Another Drawback to Not Learning English and Living in the United States

So, now your neighbor has dirt, like me. Yuckers! I can't wait to at least plant my aloe vera! and my rose trees. But, I have to wait until it's not in the triple digits to do so.

At this point Debi he has just a bunch of yellow dead grass.

If he wanted to kill the grass, then he might have succeeded, but odds are that he only wanted to kill weeds. The fact that they don't speak english makes them even more illiterate. It is sad, but maybe they just want dirt for the chickens.

Judi valid points. I too have known people who cannot read the difference is they ask questions. Had this man spoke english and couldnt read it he could have asked one of the clerks to help him. So the language barrier was really the problem here.

Marty my first thought after I got done laughing was....he could have hired someone if he didnt want to mow his lawn.

Spanish is easier to learn than english anyday of the week

Carol when I move to Mexico I will learn Spanish.

Judi you can be off point if you want.....I dont really care what direction my articles take as long as it doesnt get nasty. You brought up some valid points.

There really is no right or wrong to anything I write. I just express my opinion.

Thanks for the comments.

I dont do nasty either Judi.....I am very rarely snarky unless I mean to be.

Thanks Judi.

No snarkiness meant here but if I were in a foreign country illegaly I'd probably not want to let very many people know I can't speak or read the language. If I were legal I wouldn't hesitate one second to look for help. In the US you can walk into just about any Motor vehicle office or Social Services office and be provided an interpreter within minutes. Or, better yet, dial any government office and push "2".

Rex no snarkiness taken. There are so many people in the town I live that speak no English he would not have stuck out at all.

I wonder if he'll return it for a refund for not doing what he wanted??? I'm sure any wal-mart will feel forced to take it back to keep the customer happy...

I feel so conflicted regarding language and culture. I've known second and third generations from immigration who can't read and write in their family's tongue (though some are still able to speak it from talking to Grandma so much). It saddens me when someone does not keep their culture. At the same time, I expect that if I were to go to a foreign country I would learn to speak their language. It's just how I function. Why would I want an entire country to change their native tongue just to accomodate me?

Good points Lisa. I have no problem with embracing your heritage but you also must be willing to accept and assimilate into the culture you have made the decision to become a part of.

They have a saying in Europe: "If you speak three languages-you're tri-lingual. If you speak two languages-you're bi-lingual. If you speak one language-you're an American". Seriously, Most schools in Europe (with the possible exception of France) require that English be taught as part of the core curriculum. I took German as a second language for three years in high school. It came in pretty handy during the seven years I spent in that part of the world. It doesn't matter where you go: people like you better if you learn a bit about the language and culture of the host nation. In your neighbor's case,I'd say he has a lot to learn.-Norman

Norman I have heard that too and you do present a valid point. We Americans should learn other languages....I know enough French to get by. Some spanish. Quite a bit of German.

Bush recently made a speech to the Associated Builders and Contractors group where he said in reference to the Immigration Bill he's trying to get passed:

"the key to unlocking the full promise of America is the ability to read, write and speak English. And so the bill affirms that English is the language of our land, and the bill will expand opportunities to help new immigrants learn our language and the shared ideals that make us all Americans."

Easy to say, but what are they doing about it? One of the lame-brained ideas I heard they came up with was to put up a Web site for immigrants, pointing out resources availably to them that will help them assimilate to the US, including language classes.

So, maybe we should provide laptops to our Border Patrol agents - they can hand them out as folks come across. ; - )

Sheryl the world is crazy....hey I would give up my american citizenship and illegally cross the border for a free laptop.

Yeah, and maybe the cable companies can set up little tables at the border, like they do on college campuses at the beginning of the year! Wow, another boon for capitalism!

Right on Sheryl. Have you seen the banner ads on Yahoo.....$200,000 loan payments of $1459.00 per month NO SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER REQUIRED! I wonder if I can get a loan, not use my ssn and not have to pay it back.....they wouldnt have my ssn.

I think that maybe he did it on purpose! He wanted more of a desert like climate - to remind him of home.

Wouldnt surprise me Lainie.

LOL Julie...you might be on to something there.

Hey if it's the right kind of weeds I say let them grow and then throw a party!

DRIVE BY 10

Donny I dont think you would want this weed...lol

Peace ty gf!!!!!

Poor foolish man not asking someone for help in buying the product that killed all of his grass..