[lit-ideas] Re: speaking of libraries in the United States of Earth
- From: "Mike Geary" <atlas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2005 13:07:14 -0500
Yost with the Most wrote:
Furthermore, it's not parochialism. You may be comfortable with the
creation of an American slave caste who cannot speak English. I want
everyone to speak English so they are not forced to be slaves.
You know, of course, that I am not comfortable with any kind of class-caste
system, but we certainly do have one, and the vast majority of people who
are locked out of the privileged life are lovely white speakers of
English -- yourself for instance. I could be wrong -- you don't know the
secret handshake of the Skull and Bones, do you? While it's true that not
speaking the language of the dominant culture severely restricts one's
economic opportunities, relagating such to the bottom of the economic
pyramid -- and for that reason I support expenditures for ESL classes in the
public schools and etc. -- still, the fact that one doesn't speak English is
not anyone's business but that of the individual. And how you personally
interact with those people is purely your business. But should a person who
has not learned to speak English -- whether through laziness,
obstreperousness, intellectual incapacity, nostalgia for the homeland,
imprudence, or circumstances beyond the control of the individual -- be
locked out of essential services as a matter of social policy? THAT is
creating a caste system. But I wouldn't worry much. In time we'll all be
speaking Chinese. A wretched, whiny sounding language -- but thank God it
won't be Danish, what a sick cow sound that is!
Mike Geary
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