From: jimmo@sco.COM (James Mohr)
Subject: Re: GERMAN CLASS
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 22:15:38 GMT


In article <1790.178.uupcb@wugate.wustl.edu> carl.camurca%travel@wugate.wustl.edu (Carl Camurca)  writes:

>RDC>>That makes her belong to the 0.002% of the
>RDC>>Americans, who have heard of another language. Seldom met such an
>RDC>>ignorance about foreign languages as in this country.

Your ignorance is showing. Most educated people today realize the need
for foreign language skills. I would love to see you in five years still
flipping burgers at McDonald's.

>RDC>The reason for knowing anything is based on need.  I argue that
>RDC>america is so big that there is seldom a need to deal with foreign
>RDC>countries.
>
>The sad thing about it is, that you don't realize your loss.

He will in a few years if the people he works for have the same level
of ignorance. Most businesspeople today realize that Germany and
Japan are becoming the big names in business and America is falling by
the wayside. People *need* to know foreign languages today to be
viable competators in the world economy.

>
>RDC>Saying you know about germany is the same as saying you know
>RDC>california, except we have better looking women and our grandfathers
>RDC>weren't fascists.
>
>The first is utterly subjective, and the latter is not true for me.

Agreed, it's not true!! The difference between 'our' grandfathers and
the German facists was merely the name. We imprisoned people of
different races because we saw them as a threat. We let prisoners
of war die of hunger as an act of revenge. We are guilty of wiping
out entire races in the pogroms of the last century. The real difference
is that the Germans have changed. We still allow racists organization
like the KKK to exist. In Germany, the Nazi party is illegal.

What about the fact that Germans have a national health care 
program? If you can't afford the insurance, the state pays
for it. Even if you do have to pay for it, you get much better
treatment for your money than in the US. What about the fact 
that all education is free in Germany? Tuition costs are so high
in the US that only the rich can afford it. What about the
social security benefits in Germany? You usual get enough to
live on, unlike here where getting enough SS to live on is a 
rare case. How about the death penalty? Germany doesn't have one
and the crime rate in Los Angeles is higher per capita and in
absolute numbers than ALL of Europe. 

Anyone who have lived in both Germany and the US will tell you that
the Germans are far more concerned with the welfare of their
people than the Americans. Germans are concern much more about basic
human rights like food and clothing than Americans. Americans care
more about civil liberties (like freedom of speech) than human 
rights like housing and the right to live past your 20th birthday
without fear of getting killed in a gang war. Studying German is
a hell of a lot closer to 'humanities' than anything the US can
offer.

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Perhaps old Rog here is correct when he say you don't have to live
in a country to judge it. It does help. However, I have lived for
many years in BOTH countries and the Germans are one of the most 
hospitable and warm people in the world. You do get ones who are
hateful toward Americans, but I would bet the rent that they lived 
near a US military base and had to put up with ignorant bozos like
old Rog here.

We'll never change Roger. He's the stereotypical bigot that almost has 
hate itself flowing through his veins. Remember, this is America.
No matter how ignorant the person or viscious his heart, he does have
the right to spout sewage from his mouth. I agree with whomever
said recently that we cannot just create a kill file for messages of
this type. It is important for us americans to show the rest of the
world that Carasso's racism is not the norm in the US. 

I guess the old adage is true that people hate in others, what they
hate the most in themselves. Just maybe, old Rog here is ashamed of
his racism and is too afraid to admit it. Maybe his father was one of
the american fascists who imprisoned the Japanese or his grandfather
was one of those who exterminated the Native Americans.


Where I live, the most powerful phrase is:

Alle eine Menschheit.


Maybe old Rog's grandchildren will grow up to believe it as I do.
Let's hope so.


Jim

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James (Jim) Mohr                             "Great spirits have always
Support Engineer                        encountered violent opposition
The Santa Cruz Operation                from mediocre minds."
email:   uunet!sco!jimmo                       - A. Einstein
         jimmo@sco.com
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                           DISCLAIMER
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The opinions and views expressed here are my own and may not represent
those of the Santa Cruz Operation, The State of California or the 
United States of America.