# How DARE you speak two languages! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 10, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976 "2005-12-10T01:06:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jacquilynne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jacquilynne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacquilynne)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/21 "2005-12-10T05:44:01Z")
> [@Audrey Levins](#): > > [God forbid](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/08/AR2005120802122.html) an American kid know anything but good ol’ patriotic God-fearin’ English! I find the outrage on this vaguely amusing given that the SDMB has the same policy as the school. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/22 "2005-12-10T07:26:06Z")
> [@jacquilynne](#): > > I find the outrage on this vaguely amusing given that the SDMB has the same policy as the school. There’s an \*enormous \*difference between a kid getting suspended for speaking a second language at a school, and not being allowed to post solely in a foreign language on a message board. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/23 "2005-12-10T07:30:34Z")
Right. Many a time I’ve peppered posts with various snippets of French, Spanish, Esperanto, Catalan, etc., mainly unmolested. It’s just entire posts with no English that are the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/24 "2005-12-10T07:30:44Z")
> [@jacquilynne](#): > > I find the outrage on this vaguely amusing given that the SDMB has the same policy as the school. That _is_ sort of amusing. On the other hand, they’re at a (state-run) school, where kids are often _taught_ Spanish and definitely can’t be discriminated against like that. He was in a private conversation, and you can’t really have a one-on-one conversation over here. Everything is for public view, and you actually are excluding people if you’re posting in other languages. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/25 "2005-12-10T07:52:23Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > I can’t believe that what got him busted was “no problema,” That’s pretty much English at this point. That’s what I was thinking…who DOESN’T know and sometimes use “no problema”?? This is unbelievably stupid. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/26 "2005-12-10T08:05:21Z")
> [@Electronic Chaos](#): > > I was under the impression that foreign language was a general requirement for all highschools. Does this school not have a foreign language program? No kidding. What’s next, “Student suspended for doing arithmetic”? > [@jacquilynne](#): > > I find the outrage on this vaguely amusing given that the SDMB has the same policy as the school. I think posting in a language other than English on this board would be somewhat more analogous to insisting on answering questions _in class_ in another language. It would be perfectly reasonable for a teacher to tell a kid to stop answering questions in history class in Mandarin or whatever, but this was a case of two kids talking to each other in the hall outside of class. Y’all are perfectly free to write in your blogs, e-mail or IM each other, or post to other message boards in whatever heathen languages y’all want to. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/27 "2005-12-10T08:20:13Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > That’s what I was thinking…who DOESN’T know and sometimes use “no problema”?? > > This is unbelievably stupid. I’m gonna argue against that “unbelievably.” It would be unbelievable if we weren’t talking about Kansas, but these days, Kansas is setting the bar for national stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/28 "2005-12-10T08:54:11Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m gonna argue against that “unbelievably.” It would be unbelievable if we weren’t talking about Kansas, but these days, Kansas is setting the bar for national stupidity. For which an Alabamian gives fervent thanks. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/29 "2005-12-10T08:58:59Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m gonna argue against that “unbelievably.” It would be unbelievable if we weren’t talking about Kansas, but these days, Kansas is setting the bar for national stupidity. You’ve got me there. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/30 "2005-12-10T09:12:43Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Y’all are perfectly free to write in your blogs, e-mail or IM each other, or post to other message boards in whatever heathen languages y’all want to. OMFG! You used y’all twice in one sentence! I think I’m in love, and I don’t care if you are a boy or girl. > [@Marley23](#): > > It would be unbelievable if we weren’t talking about Kansas, but these days, Kansas is setting the bar for national stupidity. or national bad press. (I Am Not A Kansan/IANAK) At least the administators had the good sense to immediately rescind the suspension. > [@CanvasShoes](#): > > That’s what I was thinking…who DOESN’T know and sometimes use “no problema”?? Duhhhh…right? My 74 y.o. mother, who has never studied a foreign language could understand that. I mean, fer cryin’ out loud, she has teenage grandkids and understands all sorts of gibberish they say. …it’s the kind of thing that makes me want to bang my head against the wall… ---
**Author:** ![fushj00mang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d26b3c/32.png) [@fushj00mang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fushj00mang)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/31 "2005-12-10T09:36:44Z")
Am I the only one who noticed the last paragraph of the article? > [@the article](#): > > Said Rubio: “I’m mainly doing this for other Mexican families, where the legal status is kind of shaky and they are afraid to speak up. Punished for speaking Spanish? Somebody has to stand up and say: This is wrong.” Um…this ain’t about Spanish aparently. This is about illegals being here in the States and trying to hide in society (by making it ‘ok’ to be illiterate in English, or making it ‘not ok’ to criticize said illegal illiterates. Or is it illiterate illegals?) Instead of getting stuck in the nuances of whether this is a civil rights issue or not, lets focus instead on the wider problem of illegal aliens entering the country. In fact, I propose we follow the Israeli model. Build a wall. A huge fucking wall. Line it with barbed wire, mines, dogs, the whole kit-n-kaboodle. And if anyone tries to cross said wall/minefield/dog kennel, well…that’s when the designated marksmen earn their pay. In any other country, a large number of individuals intering a land and attempting to change society would be called an invasion. Here, it’s a “civil rights” issue. What the fuck ever. ~Mang ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/32 "2005-12-10T09:48:51Z")
