Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Your beating a dead Horse EE. Cubans have taken over Miami, and are turning it into the country that they fled from. Anybody that lives there knows that. Just like the immigrants that are invading Europe right now, and taking thousands of years of culture, and attempting to wash it out, and replace it with their own. If you speak out against such nonsense you are labeled a racist, and a bigot. That's the reason you have tiptoed around what you would really like to say. For me I have long since stopped worrying about offending anybody when it comes to my beliefs, and principles.<<< But the thing is...I'm not a racist. I'm not a bigot. I have no problems with cultural differences. I just have a issue with the lack of respect to history and THAT culture surrounding it. So...what does that make me? Heh.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>So you think this is a great place now?<<< that joke was just for you, Pierce. I, of course, was kidding. Though, as you know, I am not a fan of Palin. (Let's not get into that...I have REAL homework tonight...Heheh)
Originally Posted By MPierce >> EE - FWIW, I am trying to get you to consider some alternatives, that's all. Sadly, you live in a place that does not have a lot of free programmes to better help immigrants learn English and assimilate. I used to think like you do, then I emigrated. You might think going from the US to the UK would be easy with a common language and all that. It isn't. It is even harder when there is a new language to learn. Thankfully I like learning new languages. << No offense Dave, but I don't think you are familar with the programs around here. Well let me tell you about them. Anybody that wants to learn English can attend night classes at different HISD schools here free of charge. There are also several different civic clubs as well that offer coarses in English. All schools are bi-legal.If that's not enough you can call the local Government, and they will assist you with getting signed up for a program. Just touch 2 on your phone, and everything is in Spanish. My old High School lost it's accreditation because of the drop out rate the low literacy rate, and the lowest TAKS scores in the city. English was the secondary language there. It was finally closed in 2008. It was a very old school, established in the 19th Century. LBJ even taught there at one time. Just go to Google, and key in Sam Houston High School Houston Texas. If you want to learn English, you most certainly can here, but why learn it when we are willing to cater to your every need. No need in becoming a functioning member of our society, and culture.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>If you want to learn English, you most certainly can here, but why learn it when we are willing to cater to your every need. No need in becoming a functioning member of our society, and culture.<<< We are the only country that does that in this way, I might add.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I love the fact that when I went to have my BP taken, there were 7 other languages being spoken in the waiting room. I thought it was awesome and would like to see more of a globalist approach. << If I want to here 7 languages spoken I'll go visit the World Showcase.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> It doesn't need balance, it needs to be rid of people demanding assimilation. << Why, aren't they entitled to their own opinion. Didn't every generation in the past that immigrated into America learn English, and assimalated into the culture? Would you get a new job at a businesas then tell the boss we are going to run things like we did at the place I just left? Should the Cubans in Miami have their own Constitution, and their own laws to live by? Are the Cubans or Americans?
Originally Posted By leobloom >> I just have a issue with the lack of respect to history and THAT culture surrounding it. << Then that means you should have a problem with the vast majority of PEOPLE living in the US, not just immigrants.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> hate to get all "revisionist", but when you say that other areas of the county do a good job of honoring the past, do you mean that western states do a good job honoring the displacement of Native Americans? Or do you mean that other areas subscribe to the official American mythology about the Founding Fathers and "liberty" (what's that even mean today?) and George Washington and the like? << Gosh, which mythology are you refering to Leo?
Originally Posted By MPierce >>>It's a different world and a different time. The planet has been globalized. The illusion of independent nations, patriotism, etc. is just that--an illusion.<<< >> I don't believe that. << Good for you EE. That is the myth that some amoung us would try to have you believe.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> If I want to here 7 languages spoken I'll go visit the World Showcase. << That's the best approach: flight from reality.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> don't want to distance myself from my culture either- but American first- heritage second- that's why my ancestors came here. << Bravo. It's called being an American!
Originally Posted By leobloom >> Are the Cubans or Americans? << Didn't realize it's either/or. >> Gosh, which mythology are you refering to Leo? << Oh, for starters, the American Exceptionalism myth, the "liberty and justice for all" myth, etc etc.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> Why consider this a temporary home if Castro and Communism hasn't left the isle yet? Even if Castro were to leave, and they were free to go, I wonder how many would leave...After all, they have been successful here, and have done quiet well. << No question most of the Cuban population in Miami wouldn't leave even if they could return to Cuba. But in the 1960s, I think it was certainly considered a possibility. Bay of Pigs, right?
Originally Posted By MPierce >>> I frankly have no problem with people choosing not to honor that mythology, especially since it's been distorted in recent times (Glenn Beck comes immediately to mind.) <<< I missed that first time around. Here we go again. Name one thing that you heard Glenn Beck say that was a lie. Believe me when I say I will investigate it, send e-mails out about it, and write letters of inquirty. I've watched that show at least a dozen times thanks to Spirit, and not once have I heard him say one false thing about History. His program may be dull, and boring to me, but I've never heard him make anything up on it. So what was his revisionist remark?q
Originally Posted By MPierce >> That's wrong, then, that's the problem! Why consider this a temporary home if Castro and Communism hasn't left the isle yet? Even if Castro were to leave, and they were free to go, I wonder how many would leave...After all, they have been successful here, and have done quiet well. Most of the original immigrants have their families, their businesses, their lives. However, they still don't consider this home. That's another issue... Can't they give the courtesy of respect to the country that has given them the opportunity to be so successful? << The Cubans aren't leaving Florida. Even if communist rule in Cuba suddenly became democratic.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> But the thing is...I'm not a racist. I'm not a bigot. I have no problems with cultural differences. I just have a issue with the lack of respect to history and THAT culture surrounding it. So...what does that make me? Heh. << Yes I know that, and you know that. That does not matter. You will still be labeled a bigot, and a racist. That is how the people that have a different opinion than you do work.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Though, as you know, I am not a fan of Palin. (Let's not get into that...I have REAL homework tonight...Heheh) << Would she make a good President? Not at this time in my opinion. However she does have principles, and values that are lacking in both political parties at this time. She will be a political player in the future,
Originally Posted By MPierce >> That's the best approach: flight from reality. << I tried reality my whiole life. It lead me through a war, much suffering, much pain, and much heartache. The Worldshowcase is a much nicer place to be if you can afford it.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Didn't realize it's either/or. << Yes it is Leo. You are either an American od Cuban ancestory or you are a Cuban residing in a foreign country. >> Oh, for starters, the American Exceptionalism myth, the "liberty and justice for all" myth, etc etc. << Come on Leo. You're not going to bring up that poor little old me thing because you are an immigrant from Cuba, and you don't get treated fairly. Nobody ever said this Country is perfect, and it never will be. Have there been injustices in the past, sure there have been. But I'll tell you one thing. This country tries very hard to right those injustices. You are free to achieve or fail at what ever you chose to be or do here in the States. That is why so many immigrants come here to begin with. Go to a swearing in ceremony sometime, and ask them.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> No question most of the Cuban population in Miami wouldn't leave even if they could return to Cuba. But in the 1960s, I think it was certainly considered a possibility. Bay of Pigs, right? << The immigrants back then were Cuban patriots. A different breed apart from what Miami has become. Thank Mr Kennedy for the Bay of Pigs. Yes American Presidents have been know to do terrible things like that.
