European countries often require students to learn another language 
and I do not see that as an infringement on our freedom but an 
enrichment. German students are required to take English. The 
Majority takes English in 5th grade and anyone who did not take 
English in 5th is required to do so in 7th grade.

Learning another language is not only about learning words in another 
language but it is also about learning about another culture, another 
way of thinking and anyone benefits by broadening their horizons. 
There is a world outside the U.S. or North America and not everyone 
speaks and thinks English nor is everything better or the best in 
North America or Western Culture even.

This said, I wwould never want to live in a country whose language I 
do not speak nor even spend vacation there if I did not at least knew 
the rudiments of the language.

I am fluent in English and German, know some French and am currently 
learning Spanish and had five years of Latin bak in school. Learning 
languages is not dangerous or impossible to do or detrimental to 
one's physical or mental wellbeing but can be a fun and enriching 
experience and it grows easier the more languages one tackles.

Maybe if non-English speaking countries and people were not intersted 
in learning English, some English spekers might change their minds 
about learning foreign languages.  to me it is politeness and interst 
in the other on both sides that should encourage both host and guest 
to learn each other's language.

Cheers,

Doris

At 01:24 AM 5/31/2008 -0400, you wrote:
>Why is this.  Wouldn't it behoove them to learn?  It is a free 
>country and one is free to learn or not to learn what one wishes.  I 
>was just saying I thought it might behoove us to embrace the 
>language.  It is a most beautiful language, and would open more 
>avenues of employment for anyone, particularly for us blind.  French 
>is also a beautiful language and those who speak that language also 
>have an advantage if they live in Canada.  It is a fine thing for 
>others to embrace our language and our customes, but, an even finer 
>thing for us to reach out to strangers in their own tongue.  I think 
>it is much more welcoming and loving.  Particularly as we aren't 
>obliged to do this, and usually do it out of the warmth of our own hearts.
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 10:49 PM
>Subject: Re: It's Time To Learn Spanish
>
>
>>Angel,
>>
>>This is still a free country.  I don't want to learn Spanish, nor am I
>>required to do so.  I have to Mexican grandchildren, too.  They don't speak
>>Spanish either.
>>
>>Phil.
>>
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Angel238" <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 8:40 PM
>>Subject: Re: It's Time To Learn Spanish
>>
>>
>>>Most people in Africa and in European countries know multiple languages.
>>It
>>>wouldn't hurt us to learn.  It would improve us considerably I think.
>>>Knowing Spanish gives you a greater variety to watch on cable, because you
>>>can watch the soaps originating from Spain.  It would also give the blind
>>a
>>>better chance at employment as employers are always looking for someone
>>>fluent in that language.  They are even more adamant about finding those
>>who
>>>can write the language well.  It is rare to find someone who can write a
>>>decent business letter in Spanish.
>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "JULIE MELTON" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 6:40 PM
>>>Subject: Re: It's Time To Learn Spanish
>>>
>>>
>>> > If we were to go to any other country to live, learning the language
>>would
>>> > be a given.  That's not so in the good old US of a, though.
>>> >
>>> > -----Original Message-----
>>> > From: Phil Scovell <[log in to unmask]>
>>> > Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 1:01 PM
>>> > To: [log in to unmask]
>>> > Subject: It's Time To Learn Spanish
>>> >
>>> > We attended, as a family, my oldest grandson's sixth grade > 
>>> commencement.
>>> > The first lady spoke, in English, for about 10 to 12 minutes.  Then
>>> > everything she said, was repeated in Spanish.  By the time it was over,
>>I
>>> > would say at least 70 percent of the program were done in Spanish and
>>with
>>> > no English interpretation.  This is America after all so it is a given
>>> > that
>>> > we should all speak Spanish.  I'm sorry.  My two years of high school
>>> > Spanish just wasn't quite enough to interpret for others nor 
>>> for > myself,
>>> > for
>>> > that matter.  Did you know that the new Mexican trucking transportation
>>> > law,
>>> > which allows below the boarder trucks to roll across the boarder into
>>all
>>> > parts of the United States, and without being checked, has a fool proof
>>> > plan
>>> > to test all Mexican drivers to insure they can read English road signs?
>>> > Yep, they sure do.  The Mexican drivers are shown English signs but the
>>> > Mexican drivers are allowed to answer the question of the 
>>> sign's > nature,
>>> > in
>>> > Spanish.  Works for me.  I've been thinking of heading south 
>>> and > getting
>>a
>>> > truckers job from below the boarder.  I can read that much English into
>>> > Spanish.
>>> >
>>> > Phil.
>>> >



"Pray, pray, pray!" - Pray without ceasing. (1 Th 5:17)