genius when it came to languages. Within three weeks, he could speak the language fluently. My mother always struggled, but she'd try. My brother was okay -- neither good nor bad. I was young enough to pick up the languages rather quickly.

I truly believe we are doing a great disservice to those who come here from other lands and don't speak English. Worse yet, we short-change America. We do them no favors by having English as a second language in school nor by catering to their lack of ability to speak English (well, actually American -- English is another language altogether even though we can understand it).

This country was based on the premise that it is a melting pot and all are welcome. In a melting pot, everything blends together to make a better metal, stew, whatever. By allowing people to stand as a separate entity/nation while living here does no one any good. What a sad state affairs.