ugh

Whitey · 07-09-2008, 03:25 PM

blech.

Trooper · 07-09-2008, 03:33 PM

What he's doing there is getting imigrants to like him without upsetting the patriots...

...like a fox...

Shaun · 07-09-2008, 04:49 PM

incidentally that's a really good way to look at it

Andres · 07-09-2008, 04:57 PM

i'm a little confused as to what's bad about this.

Whitey · 07-09-2008, 05:06 PM

The fact that he really thinks that all immigrants are learning English and that WE'RE the problem when it comes to the language barrier and not them. Living in New York for the past 4 years has shown me that no, not all of these immigrants are learning English. I've had my sandwiches at Subway screwed up countless times, so I'm keen to the problem. It's not my problem that the dude at Subway isn't qualified to do his job because he can't speak the American language, it's his problem. So I'm going to Quizno's.

Raz · 07-09-2008, 05:07 PM

we can't have children in america, an english speaking country, learning other languages!

Shaun · 07-09-2008, 05:08 PM

... notice how he ended his serious point with a little joke. That's how you win an election.

Raz · 07-09-2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whitey

The fact that he really thinks that all immigrants are learning English and that WE'RE the problem when it comes to the language barrier and not them. Living in New York for the past 4 years has shown me that no, not all of these immigrants are learning English. I've had my sandwiches at Subway screwed up countless times, so I'm keen to the problem. It's not my problem that the dude at Subway isn't qualified to do his job because he can't speak the American language, it's his problem. So I'm going to Quizno's.

Dude, you completely missed the point of what he said. He actually said

Quote:

Originally Posted by obama

I agree that immigrants should learn English

but you seem to have completely ignored that and chosen to get offended by the suggestion that american children should embrace other cultures.

Because really, he didn't say "the problem is US not knowing THEIR language!!" despite whatever hyperbole fantasy people like to rile themselves up with. Honestly, you seem to have ignored what he actually said and starting pissing and moaning about what you think he said. I think the point that Obama was trying to make was there are a lot of Americans who go to other countries and expect everyone else to speak English (the english do this too) and a lot of foreigners percieve that as arrogant.

He's saying "Hey, I agree the immigrants should learn English, but also, I think it'll be cool if we got our kids interested in learning another language too".

And really, there's nothing wrong with that. Honestly, what the hell. It's a fucking sandwich. I've had my sandwich fucked up by people are are english too and are just dumb.

Andres · 07-09-2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whitey

The fact that he really thinks that all immigrants are learning English and that WE'RE the problem when it comes to the language barrier and not them. Living in New York for the past 4 years has shown me that no, not all of these immigrants are learning English. I've had my sandwiches at Subway screwed up countless times, so I'm keen to the problem. It's not my problem that the dude at Subway isn't qualified to do his job because he can't speak the American language, it's his problem. So I'm going to Quizno's.

I'm so sorry your sandwich was screwed up. Send me an email and I'll give you the phone and address to my psychiatrist, he'll counsel you for all the trauma you suffered.

Shaun · 07-09-2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andres

my psychiatrist

Do you really have one? I'd love to sit in for a session... can I?

Tuna Hematoma · 07-09-2008, 05:51 PM

haha... yeah... there's not a problem with this at all.

Breed · 07-09-2008, 06:20 PM

I'd play Nintendo Wii with Obama ANYTIME.

Compcat · 07-09-2008, 06:58 PM

I agree we should learn other languages, but it should not be for accommodating immigrants. You guys seem sure that wasn't what he was trying to say, but really those are two largely seperate issues and for them to be put together so closely suggests that he might believe that at least a little bit.

Andres · 07-09-2008, 07:01 PM

It's not to accommodate immigrants, it's to properly live in a country where people speak other languages and there are non-english speaking groups.

Raz · 07-09-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compcat

stuff

That's what I just said to *unknown member*. It's just a bit of poor planning on his behalf throwing those two things together because there will always be a bunch of people who'll make a meal of it. We've all seen what he said and I really don't see what the big deal is unless you're looking for something to moan about. But that's what happens when people don't want to listen to the words, choosing instead to draw their own conclusions.

Space Goat · 07-09-2008, 11:20 PM

I have a meeting on Friday with one of my counterparts in Japan who doesn't speak english very well. I've met with him before, and it's awkward seeing him trying his best to speak my language, and me making no such attempt to speak his. This is what Obama is getting at.

