Date: Thu, 26 May 2005 13:54:26 GMT From: Jef Gearhart <darmokandjiladnospamgra.com> Subject: Re: GM to cut virtually all Saab's ties to Sweden - And some Politics to boot!
Pooh Bear wrote: > I was lucky to have a part private education - starting learning French ( for a > total of 8 yrs ) at age 8. I forget when I started Latin ( silly language but it > was a popular requirement for Oxford and Cambridge University entry ) but it was > around the same time. I spent 2 yrs learning German too from 14-16. Wonderful for you. > Out of curiosity - does the US school curriculum include compulsory study > of a foreign language ? Texas, often seen as a state of rednecks and hicks, requires foreign language studies in high school. Also, nearly all of our state Universities also require it to earn any degree. Our school teachers are required to study it in college to earn their teaching certificate. Of course, anyone who has undertaken the study of a foreign language knows that you either use it or lose it, so I doubt the Scandanavian languages would do much good here in the states, although I did actually have a couple of fairly close Norwegian friends in college. > I've tried to reduce it but sadly you have to accept that many > Americans ( including your President and Secretary of State for > the most part for example ) are entirely oblivious or > indifferent to overseas affairs . If they do take an interest, it > seems sadly that they are offered a skewed view ( courtesy of Fox etc ). > I *know* there are decent Americans out there - it's just that the other > sort hog the limelight. There are plenty of *more than decent* Americans who do take a legitimate and informed interest in foreign affairs, and still agree that the Iraqi leadership needed to be bitch-slapped, and that if the Muslim people are not willing to do what is necessary to engage in long term efforts to lead their people to a rational and peaceful state of existence, then it is up to the more competent people in this world to get the ball rolling. If you want the podium, then please inform us of your alternative solutions to the world's problems. With your premium education, you should offer more than just blanket criticism.
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