[oak999]

Originally Posted by Peter Ansoff

So if we get enough people together and vote to change the US flag to a completely different one that is ok right?

Yes, of course -- that is the way our government works. The law that defines the flag has been changed twice since it was orginally adopted. In each case, the change was made by the representatives of the people (Congress and the President, in this case). I personally like the flag the way it is, and would not favor changing it unless it was for a pretty good reason. However, my opinion is not the only one that counts.

Peter Ansoff

Well all I have to say Pete is remarks such as yours about the language only make people angry about this issue that is already heated. There are some things that do change others that do not. Our language is one of those things. The issue is respect! If these people wish to come here and be a part of the USA then they need to learn the language. If they can not then they do not need to be here.

I will remind that part of becommng a US citizen is basic understanding of the English language. This is why I and others have kept on top of contacting our elected officials to keep the deportations going (this year was a all time high). If the option is breaking up families to save our language and US culture of this country from those who broke in-- I say good!

These people are FOREIGNERS who are going to come here illegally and demand things be changed their way when they should not be here in the first place? Afraid not. Lets keep in mind immigrants of the past assimilated into the USA. If what you are saying is true that they are trying to change the language and change the very foundation of this country then this is invasion and not immigration. The government should consider shoot to kill on the border to protect the United States.

[ekbrooks]

I recently read a piece about a town founded by Germans in Texas where virtually none of the Germans had learned any English in three generations. Public school was entirely in German for three generations. What is the basis for your assumption that everybody but the hispanics has learned the English language and "assimilated." What do you care, anyway? Americans need to learn more languages and about more cultures. We'd understand the world we live in a lot better if we weren't so quick to make assumptions, one of those assumptions being that Americans are always right and better than everybody else. Smugness is not attractive. Go travel and try to learn where you fit in to the greater scheme of things.

[ekbrooks]

People have a free speech right that supersedes State votes requiring English only. In California there were two cases where the boss fired two filipino employees from speaking Tagalog to one another in the hall as they walked (on the job). The employer lost. There has to be some compelling societal need or conflict before you can start DICTATING what language people speak to one another in. Some Americans are so paranoid and narcissistic that they think anybody speaking a foreign language must be talking negatively about them. Get a life. Long may they speak, and long may we listen.

[ekbrooks]

How does Peter feel about the fact that General Curtis LeMay built a tall flagpole in his yard for the sole purpose of hanging a huge American flag upsidedown in protest against his government refusing or failing to nuclear bomb various countries? To me it's just free speech, in poor taste, and made him look like a fool. In your current case, it's just teenagers showing pride in a Hispanic-American culture. Free speech. I certainly would not expect the NYTimes to cover a story about teenagers in California having a political protest using flags. Is there anybody here who objected when the upsidedown flag flier was General LeMay? If so, let's hear from you.

[Peter Ansoff]

Hi, ek, welcome to the forum!

How does Peter feel about the fact that General Curtis LeMay built a tall flagpole in his yard for the sole purpose of hanging a huge American flag upsidedown in protest against his government refusing or failing to nuclear bomb various countries?

Peter feels exactly the same way that you do -- "it's just free speech, in poor taste, and made him look like a fool."

Is there anybody here who objected when the upsidedown flag flier was General LeMay?

Actually, I doubt that most of the posters here will know who General LeMay was. Your point is well taken, however.

Peter Ansoff

[Robin Hickman]

Howdy, ALL !

I read through this thread pretty fast, so I might have missed it!

I am VERY surprised that nobody put up a link to Snopes.com about this story. Even though is about three years old now, I still get "forwarded" e-mails about this story!

Any way, for those who might be interested, here's the Snopes LINK :

http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/mexicoflag.asp

"When In Doubt, GOOGLE It Out",

Robin "Oh, No! Not Again!" Hickman

[oak999]

Originally Posted by ekbrooks

How does Peter feel about the fact that General Curtis LeMay built a tall flagpole in his yard for the sole purpose of hanging a huge American flag upsidedown in protest against his government refusing or failing to nuclear bomb various countries? To me it's just free speech, in poor taste, and made him look like a fool. In your current case, it's just teenagers showing pride in a Hispanic-American culture. Free speech. I certainly would not expect the NYTimes to cover a story about teenagers in California having a political protest using flags. Is there anybody here who objected when the upsidedown flag flier was General LeMay? If so, let's hear from you.

Really? So putting another flag above that of the USA is just "showing hispanic pride". Here is the deal. These people are here in the USA if the have so much "pride" in Mexico--they should go back to it! This disrespect for our country and flag is a result of illegal immigration and lack of enforcement. This is why we need deportations to continue and raids.