# 15 year old idiot of the week **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 22, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783 "2005-03-22T21:55:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/1 "2005-03-22T21:55:33Z")
[http://www.nbc4i.com/education/4271505/detail.html](http://www.nbc4i.com/education/4271505/detail.html) This is America, and we got soldiers at war," said 15-year-old Patrick Linton Hmmm…perhaps the foreign language he’s objecting to is English. I’ve never been a big fan of the pledge of allegiance. I never said it from the time I knew I didn’t have to. And I tried not standing but aftere being called to the principals office, I was informed I had to stand even if i didn’t recite it (which I’m still a bit dubious about but I didn’t have my lawyers with me at the time.) But to object to the pledge on the grounds that it’s in another language??? Assuming you’re in favour (note subversive foreign spelling) of the pledge as such, what could be wrong with having it said in other languages? Perhaps to note that we are of course a nation of immigrants and many people came here only able to give there allegiance in something other than English. Or, as seem to be the case here, just to note that not everyone speaks English and there’s a whole other world out there…but apparently that’s unpatriotic. Sacarer me that this kid seems to think that. Scares me that his father seems to agree. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/2 "2005-03-22T21:59:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Charles Linton, Patrick’s father, said the use of other languages is disrespectful to the country. > > “It’s like wearing a cross upside down in a church,” said Charles Linton of Glen Burnie. Remember, folks. Speaking in a language other than English is the same as worshipping Satan! ---
**Author:** ![Hugh\_Jass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/3 "2005-03-22T22:06:25Z")
Equally disturbing is that the majority of people responding to the poll on the site agree that the pledge should be in English. I had just assumed that the majority would click on “much ado about nothing” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/4 "2005-03-22T22:12:06Z")
> [@Hugh Jass](#): > > Equally disturbing is that the majority of people responding to the poll on the site agree that the pledge should be in English. I had just assumed that the majority would click on “much ado about nothing” I don’t find that surprising. People who think Numbnuts Jr. there has a valid point are going to take the time to vote in the poll, because they think the issue is important. People who think it’s “much ado about nothing” are probably not going to bother voting at all. Also, anyone smart enough to understand how stupid the student’s complaint is, is probably also smart enough not to bother with an internet poll in the first place. I don’t even see the damn things any more. I subconsciously filter them out like I do banner adds. ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/5 "2005-03-22T22:22:36Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > “This is America, and we got soldiers at war,” said 15-year-old Patrick Linton. This cracks me up. Does precious know that some of those “soldiers at war” speak first languages other than English or were taught languages other than English by our armed forces so that they could be of value during war (and peace, for that matter)? Clearly not. The other thing that cracked me up from that article: > [@](#): > > Brice pointed out that students must complete two years of foreign language study to attend the University of Maryland. In other words, precious, your college-bound classmates may find some value in this exercise. You, not so much. On the other hand, this may be the smartest kid in America: he’s found a way to get out of school for a week with good ol’ dad’s support, just because there’s about 30 seconds of speech in a foreign language a day that he doesn’t even have to listen to. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/6 "2005-03-22T22:27:38Z")
> [@](#): > > He described translating the Pledge as “an innocent and harmless way to get children interested in other languages.” Heh. It’s _Glen Burnie_. They should get children–and adults, while they’re at it–interested in a better grasp of English first. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/7 "2005-03-22T22:44:35Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > [http://www.nbc4i.com/education/4271505/detail.html](http://www.nbc4i.com/education/4271505/detail.html) > > This is America, and we got soldiers at war," said 15-year-old Patrick Linton > > Hmmm…perhaps the foreign language he’s objecting to is English. That reminds me of an interview the local TV station did with the mother of an accident victim, who was explaining that her daughter “hadn’t never **driv** before.” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/8 "2005-03-22T23:34:27Z")
> [@linked article](#): > > The pledge was to be read in Spanish, French, Latin, Russian and German. Heh heh. Is it just me, or does this list read as though it’s hand-picked to piss off Jingo Jr. and his pig-ignorant daddy?[ul][_]Spanish – What them job-stealing Mexicans speak, innit?[_]French – French? How anti-American is _that?_[_]Latin – That’s just for ivory tower intellectuals and baby-eating papists.[_]Russian – Utter more than a few syllables and the next thing you know you got socialized medicine and all the churches are burned down.German – _German!_ We kicked their ass in WWII and they still allow sausage-speak?[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/9 "2005-03-22T23:55:45Z")
