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DFW

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65. It was compulsory in the high school I was attending at the time

Reply to The Velveteen Ocelot (Reply #56)

Wed Sep 20, 2017, 04:03 PM

Sep 2017

I have no idea if they still require it, though their website says they offer it. I see German is no longer offered, but Chinese (presumably Mandarin) now is. I understand the decision, even being married to a German, living in Germany and speaking German at home. Here in central Europe, German is THE second language, but worldwide, Mandarin has to have trumped German in importance. Even last Sunday when arriving at my hotel in Vienna, my US colleague and I shared a ride up to our floor with a family from China. We let them and their small children exit first, and they said, "thank you" in English. They turned around with their mouths agape when I said "you're welcome" in Mandarin. It appears they still consider most of us incapable of learning it--which is why, of course, we should.

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It is really embarrassing to read the xenophobic posts on DU, [View all] Ms. Toad Sep 2017 OP

i'll just ridicule her choices. spanone Sep 2017 #1

Have at it - you'll get no argument from me. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #4

👍🏼 spanone Sep 2017 #11

Me neither, BUT not ALL the douchebags posting here are going to be our own. Hortensis Sep 2017 #63

A fair number of the xenophobic, homophobic, misogynistic ones Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #76

Agreed We don't make any friends by mocking others. It just looks childish and petty. JoeOtterbein Sep 2017 #2

Yup. Just look at her husband. nt SusanaMontana41 Sep 2017 #21

I agree Fatemah2774 Sep 2017 #157

Her accent is not the problem, I agree. Solly Mack Sep 2017 #3

She has been here Scarsdale Sep 2017 #53

I have a cousin from Spain who has been in America 40 years and still speaks English Solly Mack Sep 2017 #118

My husband has been here 20 years cannabis_flower Sep 2017 #167

It's very, very difficult for an adult to shake the accent of their native language. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2017 #5

I was in Italy for many years, rarely speaking English, speaking Italian fierywoman Sep 2017 #16

The Guys In Milan That i Knew. . . ProfessorGAC Sep 2017 #30

That's funny! fierywoman Sep 2017 #33

I was gluted to LittleGirl Sep 2017 #40

I got it out of my wonderful library. Have you seen The Young Montalbano? fierywoman Sep 2017 #75

Yes, that's the one I meant LittleGirl Sep 2017 #124

The older one has about 20 episodes. You can also read fierywoman Sep 2017 #126

yeah, he's a looker LittleGirl Sep 2017 #129

There are the same characters at the police station, just older fierywoman Sep 2017 #144

Well, I'll Have To Pass On GWTW ProfessorGAC Sep 2017 #46

My husband is from Calabria JustAnotherGen Sep 2017 #38

Maybe we should have an Italian group here on DU flamingdem Sep 2017 #120

Amazing realization. LittleGirl Sep 2017 #41

Exactly. I grew up in an Irish Catholic family - raven mad Sep 2017 #17

I can understand Norwegian. It's indeed not complicated grammatically DFW Sep 2017 #36

I am learning the version that's taught as the "formal" language, The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2017 #47

Icelandic is a hoot DFW Sep 2017 #49

Icelandic is what Norwegian was a thousand years ago The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2017 #51

Latin is the entry port to declined languages alright DFW Sep 2017 #54

My Dad made me take Latin. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2017 #56

It was compulsory in the high school I was attending at the time DFW Sep 2017 #65

Indeed! The main goal is to communicate - if her accent doesn't hinder that, KitSileya Sep 2017 #155

I'd rather just ignore the whole spectacle. The_Casual_Observer Sep 2017 #6

I feel like this is a conversation that we've had to have far too often on DU regarding the Trump SaschaHM Sep 2017 #7

Absolutely. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #12

Absolutely tymorial Sep 2017 #13

I agree. K&R. WhiskeyGrinder Sep 2017 #8

Her accent is fine MFM008 Sep 2017 #9

I love people with accents. sprinkleeninow Sep 2017 #10

Certainly how she carries out her role of first lady Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #15

Everyone has an accent ... in some language. HeartachesNhangovers Sep 2017 #66

Completely agree. K & R Pacifist Patriot Sep 2017 #14

I generally avoid her inability to speak English fluently as a point of criticism. BannonsLiver Sep 2017 #18

She is irrelevant thbobby Sep 2017 #19

Right on! HeartachesNhangovers Sep 2017 #39

She speaks English much better than I can speak a second spooky3 Sep 2017 #20

Agreed. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #25

Everyone has an accent except me Orrex Sep 2017 #22

No. That would be me. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #34

I agree LiberalLovinLug Sep 2017 #23

I have no aspirations to be like the people you corrrectly suspect Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #26

