USA (Page 2): That is a common belief. I do remember when there was a drive to make English the official language but nothing happened and the subject was dropped. American's go along...

FallenOak Loc: St George Utah

proud republican wrote:

Yes it is!

That is a common belief. I do remember when there was a drive to make English the official language but nothing happened and the subject was dropped. American's go along believing that English is the official language but we don't actually have an official language.
Friends I know who are naturalized citizens of this country are all very adamant about being able to speak English. However, there are exceptions which allow people not to need to learn English. One friend thinks all high school students should have to pass the test required of those wanting citizenship. I agree with him.

Bassman65

I agree with that

FallenOak Loc: St George Utah

Bassman65 wrote:

I didn’t know that thank you

I only knew that because I remember when the drive to make English the official language was going on. I also remember when there was an influx of refugees from one of the Asian countries and they settled in one part of one city in California and changed all the street signs to their language. The Fire Department got the city to change the street markings to English and wh**ever the language was (I don't recall) because emergency services could not read the signs not in English which points out a very good reason for having an official language.

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

FallenOak wrote:

I believe a more accurate statement would be, 'English is the preferred language to use in the USA.' I recall years ago there was a drive to make English the official language. Nothing came of that desire to make it a law. We are tearing ourselves apart by allowing all languages to be used and not having a legal and binding official language.

Agree with you on this point.. the most common language, used from the beginning.. it should be made the "official" language of our country.. what other accommodations would be up to the given situation.. sales.. health care.. information ,... ETC..

FallenOak Loc: St George Utah

permafrost wrote:

Agree with you on this point.. the most common language, used from the beginning.. it should be made the "official" language of our country.. what other accommodations would be up to the given situation.. sales.. health care.. information ,... ETC..

Interesting that in the beginning people who came just sort of speaking English as their kids began growing up and it became the ‘official’ language. I have read in various articles that during the Colonial and Revolutionary days there were a lot of places that spoke German. As there were also many places that spoke the Scandinavian Languages as where you live. I bet there was a lot of Irish spoken along the construction of the t***scontinental railroad. On my mom’s side many were here by the early 1700’s. My dad’s side later. I remember my Dad telling me that his maternal grandparents only spoke German and he had to learn a little to talk to them. I don’t think he ever learned very much. Language really helps bind a people together or to break them into small groups fearing one another.

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

FallenOak wrote:

Interesting that in the beginning people who came ... (show quote)

I would bet this was pretty typical of nearly every group that came to this country..

Never could figure out why we have so few Irishmen in Minnesota.. time wise it seems this was the promoted area when so many of they came to the USA..

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

permafrost wrote:

I would bet this was pretty typical of nearly every group that came to this country..

Never could figure out why we have so few Irishmen in Minnesota.. time wise it seems this was the promoted area when so many of they came to the USA..

The Irish have always feared the Norse...

FallenOak Loc: St George Utah

permafrost wrote:

I would bet this was pretty typical of nearly every group that came to this country..

Never could figure out why we have so few Irishmen in Minnesota.. time wise it seems this was the promoted area when so many of they came to the USA..

I read Canuckus answer and thought that hasn’t there be speculation that the Vikings did get a long way into the continent? The coracles of the Irish would be no contest against the long boats of the Norse.
I don't know how to answer two people at once and thought the same answer twice was rather dumb so here it is.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

FallenOak wrote:

I read Canuckus answer and thought that hasn’t there be speculation that the Vikings did get a long way into the continent? The coracles of the Irish would be no contest against the long boats of the Norse.
I don't know how to answer two people at once and thought the same answer twice was rather dumb so here it is.

I was actually referring to Permi and his family being of Viking origin

newbear Loc: New York City

Canuckus Deploracus wrote:

The Irish have always feared the Norse...

I never fear the Norse, where did you come across this piece of wisdom, Canuckus, or is it just your customary sleight of hand, big Man?

But they should fear Somalis, that is for sure.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

newbear wrote:

I never fear the Norse, where did you come across this piece of wisdom, Canuckus, or is it just your customary sleight of hand, big Man?

But they should fear Somalis, that is for sure.

I said Irish, not Slavic trolls..

FallenOak Loc: St George Utah

Canuckus Deploracus wrote:

I was actually referring to Permi and his family being of Viking origin

The Norsemen were great explorers and left good stories for us. I marvel at the seamanship of the Viking and the Pacific Islanders as both sailed the oceans in open boats. About another 400 years before the Europeans truly extended their sailing beyond coastal waters. Prince Henry sent ships around Africa but nearly all lanes were near the coast if I read the maps correctly. The Chinese developed extensive trade routes also.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

FallenOak wrote:

The Norsemen were great explorers and left good stories for us. I marvel at the seamanship of the Viking and the Pacific Islanders as both sailed the oceans in open boats. About another 400 years before the Europeans truly extended their sailing beyond coastal waters. Prince Henry sent ships around Africa but nearly all lanes were near the coast if I read the maps correctly. The Chinese developed extensive trade routes also.

Very true... The exploration of the early Ming dynasty was amazing... It's unfortunate that later emporers chose to pursue isolationist policies...

permafrost Loc: Minnesota

Canuckus Deploracus wrote:

The Irish have always feared the Norse...

LOL , how very wise of them...

FallenOak Loc: St George Utah

Canuckus Deploracus wrote:

Very true... The exploration of the early Ming dynasty was amazing... It's unfortunate that later emporers chose to pursue isolationist policies...

The last Admiral was Zheng He. My brother has traveled to China as an assistant on tours so he got free trips for many years. He has visited many private museums around China and even got permission to travel to Tibet once. I asked him about why the Chinese had stopped the exploration trips and his reply was that it was costing the Empire more money than the returns so the trips ended. I have read several books from the library about that topic and wondered why the Europeans became the great navigators leaving the Chinese behind.