In Powder Springs, Georgia, at a campaign event, he said this earlier this week.

OBAMA: I don't understand when people are going around worrying about, "We need to have English only." They want to pass a law, "We want just, uh, we want English only." Now, I agree that immigrants should learn English. I agree with that. But, but, understand this. Instead of worrying about whether, uh, immigrants can learn English -- they'll learn English -- you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish. You should be thinking about how can your child become bilingual. We should have every child speaking more than one language. You know, it's embarrassing, it's embarrassing when -- when, uh, Europeans come over here, they all speak English, they speak French, they speak German. And then we go over to Europe, and all we can say is, "Merci beaucoup." (laughter)

Now, I kinda take this personally. I've visited France twice, Mexico twice, Korea once, briefly spent time in Germany and Belgium. I did not speak more than a few words of their native languages. So I'm an embarrassment to Obama.

Seems to me Obama and his wife are often embarassed by the average American citizen and our country as a whole.

I just wish I was in one of his little televised townhall meetings and got to ask a question.

If this jerk becomes President, I'll be embarrassed that he is our President.

Not to defend Obama's obvious naivete, but he is a lot better traveled and better educated than the average citizen of this country. In Europe, and in a lot of places, you are ignorant if you know only one language. When I was little, and my Dad insisted that I learn another language and study at least a couple more, he always remided me of that. Yes; other Americans can be very embarrassing in matters of culture and understanding other cultures.

On the upside, I find Americans the most polite and the most easygoing when travelling to other countries. Perhaps it is just a bias, but I really would rather deal with an American almost anywhere. Travellers from other countries seem to have expectations that cannot be met, and they get cranky when those expectations are not met. Americans, on the other hand, do not seem addicted to the notion that the world owes them something. Once again......just my own opinion and I'm not changing it. Please do not flame in vain!

I don't see anything wrong with Obama's underlying message, which is to educate and diversify Americans. SS is right - Europeans tend to have a much more diverse education.

I went to Germany last year and although I speak the language, I'm not fluent and was thankful that most of the Germans were able to speak English (this especially became useful when I was lost and trying to find my way to the Oktoberfest tents!). Not to mention, most Europeans appreciate the effort put forth if you try to speak their language, however bad you may be at speaking it. Just as most Americans, IMO, appreciate foreigners trying to learn the English language when coming to visit.

Imagine how difficult it would be for Europeans to visit this country if they were not educated in the English language. Is it safe to assume that most Americans are not bilingual? If not most, I'd say no more than half, but really I have no statistics or information from where I gathered that conclusion – just a guess.

At any rate, Snoopy, I think you're really taking what he said and blowing it out or proportion. I don't think he intended to say that he's embarrassed by you, or most Americans, just that the education in this country can be embarrassing at time. I think we can all agree with that.

Read again what he said.... "you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish"
Not your children need to learn to speak another language... he was very specific in stating "Spanish"...
The majority of our illegals are from Spanish speaking countries....

I love the fact that my daughter wants to learn languages... last year she went to a program sponsored by the library to get a basic start for German and then Japanese.
This summer she is doing French and Spanish...

I learned German at the knee of my grandparents and Spanish in high school.... can barely get by in either today..
I learned quite a bit of Viet Namese during 3 tours.. unfortunately all I remember can't be used in polite company....

Yes our children should take a foreign language in school, but I still think Obama's remark was out of line...
As for his remark about "immigrants can learn English -- they'll learn English", that might have been true in my grandparents time, but it's not as true today...
Immigrant groups are demanding that classes be taught in their language. Is that integrating yourself into the country you have chosen to live in.
I have no problem with immigrants keeping their customs and languages.... as long as they honor mine... and they are not doing it.

Agreed.

Americans in general are extremely ignorant when it comes to learning and/or speaking other languages.

Admittedly, I do not agree with that statement and what he SHOULD have said is "you need to make sure your child speaks another language" or something along those lines. However, I still believe his underlying message was in regards to learning a second language.




I agree with you on this. Americans should not be forced to learn a different language in order to accomodate others - it should be the opposite.

Hey Coma, do computer languages count as learning another language. I know a bunch of those but haven't really learned to speak another language beyond a word here and a phrase there. I'm sure one day I'll break down and learn to speak spanish fluently.

the most important spanish phrase you'll ever need to know is "Donde esta el bano"

Learn it, live it, love it!

Well, computer languages are universal anyway!

I know some spanish, latin and german.. but I wouldn't feel confident going to another country and speaking only that language.

No; I don't think computer languages count............American Sign Language does, though!

Spanish is almost as universal as English. The only problem with it is that there seem to be a few dialects of it out there that are hard for anyone who does not use that particular dialect to understand. I have not found that with English. So when Obama wants the up and coming generations to learn Spanish, he may just be looking at raw statistics. A large percentage of our LEGAL immigrants come from Spanish speaking countries, too. I really thought most of our illegal aliens came from Vietnam, Myanmar, African countries, and the Middle East. Perhaps not..........................

I am in the same boat as you then Snoopy. If you are a citizen of the USA you should know English plain and simple. If you know more lanuages great. Everyone has priorities, it isn't one of mine since I don't plan on going anywhere another language is needed. If this is one of his big issues as president then he might not be a good president. I think we have bigger issues to deal with directly.

Computer languages are only universal after being compiled or translated into machine language but there's some major differences between high level languages (Java, C, RPG, COBOL), control languages (JCL, CL, ECL), and other languages like SQL and Perl.

As far as other languages, hell...when I was stationed at Ft. Knox, there were some Kentucky dialects of english that made me feel like I was in another country for sure.

He's just letting his elitist attitude show.

Do all college educated people think you're stupid if you didn't attend college?

How many Presidents say they are embarrassed by the average US citizen?

While I agree that every citizen of the US should speak English as a primary language, I agree that this really isn't an important campaign issue.

Hmm, I didn't think of it like that. It's nice to think that people should try to learn more than one language, but if you aren't going to college, if you are going to work at McDs or wherever, or anywhere else in this country, why do you need Spanish? If you go to England, you should be speaking English, if they are wondering why you don't know French, wtf, why would that even come up you are in ENGLAND. If you go to France then you can learn some French. English is our language, if I want to go to Mexico I'll learn Spanish.

I had to take 2 foreign language classes in high school to complete the university track, I remember very little of what I learned, if you don't practice it I guess you don't remember it.

Well, what I was going to say was that I originally didn't have a problem with what he said, but then I'm thinking, he is saying we NEED to learn another language, and a specific language at that. I don't know. I'm indifferent I suppose.

About the stupid if you didn't attend college, I don't necessarily think that is true until you get up to masters or PhDs then my experience is that they do think that way.

If you all wouldn't be "clinging to your guns and religon" you might have time and be able to learn another language. The more Obama talks the more I really get the feeling that he and his wife realy don't like Americans.

I'm learning Spanish so the illegals I find on my property will know what I am saying as I point my gun at them and pray...

Griz thats no way to treat your landscapers!

Ain't no landscapers on this land but me and mine...