Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id h7TJvO715913; Fri, 29 Aug 2003 15:57:24 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2003 15:57:24 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <001e01c36e66$be089960$18aab042@lop.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "ttweeton" <ttweeton@comcast.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9326] Re: Accept English Only donation? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1158 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 2095 Lines: 44 Being Bi-lingual Ken is a golden opportunity for those who are able to remain so but this is not the problem. The problem stems from those certain individuals who don't think learning English is that important, if they can get by with not doing so. And many get by with not doing so in Miami. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Todd" <kentodd@UDel.Edu> To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Sent: Friday, August 29, 2003 11:21 AM Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9312] Re: Accept English Only donation? > I would like to know the source of this myth. I have never heard it > before. "myth" understates its distance from historical fact. As I have > commented before on this list, until WWI immigrant communities > throughout the United States freely and happily maintained their > languages in theur schools, their press and their local public affairs. > At that time the grotesque chauvinistic campaigns for mandatory English > and statutorily defined patriotism. Recently I came across another > example. Martin van Buren, 11th president, grew up in a Dutch speaking > household. Now of course, he obviously learned English. But he didn't > have to, and his parents and town were able to sustain the Dutch > traditions, which like those of Spanish speakers in the Southwest, > preceded those of the Anglos who had taken power over them. Somehow the > fact of intrusive government and ramified technologies of administration > does not strike me as a sound reason for reducing the rights and > freedoms once enjoyed by linguistic minorities. > > Joe Little wrote: > > > > > I'd like to see some of us survive in places where no one speaks any > > > languages that we know... not as vacationers, but as immigrants trying > > > to make a living. We'll probably complain why no one knows any English > > > in that backwards country! > > > > Albert & all, > > > > Learning the local language would shoot to the top of the list of "things to do", as-- unless it's a myth-- in olden times. No complaints. It's would be my choice--by hook or crook--to be there. > > > > Joe
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