Euromutt

CoB - does your line translate to:

"Is this (the) truth? You know nothing, my Ukrainian friend. I am American and I speak Russian"?

(It's amazing how far you can get with a little grounding in any single Slavic language in my case, the language formerly known as Serbo-Croat; I can cobble together about fifteen sentences... I speak more languages, but the Netherlands are such a small country you have to learn other peoples' languages; it's easier when you have to)

Seriously, though, folks, English is the US language of government; it's mandatory for government business, nowhere does it say you have to speak it to your kids at home (though it might advisable if you want them to do well in school) or even in your (privately owned) place of business. Ask anyone in San Francisco's Chinatown or Little Russia.

Diana, I got that original "editorial" forwarded by an American friend, and it pissed me off no end (the editorial, not the forwarding); it was an exercise in how to make your allies think twice about backing you. You did a marvellous hatchet job on it, and one that I have been itching to write myself (but as a prospective immigrant, is that a good idea?) The best part is, how can anyone accuse an air force officer of being unpatriotic? You rock. <img src="graemlins/notworthy.gif" border="0" alt="[Not Worthy]" />
If you want to keep pounding on this preacher, you have my voyeurism, excuse me, moral support as well, and do keep us updated.

[ December 28, 2001: Message edited by: Euromutt ]</p>

lpetrich

Although I agree that to get anywhere in the US knowing English is essential, I think that it ought to be made clear that this does not exclude learning and using other languages; some people seem to think that one can know only one language at a time.

diana

Thanks, Euromutt.

I've come to be almost as offended by people who forward me that junk as I am by whoever wrote it in the first place. People tend to send stuff like that out to people they think will agree, and I'm not only insulted that they think I'm that narrow-minded, but I get a bad taste in my mouth when I encounter someone who's clearly preaching to the choir in order to bolster his own beliefs.

I've noticed the standard Xn trend to read only what backs up what he wishes to believe and ignore the rest. Such hogwash gives me a chance to educate a person or two.

I'm a preacher's kid. I have, um, issues.

I think crap like that would be drastically reduced if more infidels wrote back and pointed out the errors, so I do it every chance I get. You're right, though...my career puts me in an irreproachable position on this particular matter. They can argue my points if the wish, but they can't call me unpatriotic.

d

Gabriel Syme

Now, to be fair, witches were not actually burned at the stake in America. They were killed, just not burned. And don't act like they weren't witches... they weighed exactly the same as ducks...

enrious

diana,

Not much to say except that as a cheerleader, keep it up.

I lurked quite a bit on the CofC board where Reverend John took a powder and you were consistently rational and lucid.

I'm not on the mailing list, but if what you're doing is anything like the CofC board, keep it up!

Jon

diana

Thanks, Jon. The funny thing about that was that the Xns who "live" there think John Waddey won. He's their hero.

A couple admitted that they skipped over my posts entirely on that thread. This willful ignorance (avoiding reading what they know is a contrary opinion) has kept them from seeing that the Wad left there with an asshole big enough to drive a truck through.

Funny...their "hero" hasn't returned.

d

John the Atheist

Your reads never dissapoint me, Diana. I find them to be probably the most amusing on the board. I, like others, just wanted to express thanks. Got any more like this?

John

Jewel

John,

You should check out her website. There's lots of good stuff there!

-jewel

diana

Thanks, John. Any more like this? Hm. There's my diatribe in Secular Support about my brother, who is on the cusp of committing matrimony. For arguments with preachers, check my website (and thanks for the plug, jewel), which has undergone quite a few changes in the past couple of months. This preacher hardly made a fuss compared to John Waddey (mentioned by enrious as "Brother John"), for example. (Take a gander through my Sacreligion Section....the Waddey debate--which I preserved for posterity--is a long one, but quite an entertaining read. He is the epitome of the Xn arguer. His behavior is so over-the-top cliched, it's amusing in its triteness.)

Good to have you back around, btw. I've missed you, John.

d

[ January 12, 2002: Message edited by: diana ]</p>

John the Atheist

There's my diatribe in Secular Support about my brother, who is on the cusp of committing matrimony. For arguments with preachers, check my website (and thanks for the plug, jewel), which has undergone quite a few changes in the past couple of months.

I've already read that one, so how 'bout you or jewel giving me the link to your homepage, please. I'd appreciate it. Last time I was on it, I was only able to get on once. It never let me back in. So I never got to finish your commentary on Genesis.

John

[ January 12, 2002: Message edited by: John the Atheist ]</p>