NearHi · 07-10-2008, 12:01 AM

I live in Arizona so I properly have more saturation than you do in New York and opther places with the exclusion of Teax, New Mexico and So-Cal, and in grade 7 I started taking spanish classes because I thought to myself "Why not? It will help me in the area I live in." Granted, I still think it's pitiful that ANY immigrant would not at least strive to learn the language of his or her new nation. I actualy get mad when immigrants do stupd crap like petition to have the Star Spangled Banner and the pledge translated to spanish and hung as banners and whatever.
On the other hand, I think it should be easier for immigrants to get in so that they don't have to border hop, this way, hopefully, they will go enroll in some classes and actually start learining the language.

Slime · 07-10-2008, 01:49 AM

I don't see anything wrong with the video in OP. Not nearly enough of us Americans are bilingual.

Bowman · 07-10-2008, 02:13 AM

That reminds me of this somewhat douchebaggy article.

Slime · 11:57 PM

I stopped reading when he says that we have the verb "to get" which is something that other languages are clearly missing out on...

maybe the article comes full-circle and turns out to be a big joke, I don't know, but... that is no fucking reason to be comfortable with being bilingual.

edit: with NOT being bilingual

Zaquis · 07-10-2008, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Space Goat

I have a meeting on Friday with one of my counterparts in Japan who doesn't speak english very well. I've met with him before, and it's awkward seeing him trying his best to speak my language, and me making no such attempt to speak his. This is what Obama is getting at.

just throw vowels at the ends of words

YOU DRIVA NASCAROOOOOOO RACECAHHHHHHHH

Bobby Swisha · 07-10-2008, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whitey

The fact that he really thinks that all immigrants are learning English and that WE'RE the problem when it comes to the language barrier and not them. Living in New York for the past 4 years has shown me that no, not all of these immigrants are learning English. I've had my sandwiches at Subway screwed up countless times, so I'm keen to the problem. It's not my problem that the dude at Subway isn't qualified to do his job because he can't speak the American language, it's his problem. So I'm going to Quizno's.

I can guarentee you that almost all of them are trying to learn English. Why the fuck not? It's the only thing that's going to help them get a job that isn't shitty in this country. Most of the people you met who "don't speak english" are probably either struggling with it or they're too old to easily learn a new language.

Bobby Swisha · 07-10-2008, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Space Goat

I have a meeting on Friday with one of my counterparts in Japan who doesn't speak english very well. I've met with him before, and it's awkward seeing him trying his best to speak my language, and me making no such attempt to speak his. This is what Obama is getting at.

why don't you guys just like, draw pictures to each other of what you're trying to say?

Whitey · 07-10-2008, 03:03 AM

"Now, I agree that immigrants should learn English. I agree with that. But, but, understand this. Instead of worrying about whether, uh, immigrants can learn English -- they'll learn English -- you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish."

My problem with it is that he's basically saying "The immigrants are learning English, that's not a problem." But too many of them aren't making much of an effort to learn. There's nothing wrong with being a bilingual American to bridge that gap, it's a helpful skill obviously. But if you're an immigrant living in an English-speaking country, you should learn the damn language.

Obama's saying "Hey, when Americans go overseas and can't speak French or German, that's embarrassing." YES, SURE THING OBAMA. So it's worse when immigrants WHO LIVE IN IN AMERICA don't bother to learn English.

My issue is not with Americans learning Spanish or whatever, that's fine. My issue is with the notion that all these immigrants are learning English and us backwards hick Americans aren't cultured enough to be bilingual. It's not true.

Whitey · 07-10-2008, 03:12 AM

In other news...

