Don't hate me just cause I screech. This forum reminds me of a quote I heard, but I don't remember who said it, sorry. They said "I'd speak proper English, but who'd understand me?"

America is a country founded by arrogant people who wanted things their own way, I'm not sure why people think we'll be different in just a few years. This is a self righteous culture where consumerism drives delusions of personal importance and grandiose visions of entitlement. I personally try to inject myself with a fair amount of Eastern smarts as not to be gobbled up by the machine.

We're all here for only a short spot in time folks, let's all just try and be as wonderful as our potential.

Joe114, no tengo gusto de su comentario. En mi parte del país, hay un montón de locutores españoles que no incomoden aprender inglés. O cualquie otra lengua para esa materia. Sería muy fácil para que yo diga que esta gente es estúpida. Pero, es no. Pero eso no es necesariamente verdad.

Hablo español.

Ich spreche etwas Deutsches

Am dighian bherdhoin Gaelgae.

And, of course, I have a deep understanding of the English language. I agree with the earlier comment; if you want to bash on Americans arbitrarily, just root for your local sports team.

Saying that America understands merely one language and fails to learn others is just a bashing rumor.  Almost everyone I know speaks 3 or more languages, while I'm still working on my 3rd (japanese). 

To start, Spanish is, in my opinion, far easier than learning English.  Why?  Because it sounds better, and there's far fewer exceptions and there's a lot more structure.  I aced my Spanish classes sleeping, while we debated on political topics IN SPANISH.  However, not all of us are linguistically inclined, and can only manage to stick with one language.  It's not an insult, it's just who they are.

...I hate country bashing threads.

Yeah! Go USA. A whole heck of a lot of people want to move here for such a crappy country . There is no such thing as a Utopian country, and if there is then someone better message me quick.

The true bandit in America is Consumerism. Check out how other countries fair once they start trying to live the American 'middle class' life of want and waste. What the world needs is a nice lesson on the difference between want and need. If we could take our focus off of hoarding our stuff and trying to feel complete through ownership, we could begin the process of feeling complete through humanity and oneness with our fellow man.

I love my country, but my fellow Americans and the rest of the world have to be careful of the consumer brainwash that is growing every day.

I can explain why... the U.S. is the largest and most important country in terms of international affairs and is the nation who is the one spreading its culture to other places, for better or worse.  Nevertheless, if we are going to be involved throughout the world, either we have to learn 99999 languages, or many people in other countries have to learn english, once again for better or for worse.  However, many Americans know many languages, but I would say that the average "non-american" knows more languages than the average american. 

We need to have a cage match, let the best language win!!! Pay-per-view!!

Fac ut vivas et veritatem imitare!

Words:

up=arriba

down=abajo

chess=ajedrez

King=Rey

queen=reina

Knight=caballero

pawn peon

Bishop=alfil

night =noche

day = dia

sun =sol

moon =luna

1=one

2=dos

3=tres

4=cuatro

5 = cinco

6=seis

7 = siete

8=ocho

is spanish

America was founded by arrogant people  Oh brother,  You need to pick up on some history books.  eastern smarts?  You mean communism?

Don't assume. Be open-minded.

Being that my parents are from Puerto Rico and I am fluent in Spanish as well as English, I wish to disagree with the idea that Americans don't speak more than just English. I also learned French for four years in school.

Foreign languages are offered in just about every school in America. 

The only reason people from Europe are often multi-lingual is from necessity. I America was a small or medium sized country in the middle of a continent where many other languages were spoken, well, we'd probably be multi-lingual as well. 

But, as it happens, we border what? An predominantly English-speaking to the North and a Spanish-speaking country to the South. Can you guess what language most Americans will likely speak other than English? Spanish.

So, it's not a problem for us... it just seems to be a problem for everyone else.

Joe, 

Con todo respeto quiero decir que en los E.U. hablamos Ingles porque, simplemente, es nuestro idioma! Los papas mio son de san Lorenzo y yo me crié en NYC. Hay muchisima gente que hablan mas de una idioma pero no lo utilizen porque no les dan la oportunidad. Sin oportunidad, no hay la practica necesario para tener el vocabulario que uno necesita para hablar con facilidad. 

I know the language of the hand. And I know how to use it

my real lenguege is spanish

help me plz on improving

Anti-Americanism certainly runs deep..... please continue to bash our leaders and diversified peoples. Maybe we americans should consider this external hatred when rescuing other countries from natural calamities; when handing out billions annually to impoverished (and otherwise) nations; when forgiving foriegn debts; when saving those same hateful nations from themselves and external threats; when feeding the worlds hungry, etc. America is the most philanthropic country in the world.

Our annual charity abroad dwarfs the combined total of the rest of the world. Our generosity and good will is unmatched.

But most of all we should maybe rethink allowing hateful non-Americans from emigrating to our great country. Maybe rethink the billions in aid we send to those who would do us ill will. The fact is that more than ten million people annually apply to come to live in the Greatest Country on God's Earth. There is a reason more come here from abroad for an education and opportunity than any other country.

Maybe the bashers would be better served to say thank you once in a while.

I would like to suggest just one small thing.  On many threads here, I see people breaking the chain of the thread, by bashing someone over the head for spelling a word wrong.  That is really not needed and it is not helpful at all.  Keep in mind that many people on this site learned English as a second language.  There is no need to jump on people about spelling or grammar.  We don't need to post perfectly.  We can discuss the topic and not get side-tracked by insults disguised as lectures on English usage.

Every time I come across a chess player with excellent english skills, who hails from a country in which english is not the native language, I tip my hat and silently thank Hollywood for doing such a wonderful job of exporting American culture to the people of the world.  Their success has allowed me to spend more time doing the things I love -- things like playing chess and seducing beautful foreign women who speak perfect english. 

So, my fellow Americans....the next time you go to see a movie -- don't bitch and moan about the high cost of tickets or the price of popcorn.  That would be ungrateful and we wouldn't want that.  Instead, just smile, hand over your hard earned cash and be grateful to Hollywood for all of the opportunities they've given you.  You're just returning the favor.  You know...a quid pro quo. (*gasp* what is that, like, Latin?) 

lol! we might as well dump all of our money into foreign nations too!  Wouldn't that be a great addition!

(oh wait.... we already are... hmm gotta think of something else...)

No doubt.  It was just a few years that American's donated 2 billion dollars in aid for tsunami victims on top of the 900 million dollars given by the American government.  Maybe that's why they think we're all stupid.