Hello again TrueAmerican,
I don't blame you at all for not wanting to lose your identity. As a true American, as I'm sure you are, the very thought of you becoming a ???
(nothing) is so scary you don't want to think about it. But to me, I know no different way.
I think MullberryBlueShimmer made a good point that is valid here, and that is that she like me doesn't really feel anything about the diversity of
her local culture in Melbourne. Basically as far as she is aware there have always been Greeks, Italians and Chinese amongst others in her community
in Melbourne. Whereas for her parents it is not the case, and there is some resistance there I think. So the key point really here is change, and the
fact that people don't like things to change too much. Especially when they stick out like a sore thumb!
It's like when she said that she went to Sydney and saw all of the amazing history that there is there. And turned around and there's McDonalds
staring her in the face! It seemed wrong to her and I'm sure it would to me too.
I visited Niagra Falls a few years ago, and it was truely an aweinspiring sight. But right on top of Niagra is the most tacky and dispicable town
imaginable. If you've never been, it really is a contrast between the best of nature and the worst of capitalism.
So by saying this I'm really changing what we're discussing here and I apologise for that, but I feel that it is this "sticking out like a sore
thumb" that is really the crux of the arguement. I wouldn't have any objection to people coming here and learning the language and being part of a
true English community. And I'm sure that if your Spanish friends learnt English there would be no need for those signs to be in Spanish anyway. So
really by having these signs in different languages it is underlining divisions in your community.
Thanks for the support and the vote, it was very kind of you. I am considering doing the podcast thing soon, so maybe I can "tell" you what I
think.
Stay American, if you can!
