^So you're saying it's Americans who are butchering the English language? Guess you've never heard Irish English, Scottish English, or even those - in England - who speak with a Cockney accent.

Anyway, in regards to the the topic at hand...should immigrants learn the language of the country they're "moving into"? Uh, yeah. Kind of common courtesy, there, guys. English speaking people have just as much right to "look down upon" (for want of a better term) those with little or no English skills - trying to fit into their community - as an employer for engineers has the right to deny job apps submitted by those who have little or no experience in engineering. This applies to anyone from any nation. If I'm going to Germany, I'm learning German. Period. It's the polite thing to do. Going to their country and telling all the nationals "speak English! I can't understand German! Speak my - the foreigner's - language!" is just plain disrespectful.

And about the whole "the Native Americans were here FIIIIIRST! UR so MEEEEEAN!" bullshit...so the fuck WHAT? That was the past. And although history is important for us to learn - so that we don't repeat our mistakes - we have to come to grips with the fact that we're living in the HERE and the NOW, and that there are matters - language barriers being among them - that affect us HERE and NOW.

[I realize I'll probably get flamed for that. "Fuck you" in advance.]

NOW, the U.S. is populated mostly by English speakers...the cruel methods my ancestors used to achieve this notwithstanding. I can't change their actions. Therefore, why would I be so "asshole-ish" to expect foreigners in (what is NOW) my country to be able to communicate with me in my own language? That just escapes me, guys.

Now, none of this is to say that Americans shouldn't at least try to learn some Spanish. At the basic level of communication, Spanish could be considered an easy language to learn. Trifling, even. People's biggest excuse seems to be "but they talk too fast!" Well, guess what? The words "sólo entiendo cuando habla más lento" will magically cause a Spanish speaker to talk more slowly.

Anyway, I've had enough of this crap. This damn thread has been keeping me from my work for long enough.