My ancestors were there to Greet the first "boat load", I'm pretty sure language and immergration rights, was not the first thing on their minds.(more like;There goes the Nieghborhood) So,with heavy heart,and very worn thin "Welcome" mat, I, as an "Native" american ask you,,,Is'nt the BIGGER question here,,,,Why cant there be a "Press '3',to speak to a LIVE operator"? instead of endless recording's that all bring you back,to menu or leave you in that Black Hole of, Voice Mail Boxes,,,Everybody came from Somewhere, and Now Here We are....Take care of each other..... Crazeeeeeee,,,,,,,,,,,,,

So where do I fit in, exactly?
Neither of my parents were born in the USA, but both became citizens. They insisted "english only" was the rule - i.e. only english was spoken in our home, though they often spoke French privately to one another. (I listened through the door sometimes) My Papa, like most Quebecers, spoke fluent english when they arrived here, my Mama' having only been in Canada for a few years, spoke only some english, but became fluent quickly.
I do wish I had learned more French from them, most of what I know is Cajun French, which is oddly different.
My point is that I am a first generation "Born in the USA" child of immigrants, so I appreciate the issues, but I have to note that so many recent immigrants, (of all types and origins) by contrast, seem to have little interest in becoming citizens or even in learning english!
Why?
I have met many that say they are only here to earn money to send home. That's fine, I guess, but I see lots of them in the hospitals without insurance, some even admit they come illegally for "free health care"
Why are there protests in the streets of Mexico City when California limits access to public hospitals if you are an illegal alien?
Is it like Walmart, who pays so poorly and with such limited benifits that the Medicaid system essentially is supporting/subsidizing Walmart?
We are subsidizing Mexico and Central/South America? India, Pakistan, Africa?

I am not arguing a point of view. I am concerned and confused about these issues. Even as an honest to goodness libertarian- leaning Nurse, I swear I have no idea how to lean on this.

By the way, I have learned from Leigh that one reason so many callers (sales and service calls) speak poor or heavily accented english is because they are in other countries, as so much customer service and sales departments have been "out-sourced". To places like India, I suppose.

(returns to sipping her wine on a lazy, rainy day)

WW

__________________
"I wondered, am I a lesbian, am I straight, or bisexual? Then I realized that I am just a slut.
So where's MY parade?"

---Margaret Cho

I killed another thread.

WW

__________________
"I wondered, am I a lesbian, am I straight, or bisexual? Then I realized that I am just a slut.
So where's MY parade?"

---Margaret Cho

LOL. It was dead before you arrived on the scene, lovie. It just enjoyed a momentary rebirth.

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

It's wonderfully different. The Cajun dialect is the one that most resembles my own that I've encountered so far (even more than other Acadian dialects). I bet you would understand me much, much more easily than the Québecois I deal with daily here.

(Fact : I was speaking to my parents on Skype earlier, and my roommate (who has lived here in Québec since he was 2 years old) asked me what language I was speaking. He did not believe me when I told him I had been speaking French, and insisted that he heard me speak another language.)

__________________

Si à travers nos veines coule encore le sang...
Si dans les jeux d'enfants on entend encore l'accent...
Si nous sentons encore l'espoir de nos grands-parents...
Si dans les voiles du large souffle encore le vent...
Y'a jamais eu de Grand Dérangement.

A renaissance with Wanda?

Lilith you bitch, you're messing with my head again.

I'll have words with you in Nashville, young lady.

__________________
Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

She's looking to get a serious tongue-lashing, no doubt...




Can I watch?

__________________
Plug me into somethin'

If the theory does not conform to the facts, then the facts must be discarded.

No good deed ever goes unpunished

Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level, & beat you with experience.

Video at $14.95 plus sintax.

__________________
Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

Yippee Kiyeaaaa Mother Fucker!

^^^^That's English with a southern twist

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

"....And remember only two defining forces have ever
offered to die for you,

Jesus Christ

and the American Soldier.

One died for your soul, the other for your freedom. "

I was re-reading this, and I have to ask...

What about police officers, firefighters, paramedics, rescue workers in general?

Or the bystander who puts themselves in danger to help another?

There have been others, mostly civilians, sometimes even politicians, who died rather than betray someone else, or their own beliefs. My own dear Matt was embedded in a front line Marine unit (or Army, I am not sure just now) risking his life, unarmed, so he could write accurately about the invasion of Iraq.

Or teachers who risk their health and safety only because they are dedicated to their task?

((((Lil))))


Last, I survived the horror that was New Orleans after Katrina.
I wrote only a little about what happened to me, and what I saw. Honestly, I have not been ready to say more about it. Two years later and I am STILL waiting for the bad dreams to stop. (yes, I am in therapy, but I was in therapy before Katrina too)
I saw a lot of people who risked their lives repeatedly to try to save others, mostly Nurses, Doctors, even clerical staff.
I escaped with a broken arm. I consider myself lucky.

The statement is one of those wonderful, romantic things that sounds good, but ignores reality.

WW

__________________
"I wondered, am I a lesbian, am I straight, or bisexual? Then I realized that I am just a slut.
So where's MY parade?"

---Margaret Cho

Damn good point, WW.

Perhaps they were the only two groups who could be ordered to, rather than singly offer to.

__________________
Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

I found the statement useful in identifying the sort of small minds that enjoy passing around e-mails like this.

__________________
Plug me into somethin'

If the theory does not conform to the facts, then the facts must be discarded.

No good deed ever goes unpunished

Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level, & beat you with experience.

I did, too.

__________________

Si à travers nos veines coule encore le sang...
Si dans les jeux d'enfants on entend encore l'accent...
Si nous sentons encore l'espoir de nos grands-parents...
Si dans les voiles du large souffle encore le vent...
Y'a jamais eu de Grand Dérangement.

"scotzoidman has exceeded their stored private messages quota and can not accept further messages until they clear some space."

Gratuitous comments about Scotz' full box are hereby invited.

LOL

__________________
Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

No I think that was me you just brought it back.

I take things like the original post personally because people who pass around emails like that always say they aren't racist, but personally I find that hard to believe. It's just a feeling I get. Personally I just think that people who aren't racist don't want everyone to be just like them.