07-09-2008, 03:25 PM	#1
Whitey Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,536	ugh blech.
Whitey Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,536

07-09-2008, 03:33 PM	#2
Trooper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 7,441	What he's doing there is getting imigrants to like him without upsetting the patriots... ...like a fox...
Trooper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 7,441

07-09-2008, 04:49 PM	#3
Shaun Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 17,881	incidentally that's a really good way to look at it
Shaun Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 17,881

07-09-2008, 04:57 PM	#4
Andres Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 17,797	i'm a little confused as to what's bad about this.
Andres Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 17,797

07-09-2008, 05:06 PM	#5
Whitey Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,536	The fact that he really thinks that all immigrants are learning English and that WE'RE the problem when it comes to the language barrier and not them. Living in New York for the past 4 years has shown me that no, not all of these immigrants are learning English. I've had my sandwiches at Subway screwed up countless times, so I'm keen to the problem. It's not my problem that the dude at Subway isn't qualified to do his job because he can't speak the American language, it's his problem. So I'm going to Quizno's.
Whitey Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,536

07-09-2008, 05:07 PM	#6
Raz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 10,485	we can't have children in america, an english speaking country, learning other languages!
Raz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 10,485

07-09-2008, 05:08 PM	#7
Shaun Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 17,881	... notice how he ended his serious point with a little joke. That's how you win an election.
Shaun Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 17,881

07-09-2008, 05:51 PM	#11
Tuna Hematoma Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 10,055	haha... yeah... there's not a problem with this at all.

07-09-2008, 06:20 PM	#12
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768	I'd play Nintendo Wii with Obama ANYTIME.
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768

07-09-2008, 06:58 PM	#13
Compcat Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 8,810	I agree we should learn other languages, but it should not be for accommodating immigrants. You guys seem sure that wasn't what he was trying to say, but really those are two largely seperate issues and for them to be put together so closely suggests that he might believe that at least a little bit.
Compcat Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 8,810

07-09-2008, 07:01 PM	#14
Andres Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 17,797	It's not to accommodate immigrants, it's to properly live in a country where people speak other languages and there are non-english speaking groups.
Andres Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 17,797

07-09-2008, 11:20 PM	#16
Space Goat Administrator Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 6,042	I have a meeting on Friday with one of my counterparts in Japan who doesn't speak english very well. I've met with him before, and it's awkward seeing him trying his best to speak my language, and me making no such attempt to speak his. This is what Obama is getting at.

07-10-2008, 12:01 AM	#17
NearHi Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,483	I live in Arizona so I properly have more saturation than you do in New York and opther places with the exclusion of Teax, New Mexico and So-Cal, and in grade 7 I started taking spanish classes because I thought to myself "Why not? It will help me in the area I live in." Granted, I still think it's pitiful that ANY immigrant would not at least strive to learn the language of his or her new nation. I actualy get mad when immigrants do stupd crap like petition to have the Star Spangled Banner and the pledge translated to spanish and hung as banners and whatever. On the other hand, I think it should be easier for immigrants to get in so that they don't have to border hop, this way, hopefully, they will go enroll in some classes and actually start learining the language.
NearHi Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,483

07-10-2008, 01:49 AM	#18
Slime Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 24,891	I don't see anything wrong with the video in OP. Not nearly enough of us Americans are bilingual.
Slime Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 24,891

07-10-2008, 02:13 AM	#19
Bowman Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 613	That reminds me of this somewhat douchebaggy article.
Bowman Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 613

07-10-2008, 02:42 AM	#20
Slime Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 24,891	I stopped reading when he says that we have the verb "to get" which is something that other languages are clearly missing out on... maybe the article comes full-circle and turns out to be a big joke, I don't know, but... that is no fucking reason to be comfortable with being bilingual. edit: with NOT being bilingual
Slime Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 24,891	Last edited by Slime : 07-11-2008 at 11:57 PM.

07-10-2008, 03:03 AM	#24
Whitey Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,536	"Now, I agree that immigrants should learn English. I agree with that. But, but, understand this. Instead of worrying about whether, uh, immigrants can learn English -- they'll learn English -- you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish." My problem with it is that he's basically saying "The immigrants are learning English, that's not a problem." But too many of them aren't making much of an effort to learn. There's nothing wrong with being a bilingual American to bridge that gap, it's a helpful skill obviously. But if you're an immigrant living in an English-speaking country, you should learn the damn language. Obama's saying "Hey, when Americans go overseas and can't speak French or German, that's embarrassing." YES, SURE THING OBAMA. So it's worse when immigrants WHO LIVE IN IN AMERICA don't bother to learn English. My issue is not with Americans learning Spanish or whatever, that's fine. My issue is with the notion that all these immigrants are learning English and us backwards hick Americans aren't cultured enough to be bilingual. It's not true.
Whitey Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,536

07-10-2008, 03:12 AM	#25
Whitey Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,536	In other news...
Whitey Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,536