What tosh! You seem to be equating American culture entirely with Anglo, white American culture. The strength of the US is that it is so much more than that. Monolingualism in any culture is neither desirable nor essential.
But it's you who went to America, America didn't come to you to tell you what to do. That said it's your duty to accept the language and the norms of that society. Don't like it? Good, go back from where you came. If you are a Mexican that has lived a decade in the U.S. and can't say a sentence in English, what American are you? (speaking hypothetically, not you exactly)
As for the "less of American"... I think that if you are bilingual (English + mother tongue) you are less of American.If you have British or Aussie accent, you are less of American and so on and so forth.
No, I'm just saying that "pure" Americans should speak "pure" American English, whether they have black, yellow or white skin.
For example, you would be a bad American since your British English would ruin that.I however would be much worse since English is not mother tongue and I am a poor English speaker too.
A buds grandmother- straight from Poland- can barely say anything in English, no need for her to, her immediate family is bilingual and she lives in 'Little Warsaw' in Chicago. (it is changing these days but back when i was in the Service with my buddy it was and she never HAD to speak English.)
What is it with all this "pure"?
Paul
No, I'm just saying that "pure" Americans should speak "pure" American English, whether they have black, yellow or white skin.
For example, you would be a bad American since your British English would ruin that.I however would be much worse since English is not mother tongue and I am a poor English speaker too.
American I consider one that speaks American English fluently.
English I consider one that speaks English fluently.
Canadian I consider one that speaks Canadian English fluently.
etc.
So, the fact that I am a good mimic and can do a couple of passable American accents means that I could be a more 'pure' American than someone born there, but whose mother-tongue isn't American English and who has a strong, say Mexican accent? You might want to concentrate on something relevant.
I speak Spanish fluently. I am not Spanish.
No, I'm just saying that "pure" Americans should speak "pure" American English, whether they have black, yellow or white skin.
For example, you would be a bad American since your British English would ruin that.I however would be much worse since English is not mother tongue and I am a poor English speaker too.
That wouldn't be a problem, thus your argument is nonsensical.If you can keep that 24/7/365 + abide with the U.S. constitution, you are.
That is not the definition of 'fluent'. Why should you regard one accent as superior to another?And people can't tell Spanish is not your mother tongue?
Again you ain't from around here is ya fella??? :mrgreen:
That wouldn't be a problem...
That is not the definition of 'fluent'. Why should you regard one accent as superior to another?
Because the official (standard) language of a country is always superior to all local dialects. Thus BBC accent is superior to Sheffield accent.
Says you. You have an anus, I have an anus. You have an opinion, I have an opinion. Fortunately, neither your anus nor your opinion is shared by everyone.
So am I. I was born in Sweden. If you're an American Citizen then you're 100% American. You're not less American just because you were born somewhere else.
My friend, the "Volga's German" (his family, ethnic Germans, lived in Russia 200 years), in 1988, decided to immigrate to Germany. Consulate employee where he applied, asked him: "Are you studying German history? Are you know German tradition? Are you singing German songs? Because not enough to be a citizen of Germany, and not even enough to be a German by blood, to be a German."
In your turns out, that any of the Turks living in Sweden and has already the Sweden citizenship- Swede? No it is not. He just Turks living in Sweden. Not yet, imbued with the spirit of the country. Until Sweden will be more important to him then Turkey.
So, the fact that I am a good mimic and can do a couple of passable American accents means that I could be a more 'pure' American than someone born there, but whose mother-tongue isn't American English and who has a strong, say Mexican accent? You might want to concentrate on something relevant.
I am coming to the thread late, but I checked 'melting pot' without any hesitation. Until recent decades, America has always been a country that was a beacon of individual liberty and opportunity to all who came here. Each new immigrant did not come here to be an Irishman or Scot or Italian or Pakistani or Japanese or Chinese or whatever who would live here instead of there. Immigrants came to be Americans and all that entailed. Each brought their culture of origin with them and blended it into the whole, enriching our unique American culture, but not seeking to change it. Immigrants intended to be Americans and expected no particular deference or concessions made to them for the culture they came out of.
As one nation with one culture and one language we are strong and powerful and can accomplish anything. But the more sub groups we divide ourselves into, we become weaker, less cohesive, less of one nation, and diminish opportunity and progress for all.
Like it or not, yes, you are less American. Recent ignorant Republican rhetoric aside, you can't be the Pres if you're not a natural born citizen.
Essentially, the law dictates the basic structure but to some extent you should learn how those in your community treat each if you want to avoid problems. Where I grew up, for example, it was unacceptable (in most cases) to call the cops on your neighbors without first discussing the problem with them. Obviously, violent crimes and major infractions needed immediate police involvement but those were very rare and usually involved people outside the neighborhood.
I wouldn't want to force anyone to believe the same things I do. What a boring world that would be, all of us the same. That said, see above about local customs. You tread on those at your peril.
I didn't say anything at ALL about politics so why you would mention it is beyond me. Politically, you should be able to believe whatever you want without fear of retribution as long as you're not breaking the law.
But it's you who went to America, America didn't come to you to tell you what to do. That said it's your duty to accept the language and the norms of that society.
Don't like it? Good, go back from where you came.
If you are a Mexican that has lived a decade in the U.S. and can't say a sentence in English, what American are you? (speaking hypothetically, not you exactly)
As for the "less of American"... I think that if you are bilingual (English + mother tongue) you are less of American.If you have British or Aussie accent, you are less of American and so on and so forth.
If you want to go against the grain in your neighborhood that's up to you. Don't feel like you're being picked on when you're treated differently because you're being rude, by local standards.I've spent my entire life jumping from culture to culture. I can do it better than anyone I know. I speak several languages, and other cultures interest me greatly. That said, I'm not going to change one single thing about myself to appease anyone. And as I have every legal right as an American Citizen that you do, I'll continue to speak Swedish in public, etc, and be totally justified in doing so.
If you want to go against the grain in your neighborhood that's up to you. Don't feel like you're being picked on when you're treated differently because you're being rude, by local standards.
And I don't care what language you speak in public. If people don't understand what you're saying, that's on you.
Even a cursory glance at history shows how ignorant that (not your) attitude is. America has always had immigrants - literally by the boatload - and most didn't speak English or spoke only pigeon English.I have no problem with that point of view. As long as you aren't saying things like "let's build a fence on the border" or "they shouldn't let people in the country who don't speak English" because people who talk like that are just being ignorant.
Immigrants have profoundly changed American Culture, whether intended or not.
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