I speak four languages, which makes me slightly below average compared to the average non-retarded European. I believe the average European speaks 127 languages now. Two of these languages I learned after the age of 27, and both I learned without spending any real time in the country of their origin. I speak both very well, and can function just fine in both of those countries.

It's a matter of pride that when I am in Germany, I only want to speak German. Now contrast that with people who come to the United States and live here for 10, 20, even 30 years, and can barely say 'toilet'.

There's something wrong here, and I think it's because of our attitude of babying people by giving them just enough in their own language. This allows them to 'get by' and thus keeps them from ever being forced to learn the damn language of the country and start functioning like someone who lives here.

And that brings me to my next question...

Since when is it our government's job to express itself internally in foreign languages? Why do I have to look at driver's license applications in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Farsi, and soon Swahili and Belgian? Why is it anyone's 'right' to have a government sponsored translator at the hospital in the language of your choice? Am I losing my mind here?

If I go to Germany, Finland, or any of the 'socialist' countries in the world, I don't have this 'right'. So at what point did we decide that it's an obligation to spend countless funds translating regulations, applications, and other government generated gobbledygook that are hardly comprehensible in English? Is it really necessary that these people be able to read things that WE ALL KNOW no one reads anyway in their 'native' tongue?

Here's a novel idea... how about learning the language spoken by the preponderance of the country? Naah...

Maybe you're offended by what I'm saying. If so, cool. Keep reading, and getting offended please. At least you're doing it in ENGLISH. Kudos to you. But I find our country's attitude toward selectively coddling popular minorities at my (the tax payer's) expense offensive.

I take offense to this in two ways.

First, it is not a policy which is applied consistently. I can't get a driver's license application in Gaelic or Swahili, so why in Cantonese and Spanish?

Second, it is not, as many would submit, a policy which is based on need. I propose that a Gaelic speaker who can't speak English has just as much need of a driver's license as does a Spanish speaker.

If it is a matter of aggregate need, then I propose that the aggregate need of Spanish speakers to comfortably take the driver's license test in Spanish is not nearly as strong as their aggregate need to learn English and function at a higher level in our society. Perhaps the added impetus provided by not having these resources in their native language would provide much needed incentive...

Finally, I'd like to say WHAT the HELL? Why are we giving out voter pamphlets in anything other than English? It is a requirement to become an American citizen that one must speak and write English.