> [@fushj00mang](#): > > Am I the only one who noticed the last paragraph of the article? > > Um…this ain’t about Spanish aparently. This is about illegals being here in the States and trying to hide in society (by making it ‘ok’ to be illiterate in English, or making it ‘not ok’ to criticize said illegal illiterates. Or is it illiterate illegals?) > > Instead of getting stuck in the nuances of whether this is a civil rights issue or not, lets focus instead on the wider problem of illegal aliens entering the country. In fact, I propose we follow the Israeli model. Build a wall. A huge fucking wall. Line it with barbed wire, mines, dogs, the whole kit-n-kaboodle. And if anyone tries to cross said wall/minefield/dog kennel, well…that’s when the designated marksmen earn their pay. In any other country, a large number of individuals intering a land and attempting to change society would be called an invasion. Here, it’s a “civil rights” issue. What the fuck ever. > > ~Mang JACKASS. Yeah, that’s really a good idea. Nice way to make the economy fall on its face. You are a totally stupid jerk. That’s right–a TOTAL FUCKING JERK. Because the jobs they do are sooooooooo desirable and so many people are lined up down the street begging, yes, BEGGING, to be paid shit wages to do shitty low skill level jobs. FUCK YOU, dimwit. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/33 "2005-12-10T09:59:25Z")
> [@Kolak of Twilo](#): > > JACKASS. > > Yeah, that’s really a good idea. Nice way to make the economy fall on its face. > You are a totally stupid jerk. That’s right–a TOTAL FUCKING JERK. > Because the jobs they do are sooooooooo desirable and so many people are lined up down the street begging, yes, BEGGING, to be paid shit wages to do shitty low skill level jobs. > > FUCK YOU, dimwit. They could, you know, come here legally. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/34 "2005-12-10T10:15:10Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > They could, you know, come here legally. Really? I don’t know how easy it is to get a work permit in this country if you are a Mexican national, but I suspect it’s pretty tough. And how does this incident in Kansas really have anything to do with illegal immigrants? Seems to me this kid was here legally. I’m guessing his folks are too or that would probably part of the story. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/35 "2005-12-10T10:26:21Z")
Oh and gee whiz, I went back and read the article, something **fushj00mang** and **RandMcnally** couldn’t be bothered to do. It seems the **father** is a _ **freaking U.S. citizen!** _ So, the moronic comments by **fushj00mang** don’t even apply in this case. Or they simply reinforce the opinion I expressed in my earlier post. Jackass indeed. That hardly does it justice. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/36 "2005-12-10T10:51:54Z")
> [@fushj00mang](#): > > Instead of getting stuck in the nuances of whether this is a civil rights issue or not, lets focus instead on the wider problem of illegal aliens entering the country. In fact, I propose we follow the Israeli model. Build a wall. A huge fucking wall. Line it with barbed wire, mines, dogs, the whole kit-n-kaboodle. And if anyone tries to cross said wall/minefield/dog kennel, well…that’s when the designated marksmen earn their pay. In any other country, a large number of individuals intering a land and attempting to change society would be called an invasion. Here, it’s a “civil rights” issue. What the fuck ever. Yeah. Israel’s problem with suicide bombers is definitely comparable to our enormous problems of a kid speaking Spanish to a friend in school. Your plan doesn’t go far enough. We need to shoot Mexicans and threatening near-Mexicans on sight. Certainly that’s what any other country would do if it had illegal immigrants - 'cuz obviously there are only illegal immigrants in the US. ---
**Author:** ![T\_SQUARE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/37 "2005-12-10T11:18:53Z")
> [@fushj00mang](#): > > well…that’s when the designated marksmen earn their pay. > ~Mang And you know who’s going to have to pay them? Me. No thanks. That wall ain’t gonna be cheap either. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/38 "2005-12-10T12:35:31Z")
> [@fushj00mang](#): > > Am I the only one who noticed the last paragraph of the article? > > Um…this ain’t about Spanish aparently. This is about illegals being here in the States and trying to hide in society (by making it ‘ok’ to be illiterate in English, or making it ‘not ok’ to criticize said illegal illiterates. Or is it illiterate illegals?) Um…you’re not serious, right? This isn’t an actual serious opinion, right? First of all it seems pretty obvious he was talking about _legal_ immigrants who might be afraid to speak up because they’re not full citizens. Or did that possibility not occur to you (y’know, that there are Mexican immigrants here legally)? Secondly what does language have to do with legal status? And illegal immigrant might speak English. A legal one might not. Like for example my Grandfather…who had the audacity to go on speaking Polish (and German and Russian…and occassionally Latin) even after living here 60 years. > [@](#): > > In any other country, a large number of individuals intering a land and attempting to change society would be called an invasion. I thought it America we called it “how we built the nation”. (Oh and it’s “entering”. Or are you illiterate?) ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/39 "2005-12-10T14:49:19Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > They could, you know, come here legally. Actually, no, most of them couldn’t. It’s not like there’s legal immigration slots just sitting there open and available. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/40 "2005-12-10T14:58:02Z")
> [@fushj00mang](#): > > Am I the only one who noticed the last paragraph of the article? > > Um…this ain’t about Spanish aparently. This is about illegals being here in the States and trying to hide in society (by making it ‘ok’ to be illiterate in English, or making it ‘not ok’ to criticize said illegal illiterates. Or is it illiterate illegals?) > > Instead of getting stuck in the nuances of whether this is a civil rights issue or not, lets focus instead on the wider problem of illegal aliens entering the country. In fact, I propose we follow the Israeli model. Build a wall. A huge fucking wall. Line it with barbed wire, mines, dogs, the whole kit-n-kaboodle. And if anyone tries to cross said wall/minefield/dog kennel, well…that’s when the designated marksmen earn their pay. In any other country, a large number of individuals intering a land and attempting to change society would be called an invasion. Here, it’s a “civil rights” issue. What the fuck ever. > > ~Mang Once again, we are bathed in the light and the glory of a Superior Intellect. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976.md?page=3)