Why Must Everything Be In Spanish, Too? English Edition

This is the English translation of last week's post which was in Italian.

Why do Spanish speakers get preferential treatment among immigrants?

Throughout our rich history, immigrants of many different nationalities, cultures and languages came to our shores seeking the American dream.  For most of our history, these immigrants knew that learning English was one of the ways to access the American dream.  Immigrants that spoke German, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, and in the past, even Spanish worked hard to learn English and become masters at it.  Generally speaking, the next generation were raised using, and becoming proficient at, English.  This helped assimilate immigrants into the melting pot of America, strengthening both the nation as a whole, and the immigrants individually.

Unfortunately, recent immigrants, mainly from Mexico, Central, and South America have not had to learn English as our government has mandated that all public notices, ballots, etc. be printed in both English and Spanish.  Where are the government printings in Korean? German? Russian?  There are none because those groups wanted to fully integrate into the American culture and take their best shot at achieving the American dream.  Sadly, part of the Hispanic population refuses to learn English and is kowtowed to by our government.  This keeps the immigrants (let’s just say legal right now) from being fully integrated into society and sets up enclaves within this country that are virtually indistinguishable from a neighborhood in Mexico.  Within these areas, potentials are not fully fulfilled, and the country misses the full breadth and scope of the talents of many individuals.

Why are these immigrants so reluctant to adapt?  Because they’re not forced to in the USA.

Why do they look at me and smirk when I don’t know Spanish?  Because they insist I adapt to them in the USA.

Why will some languish and depend on government generation to generation?  Because some “leaders” want them to so they will stay wards of the State – thereby preserving their power.

Why Must Everything Be In Spanish Too?

Why is the following post in Italian?  Why not?  Why can't something be in Italian instead of Spanish in this country?  To find out why, check out this blog next week sometime for the English translation of "Why Must Everything Be In Spanish Too?"

Motivo per ottenere un trattamento preferenziale tra gli immigrati ispanofoni?

Nel corso della nostra storia ricca, immigrati di molte nazionalità, culture e lingue sono arrivati sulle nostre coste alla ricerca del sogno americano. Per la maggior parte della nostra storia, questi immigrati sapevano che imparare l'inglese è stato uno dei modi per accedere il sogno americano. Immigrati che parlavano tedesco, italiano, cinese, coreano, russo e in passato, anche spagnolo ha lavorato sodo per imparare inglese e diventare maestri a esso. In linea generale, la prossima generazione sono stata sollevata utilizzando e diventare esperto presso, inglese. Questo ha aiutato assimilare gli immigrati nel melting pot di America, rafforzando sia la nazione nel suo complesso e gli immigrati individualmente.

Purtroppo, immigrati, soprattutto dal Messico, centro e Sud America non hanno dovuto imparare l'inglese come il nostro governo ha ordinato che tutti gli avvisi pubblici, scrutini, ecc essere stampato in inglese e spagnolo. Dove sono le stampe di governo in coreano? Tedesco? Russo? Ci sono nessuno perché quei gruppi volevano completamente integrare nella cultura americana e prendere loro miglior negozio a realizzare il sogno americano. Sady, parte della popolazione ispanica si rifiuta di imparare l'inglese e si inchinavano dal nostro governo. Ciò mantiene gli immigrati (diciamo legale in questo momento) da essere completamente integrati nella società e imposta enclave all'interno del paese che sono praticamente indistinguibili da un quartiere in Messico. All'interno di queste aree, i potenziali non sono pienamente soddisfatte, e il paese manca la tutta l'ampiezza e la portata dei talenti di molti individui.

Perché sono questi immigrati così restii ad adattarsi? Perché non sei obbligati a negli Stati Uniti.

Perché mi guardi e sorrisetto quando non conoscono spagnolo? Perché insistere mi adatto a loro negli Stati Uniti.

Perché alcuni languire e dipende dal governo di generazione? Perché alcuni "capi" desidera che vengano così rimarranno reparti dello stato – preservando così il loro potere.

A Prediction

Even though it's only August 5, I am willing to make a prediction on who Time's Person of the Year will be: Bruce Caitlyn Jenner.

Time will hail his her courageous stand to be who he she was meant to be.  Others will be interviewed about him her and grace us with their wisdom and insights such as:

"Dad Mom will be even closer to me now than ever before, sharing his her life and feelings just like the rest of us girls (giggle)" - Kendall Jenner

"I hope he she doesn't use my plastic surgeon" - Kim Kardashian

Uncontrollable crying - Female fans of the 1976 Olympic decathlon winner

"Gross, I used to kiss him her" - Kris Jenner

"You the man woman!" - Insert your favorite liberal celebrity name here

"Is she seeing anyone?" - Bill Clinton

How Did I Do?

Last Tuesday morning, Election Day, I posted my guesses for the final tally on Republican pickups in the House, Senate, & Governorships (see previous post).  So, how did I do?

House - My guess: Republicans +7-10 seats; Actual pick ups: +12
Senate - My guess: Republicans +8-12 seats; Actual pick ups: +8
(with LA TBD, so probably +9)
Governorships - My guess: Republicans +2-3 seats; Actual pick ups: +3

Not too shabby.  Now if I could only pick lottery numbers...

Elections Predictions

A quick prognostication on today's midterms:

House of Representatives: Republicans pick up 7 - 10 seats

Senate: Republicans pick up 8 - 12 seats

Governors: Republicans pick up 2 - 3 seats

 

Tune in your favorite news channel tonight to marvel at my brilliance!!

