I don't know about "right" to "build myths."  Myths kind of even out  
a lot of difficult realities--difficult because people don't wan to  
think about them, study them, know about thm--the realites.   
Jeffferson's slave holding, for example.  How exactly does "myth"  
work here?  Anyone want to work on this one?  Good luck. Geo.  
Washington wanted his slaves freed at his death.

Andrea

On Sep 24, 2008, at 11:41 AM, Steve Kaufmann wrote:


> The original settlers to the US were many things, and had some of  

> the good and the bad that is in all people. They were no more or  

> less tolerant of diversity than the natives, Spanish conquerors of  

> the New World, of blacks of the time. Every state has the right to  

> build a myth of descent and tradition for people to  identify with.  

> The American Revolution and its Constitution remain  epoch changing  

> events in world history, an inspiration  to many around the world,  

> as are many great Americans, like Franklin, Lincoln and others. I  

> say this as a non-American.

>

> Whether teaching civics is going to make immigrants assimilate  

> better is doubtful in my mind. Better language skills will help  

> them do better in their new country, and probably increase their  

> chances of liking the country. Thereafter they will make their own  

> choices.

>

> I think a major step towards literacy and civics could be achieved  

> by setting up a Website with vast resources of sound files and  

> transcripts of ordinary people talking about their lives in  

> English, as well as radio programs,speeches etc. which relate to US  

> history, culture and daily life. This should be available for  

> download and distribution without restriction. Immigrants should be  

> encouraged to use it, to listen on their MP3 files and to improve  

> their English on their own and learn about their new country.

>

> The site could have a community of online mentoring between  

> ordinary Americans and the newcomers. ESL teachers could offer  

> courses on such a website. Newcomers could even teach their own  

> language to Americans on such a community.

>

> This will probably never happen because the only people who would  

> benefit would be the immigrants, and there may not be enough in it  

> for the other "stakeholders."

>

> Steve

>

>

>

> -- 

> Steve Kaufmann

> www.lingq.com

> 1-604-922-8514

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