things I don't understand; part of a large series

[phinnia]

Getting all of your ID replaced is like installing Linux; everything has dependencies. I can't replace my Social Security card without getting my passport and green card replaced; I can't replace my birth certificate without a garantour; I can't replace X without Y, etcetera etcetera.

So I called the Canadian Consulate (thank God this happened in Seattle, I guess; the Consulate is downtown) and asked them for advice on how to expedite this process, because some of my US documents can't be processed without my Canadian documents, and I'm not sure where to begin with my Canadian documents; birth certificate or passport (considering I have my old expired passport and my passport can be processed in an expedited manner if need be - and that's not counting the fact that tallin's aunt is good friends with the Consular General in Seattle, apparently ...)

I was greeted with a phone message that was naturally in both official languages, and marvelled at the mellifluous beauty of the woman's French accent (I have a thing about that.) My french is not the greatest, certainly not compared to tallin who is officially bilingual eonough to carry on an actual conversation fluently, but it's not bad, because we had french all the way up from 4th grade until high school (everyone was required to take at least one high school french class.)

And then I remembered hearing some nervous nellie on NPR blathering about how the US should have only one official language and ZOMG those damned immigrants should just learn english and OMG THEY MIGHT HAVE TO TEACH SPANISH IN GRADE SCHOOLS blah blah blah (forgetting all about Puerto Rico as usual; not a state, I know, but still).

And I'm thinking, 'so what? It's not going to kill the kids. Hell, half the Supermommies have their kids in language classes anyway starting in utero. They should be glad they don't have to pay for it. (Of course that's probably the government's problem; they'd have to pay for it if it's mandatory, and education is not exactly a top priority because the right wing would prefer that everyone is ignorant so they don't know what's going on (I used to say the military was a top priority, but considering the recent admissions from the Pentagon that there are soldiers going without body armor, I can't even say that any more; where the hell is the money actually GOING? Look! Black helicopters!)

But of course, that would make sense, and would force the current government to get its head out of its ass and actually admit that the english-speaking-US is not the center of the universe, and we can't have that, I suppose. Sigh.

Comments

[moonrose.livejournal.com]

I had to take Spanish classes for 5 years in elementary school, I remember just about damned near nothing. And that's living in a town where Caucasian was the minority. 'Course it didn't help that what was taught was textbook Spanish, and everyone around me spoke top-speed babbliscious Tex-Mex. I still can't make more than a word edgewise, there's no spaces in the way people speak down here. Alljustonebiglongstringofsyllables. Oi.

[gatafairy.livejournal.com]

I just seethe inside. I just... I just sit here and seethe because Puerto Rico is constantly slighted. I just... *refrains from headdesking* OMG WUT? TEACH SPANISH IN GRADE SCHOOLS? Do you know how many problems that would solve me? God, sometimes my brain switches to Spanish and refuses to come up with words in English and it would just be so much better if people at least knew some basic vocabulary. *wail*

...s'not like I we don't have nationality issues as it is. *facepalm*

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

*has much Puerto Rico love, just for you*

[reannon.livejournal.com]

Hell, half the Supermommies have their kids in language classes anyway starting in utero.

Hey! I would've had Kiddo in Spanish classes immediately if his language skills weren't below grade level! :) Seriously, there's good non-supermommy reasons to start kids on languages early - the brain pathways for learning languages seal up after a certain number of years, unless you're one of those freaks who can learn languages like snapping your fingers. Which underscores your real point, which is that bilingualism=a good thing. :)

P.S. Our Town Schools are adding Spanish classes to the younger elementary grades in the next couple of years, because they rock. As far as the government hesitating because they'd have to pay for it, the federal and state governments of the U.S. have a long and proud tradition of requiring schools to do things without funding them. For thirty years they've promised to fund 40 percent of special ed; last year it was 17 percent. Don't get me started on No Child Left Behind... :D

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

I'm not talking about early language acquisiton in even preschool or school age kids; I'm talking about things like 'french for infants' - I swear to God, I have seen classes like that - where the parent takes their child who is about as active as a potted plant to language classes to 'enrich' them. That's a little too much for me. (Of course I am also a freakish person that does not understand why toddlers and infants need TV or DVDs, either. Most infants I have seen generally spend most of their time staring into space, chewing on body parts/toys/everything in the free world, and plotting developmental milestones to happen when their parents are out of the room. :-D

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

Sorry about all the issues. :/ I still had my passport, so I just waved it at the DMV and they'll mail me a new one; likewise for my social security card.

I wish they'd put my passport name amendment somewhere besides PAGE 47 though. :p It confuses people.

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I can see that. :P