A Business Proposition for You

Listen, I know you’re very busy and have a million things on your mind, but I have a business proposition for you.

I know that you and your spouse have been waiting.  And planning.  And saving.  Finally, the big day has arrived.  Your new car is here.  And boy is it a beauty!  For some, it’s a convertible.  For others, a sedan, a crossover, an SUV, a truck, maybe even a hybrid.  Look inside.  Rich, supple leather seats, premium sound, mp3 port.  The latest safety features.  Air bags, side air bags, anti-lock brakes.  And of course, you purchased option package #7: factory floor mats, map lights, trip odometer, remote trunk and fuel filler door releases, power windows and locks, intermittent wipers, and cruise control.  You’re proud – and you should be.

 

Now for the aforementioned business proposition.  After a “grace period” wherein you spend a  couple of weeks with your car, bring it to me.  Every morning, before you go to work, bring your vehicle to my home and leave it with me.  For a low fee of only $150 a week, I’ll “break it in” for you 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.  You know how important the “break in” period is on a vehicle.  The engine’s pistons and valves settle in to the rhythms of the driver – me!  Of course, you can keep the car when you go on vacation, on holidays, and as always, weekends are your special time together.

 

 

 

The car of your dreams.  Can I drive it?

 

 

By now, you’ve probably thought I’ve lost my mind.  Have I?  Why do you consider this idea crazy?  This is a generally accepted practice in this country.  Not for our vehicles, but for something much more valuable and precious – our infants and toddlers as they are dropped off en masse at day care facilities on a daily basis.

 

 

Parents who no doubt love their children think nothing of leaving them off with someone else to raise a majority of the time.  These same parents don’t hesitate to leave their children with those very people they wouldn’t trust with their new car.

 

What?  You won't leave your car but you'll leave me?



And why do people leave their children off with virtual strangers every morning?  I don’t know for sure, but sadly I think that a lot (not all) do so for selfish reasons.  The parents have a lifestyle they aren’t willing to give up: the new cars, latest computers, cell phones, mp3 players, stereos, famous label clothing, designer shoes and handbags, expensive vacations, fine home furnishings, and expensive lunches.  Please understand that only those parents can answer the question about whether or not they’re both working for lifestyle.

 

We can’t say, just by the fact that someone leaves their kids at day care, that both parents don’t have valid reasons for needing to work.  What we can do is think about the following questions in order to conduct a national conversation about what is best for our children:

Are both parents working out of necessity, or are both parents working to maintain a “lifestyle”?  Could these parents readjust their schedules so that they wouldn’t have to leave the kids at day care?  Could one of the parents work only part-time?  Could one of the parents quit working until the child goes to school?

The first 3 to 5 years are very important in a child’s life.  The family bonding, traditions, and rapport that form during that time set the foundation for the rest of a person’s life.  The optimum circumstance for a child is to spend time with their parents, the people that love them the most, not some nanny for hire.  It doesn’t take a scientific study or a control group to tell us that, just common sense. 

Again, my business proposition must be answered:  Would you be willing to pay me to keep and drive your brand new car 8 hours a day, 5 days a week?  If you said “no way”, then you must face the second question:  Why are you willing to pay someone to take care of something much more valuable and precious – your child?

If you have searched your heart and can honestly, without justification, say that both parents have to work just to make ends meet, not in the lifestyle mentioned above but a solid, basic lifestyle, then so be it.  It happens, and it’s a shame for both you and your child.  But if you can’t say that both parents have to work just to make ends meet, logically you should feel good about paying me to take care of your car.

See you Monday morning.  Don’t forget your extra keys.  I accept cash or money orders.

Underappreciated

Underappreciated: this must be fixed

 

 

One of the great travesties of the ages (well, since 1992 anyway) has bugged me immensely.  Over the years, the level of frustration with this situation has risen exponetially.  Every time I think of this miscarriage of justice, it cries out for immdiate rectification.  Brain Donors is one of the most underappreciated, hilarious movies made, and it is about time it received that recognition.

Climactic ballet scene - Brain Donors, 1992

Doctor, Doctor!

 

Released in 1992, Brain Donors stars John Tuturro, Mel Smith, and Bob Nelson as three idiots involved in trying to milk an old rich widow out of her money through the establishment and running of a ballet company, as stipulated in her late husband's will.  The old rich widow, Lillian Oglethorpe, is brought to life by the delightful Nancy Marchand.  Throw in John Savident as the blue blood lawyer Edmund Lazlo; he of proper manners, social courtesy, propriety, and all things befitting a man of honor and distinction.




John Tuturro stars as Roland T. Flakfizer, a lawyer quite often on the wrong side of the law.  His practice of the judicial arts annoys Lazlo as Flakfizer seeks out accident victims, passes out his business card in the hospital emergency room, and literally chases ambulances.




Mel Smith plays Rocco Melonchek, Flakfizer's driver and sidekick. Bob Nelson is Jaques, hired on a whim by Flakfizer for the simple reason that it makes Lazlo angry.




The movie is based on the Marx brothers film "A Night at the Opera" and is a laugh a minute.  WARNING: The first time you watch it, you may be underwhelmed.  That is because while laughing, you will have missed so many jokes because they come so fast.


Do yourself  a favor and watch this gem a couple of times.  You'll be glad you did. 


Come back and comment afterwards.