[sarasmom]

I live in Florida.I have many friends, born in the USA, who are proud of Cuban ancestry. All but the elders speak fluent English.On some occasions,they will speak Spanish amongst themselves.Out of POLITENESS, they will explain briefly to me in English, the basic gist of the conversation when they know I dont speak Spanish and they are conversing with someone who speaks English as a second language.

Manners! Imagine that!

When I lived in Germany for a while, courtesy of Uncle Sam, I learned a little Deutche.Enough so I would not unintentionally offend the civilians I came in contact with.It was their country, after all.

This country is mine.The language is English.A visitor/tourist is not expected to be fluent in English.It is only polite of them to learn a few phrases, please, thank you, excuse me etc.But in reality, most foreign tourists speak fairly good English.

An actual immigrant is being intentionally offensive in not learning English.I celebrate naive attempts by rude, offensive people to title me "racist". As a native born citizen of the USA,(native as in born here,and part American Indian) it is actually becoming a compliment and a badge of honor!

[wku man]

I, too, spent time in Germany, and learned enough of the language to be semi-conversant. Needless to say, the natives saw me in a totally different light than they did my buddies who could only say "ein bier, bitte". It's amazing how at least making an effort to learn the native language makes people want to help you.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!