There’s a poll on the page linked in the OP. The question is “A teen is protesting the broadcasting of the Pledge of Allegiance in foreign languages as part of National Foreign Language Week. Does his argument have merit?” Here are the results as of this posting: **54%** Yes, I agree. The Pledge should only be in English **20%** No, there is nothing wrong with the Pledge being broadcast in other languages. **26%** This is much ado about nothing. Suddenly I’m all depressed. ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/10 "2005-03-22T23:56:49Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Remember, folks. Speaking in a language other than English is the same as worshipping Satan! I’m reminded of an episode of Sealab from a week or so ago where the whole place was sinking into the seabed. Stormy (one of the characters, who’s also supposed to be an idiot) suggests that they should make a time capsule for future generations to find. Sparks (a sarcastic, scheming character, for the uninitiated) suggests that they fill the time capsule with nerve gas “in case they don’t speak English.” God but that show is funny. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/11 "2005-03-23T00:21:03Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Heh heh. Is it just me, or does this list read as though it’s hand-picked to piss off Jingo Jr. and his pig-ignorant daddy? I’m sure they’d find something to dislike about any non-American-English language you care to use. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/12 "2005-03-23T00:41:51Z")
At least they didn’t say the Pledge of Allegiance should only be spoke in American. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/13 "2005-03-23T00:50:18Z")
I’m still waiting for one to say that foreign languages are un-Christian. ---
**Author:** ![TonyF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@TonyF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonyF)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/14 "2005-03-23T01:05:42Z")
What’s wrong with you people? We got soldiers at war, and you’re beating up on this kid when he just wants to hear the good old pledge in our official language. Is it a crime to love America now? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/15 "2005-03-23T01:31:41Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Remember, folks. Speaking in a language other than English is the same as worshipping Satan! Or honoring St. Peter, for that matter (I believe an upside down cross is actually the symbol of Saint Peter, and it’s an upside _crucifix_ that’s Satanic). ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/16 "2005-03-23T01:44:05Z")
Honestly, this doesn’t surprise me. There has been more than a dozen of times in my classes that someone will begin to talk about “those gawd dem Mexy-cans” and them “not speaking _our_ langauge.” North Carolina has one of the fastest growing Spanish-population increases per state in the nation, and the majority of people are fairly open to being racist - what seems to them to be a source of all their problems, financial or otherwise. Anyway, if I feel like sticking my head into a place where it doesn’t belong and generally being an ass, I’ll politely state “America has no official langauge.” Never once have one of these racists belived the contrary. Sadly, some of them grow up and breed, as is the case here. 'Tis a shame. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/17 "2005-03-23T11:08:02Z")
I wonder how many of the “English-only Pledge” supporters actually understand that the translated versions are still the same, i.e., American, Pledge of Allegiance. Maybe they’re afraid that they’d end up inadvertently pledging allegiance to the French or Russian flag or something. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/18 "2005-03-23T11:21:51Z")
Maybe they’re afraid that they’re reciting it backwards, which will, with a puff of sulphurous smoke and a clap of thunder, summon George III and his battalions of redcoats from beyond the grave to take away their guns, drive off their womenfolk and then ravish their cattle. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/19 "2005-03-23T12:05:30Z")
> [@](#): > > “When you’re saying the Pledge in a different language which nobody understands, that’s not OK.” I agree entirely with this. In fact, I’m not sure it’s even logically possible to say the pledge in a language that no-one understands; if no-one understands the langauge, how do you assign meaning the words that are supposed to be the pledge? His mistake appears to be not knowing that many people in America, and almost everyone outside of America, speak at least one non-english language. Imagine his shock when he finds out that Russia exists. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783/20 "2005-03-23T12:15:16Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > Maybe they’re afraid that they’re reciting it backwards, which will, with a puff of sulphurous smoke and a clap of thunder, summon George III and his battalions of redcoats from beyond the grave to take away their guns, drive off their womenfolk and then ravish their cattle. THis is wonderful; thank you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-year-old-idiot-of-the-week/295783.md?page=2)