RE: Learn english or go to jail (Full Version)

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thompsonx -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 7:41:55 PM)

I said my dad was stationed in Okinawa. I never said that's where the bar was. I also never said it was "all of japan." Military members OFTEN travel to Japan on weekend passes when stationed in Okinawa. (If you dispute this, then you've obviously never been there. Both my brother and my father as well as several coworkers have and they all have told me about traveling to Japan on their time off.)
Smith:
Japan is separated from Okinawa by about four hundred miles of the Pacific ocean.  The nearest U.S. Military base in Japan from Okinawa is over five hundred miles.  A week end pass is only good for a fifty mile radius from your base.  It would seem to me and anyone else who has been in the military that someone is being a little more than disingenuous.
thompson



thompsonx -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 7:59:06 PM)

Smith:
First you said this:

quote:

I used to be one who wouldn't admit to being prejudiced. However, once the word and its meaning was fully explained to me, I realized I was. I also realized it wasn't neccessarily a bad thing,

Then you said this:

quote:

I never "labelled" myself as prejudiced, nor did I say I was proud of it. I said everyone has their own, and I am honest about mine.


This would appear to be saying that you are prejudice and since you say it is not a bad thing then it would also appear that you are proud of it.
thompson



Hippiekinkster -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 8:29:40 PM)

Smith: "Dispute the truth all you like. I've told you where my list is and how to find it. I'm not going to waste space here repasting it and doing your research for you. I've done my research and I am satisfied. You clearly have not. I told you to type "countries with english as an official language" into google. Sure, the first link is wikipedia, but you just might have to scroll down."

Well, I'll give you Okinawa and dad. Next time I see my brother I'll have to ask him, as he did 2-1/2 tours in 'Nam and was everywhere over there.

As for what I quoted, in other words, you're making an assertion you can't back up. Gotcha.



Smith117 -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 8:40:37 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hippiekinkster
As for what I quoted, in other words, you're making an assertion you can't back up. Gotcha.


Actually the other things you quoted had no relevance, so I saw no need to address it, let alone "back it up." I've posted my sources and they back up everything I have said quite nicely. If you read the pages or if you don't read the pages, makes no difference to me. I'm not going to continue re-posting the same things I have already cited. You'll either read them or you won't.

In addition to the countries who claim english as an official language, the following states have existing official language laws on their books: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming. A small handful date back more than a few decades, such as Louisiana (1811) and Nebraska (1920), but most official language statutes were passed since the 1970's.

Unless I've miscounted, that's 27, more than half of them. Here's the truly funny part: the one state that frequently has editorials and letters to the editor in its local papers about an "illegal U.S. occupation," the one state you would expect NOT to have english as an official language -- Hawaii -- does, in fact, have english listed as its official language. Why then can the country not do it? 27 states appear to have found a way to make it happen. Even California and Florida -- two states with HUGE hispanic populations (Mexican and Cuban, respectively) have adopted an english-as-official-language policy. Yet the country can't seem to do this?

Most curious.



Hippiekinkster -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 8:46:24 PM)

States that have adopted English. Well, isn't that special. Nice try at changing the subject.

Where are your sources for the 54 countries?



Gemini1766 -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 8:48:49 PM)

"Yet the country can't seem to do this..."

Some things are left to the states to decide. That's per our Constitution.



Hippiekinkster -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 8:52:46 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Gemini1766

"Yet the country can't seem to do this..."

Some things are left to the states to decide. That's per our Constitution.


This may be not. Equal Protection clause may apply in some cases.



Smith117 -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 9:00:17 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: thompsonx

Let's see...who else is on that list...... many parts of South America ahhh but what the heck,
Smith:
In South America only the former British Guiana,now called Guyana has English as a national language.
thompson


And your point is?



Smith117 -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 9:06:12 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: thompsonx
I went to your link and it does not say who it is who constantly puts these bills up.
Maybe you would like to tell us.


Clearly you didn't check out the link I suggested, or you would see that the "english as official language" has been put before congruss pretty much in every session. I am not going to name the name of every person who brought it to congress as I feel the signifigance isn't who brought it, but that  it's been address enarly every. single. time.

quote:

ORIGINAL: thompsonx
This would seem to be at odds with your claim that Spanish is mandatory in Texas.
Perhaps you might want to bring this to the attention of the authorities.


Actually no, it's not at odds at all if you read it carefully. It says "to educate American students if their native tongue as well as to provide specialized training in the learning of English."

I never said they didn't teach foreign students english, I said they made spanish a requirement for others.



Smith117 -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 9:08:15 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: thompsonx
Japan is separated from Okinawa by about four hundred miles of the Pacific ocean.  The nearest U.S. Military base in Japan from Okinawa is over five hundred miles.  A week end pass is only good for a fifty mile radius from your base.  It would seem to me and anyone else who has been in the military that someone is being a little more than disingenuous.
thompson


Fine, perhaps "weekend pass" was incorrect. But military members DO take leave. And leave is as good for as far away as the member would like. Explain that one away.



Smith117 -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 9:09:52 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: thompsonx
This would appear to be saying that you are prejudice and since you say it is not a bad thing then it would also appear that you are proud of it.


Assuming *can* be fun, can't it?



Smith117 -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 9:11:33 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hippiekinkster

States that have adopted English. Well, isn't that special. Nice try at changing the subject.

Where are your sources for the 54 countries?


I've already answered this. If you refuse to do your own research, I can't help that. (Hint: the source for the countries is the same one as for the states and it's the same one I've mentioned two or three times now to the extent of even telling you what, verbatim, I typed to find the information I sought)



Hippiekinkster -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 9:12:58 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Smith117

quote:

ORIGINAL: thompsonx

Let's see...who else is on that list...... many parts of South America ahhh but what the heck,
Smith:
In South America only the former British Guiana,now called Guyana has English as a national language.
thompson


And your point is?

Oh, I can clearly see what his point is. If you cannot, well...[sm=book.gif]



Smith117 -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 9:14:25 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Gemini1766

"Yet the country can't seem to do this..."

Some things are left to the states to decide. That's per our Constitution.



And that's the same BS argument they use to argue against passing stricter laws against illegal immigration. The US wont' do it, so the states do, then the opponest of the states' decisions argue that it's up to the Feds to make those laws.

Feds say it's for the states, states say it's for the feds........sounds like a lot of finger pointing to me.

Funny thing is, the states took the issue of the language, and no one seems to be mentioning it. The US tries it, everyone freaks. The states try and make tougher laws against hiring or renting to illegals, and that gets noticed. We fight against one thing in the state, but not in the nation? Why fight against one thing in the nation, and not the states?



Smith117 -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 9:15:38 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hippiekinkster
Oh, I can clearly see what his point is. If you cannot, well...[sm=book.gif]


LoL

The fact is, there is no point. He just wanted to take ONE of over 50 countries on the list and tell me that it was a former British government. So? What about all the rest? What about the countries in Africa?



Gemini1766 -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 9:17:23 PM)

The wonderful state of Hawai'i has two official languages, thank you very much!
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII ARTICLE XV
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES Section 4. English and Hawaiian shall be the official languages of Hawaii, except that Hawaiian shall be required for public acts and transactions only as provided by law. [Add Const Con 1978 and election Nov 7, 1978]



Smith117 -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 9:21:52 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Gemini1766

The wonderful state of Hawai'i has two official languages, thank you very much!
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII ARTICLE XV
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES Section 4. English and Hawaiian shall be the official languages of Hawaii, except that Hawaiian shall be required for public acts and transactions only as provided by law. [Add Const Con 1978 and election Nov 7, 1978]



So? The second one sure ain't spanish, is it? And having a two languages doesn't detract from having english as one of them. Just shows they can have two, and we can't get one. Ironic, huh?



Hippiekinkster -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 9:25:12 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Smith117

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hippiekinkster

States that have adopted English. Well, isn't that special. Nice try at changing the subject.

Where are your sources for the 54 countries?


I've already answered this. If you refuse to do your own research, I can't help that. (Hint: the source for the countries is the same one as for the states and it's the same one I've mentioned two or three times now to the extent of even telling you what, verbatim, I typed to find the information I sought)


Earlier you said this: "Actually, I purposely did *not* use wikipedia as my source, I made sure to find OTHERS, OTHERS which are easily found by typing what I suggested into google."

So which is it, one source or many sources? With all the time you wasted trying to evade my question, you could have linked to the source (which is what I, and others whom I consider to be honest debaters, do).



Smith117 -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 9:48:18 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hippiekinkster
Earlier you said this: "Actually, I purposely did *not* use wikipedia as my source, I made sure to find OTHERS, OTHERS which are easily found by typing what I suggested into google."

So which is it, one source or many sources? With all the time you wasted trying to evade my question, you could have linked to the source (which is what I, and others whom I consider to be honest debaters, do).


Actually, all this time, I would have hoped you would have read post #341 (right at the top of page 18 of this thread) where I said:

"If that does not, I'm sure typing in "English as an official language" into google will more than satisfy you."

That turns up not one source, but MANY....15,500,000 of them to be exact.

Then, not only did I tell you exactly what I typed into google, I made repeated references to it in the posts that followed.

[8|] 



thompsonx -> RE: Learn english or go to jail (4/1/2008 9:50:17 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Smith117

quote:

ORIGINAL: thompsonx

Let's see...who else is on that list...... many parts of South America ahhh but what the heck,
Smith:
In South America only the former British Guiana,now called Guyana has English as a national language.
thompson


And your point is?



Smith:
My point is that of the thirteen countries in South America of which you claim MANY have English as their official language only one does.
How does one country constitute many countries?
thompson






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