I never talk about Melania leftynyc Sep 2017 #24

Agreed Lotusflower70 Sep 2017 #27

No excuse for that get the red out Sep 2017 #28

I love her accent. report those posts, they should be deleted. Sunlei Sep 2017 #29

Well, I couldn't understand what she said. procon Sep 2017 #31

That sounds like your problem not her accent. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #32

Don't be so defensive. The woman is a tool. Don't feel sorry for her, procon Sep 2017 #55

I think it's adorable how you rationalize simplistic petulance as someone else being defensive. LanternWaste Sep 2017 #57

Republicans use the term "adorable", is that an example of "simplistic petulance"? nt procon Sep 2017 #69

The things I learn here. Weekend Warrior Sep 2017 #81

You still up what time zone snooper2 Sep 2017 #149

I'm not feeling sorry for her. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #73

So you say. procon Sep 2017 #77

This has NOTHING to do with picking on Melania, or having sympathy for her Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #82

Maybe you have a different meaning of the term "xenophobia"? procon Sep 2017 #117

ridiculing how she pronounces words, Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #139

Whoa, has anyone demanded that she should, "Speak English"? procon Sep 2017 #145

My current theory is that she exaggerates the accent just so she doesn't have to talk to Donald Pope George Ringo II Sep 2017 #35

An foreign accent is no big deal. It's the content that matters. DFW Sep 2017 #37

Yep, after living in LittleGirl Sep 2017 #44

Schwyzer German is VERY special DFW Sep 2017 #52

LOL LittleGirl Sep 2017 #67

Kinda sorta DFW Sep 2017 #68

Indeed, it's gruezi LittleGirl Sep 2017 #125

If you have a laptop or desktop, there is a whole table of "foreign" symbols DFW Sep 2017 #156

yes, there is LittleGirl Sep 2017 #158

I did my duty DFW Sep 2017 #160

I agree. It's childish and classless and reflects much worse on the mocker than the mockee. WillowTree Sep 2017 #42

Lighten up, Frances! I DON'T think Melania is an "odious human being" (you think THAT is WinkyDink Sep 2017 #43

Many people do indeed, believe mocking an accent is humorous. LanternWaste Sep 2017 #59

*many robots do indeed bathroommonkey76 Sep 2017 #62

You seem too young to remember the late, great comedian Bill Dana. Pity. WinkyDink Sep 2017 #100

Oooh, so we are NOT really above name-calling! Heal thyself. WinkyDink Sep 2017 #101

YES LittleGirl Sep 2017 #45

I don't mind people mocking her accent bathroommonkey76 Sep 2017 #48

Isn't this couched in the fact that Trump degrades immigrants and Melania R B Garr Sep 2017 #50

Yes leftstreet Sep 2017 #60

Exactly, he called an entire country rapists, murderers, bad people R B Garr Sep 2017 #95

And it wasn't just one country, he actually smeared entire continents right after saying that ecstatic Sep 2017 #107

Ugh, he was basically saying anyone with brown skin... R B Garr Sep 2017 #128

So call her on that - that is a legitimate issue. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #136

This is the response I expected. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #72

It's always amazing how just commenting on a thread R B Garr Sep 2017 #98

Agree about making fun of her accent. lark Sep 2017 #58

Yeah, let's all get back to how fat her husband is. johnp3907 Sep 2017 #61

who? stonecutter357 Sep 2017 #64

There are two threads about her speech. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #88

Well she is a rascist PIG... stonecutter357 Sep 2017 #92

The fact that she jumped on the birth certificate bandwagon Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #93

I see "deporable" type comments on DU more and more. cwydro Sep 2017 #70

Perhaps she doesn't want to assimilate. I work with a dozen M&F former Soviet bloc coworkers. TheBlackAdder Sep 2017 #71

I.e. You've been here long enough. Learn to speak 'murican. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #74

I don't mock her language, I am just pointing out the double standard. TheBlackAdder Sep 2017 #79

I don't give a shit about Melania AT ALL..... onecent Sep 2017 #78

This isn't about Melania. It is about using xenophobia as a weapon. n/t Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #83

O,FGS. I for one, a traveller to all of Europe, Morocco, Canada, and Mexico, am not a xenophobe. WinkyDink Sep 2017 #102

Are you OK with me calling her a rascist POS ? stonecutter357 Sep 2017 #80

+1, and I haven't noticed too many of those accent post on DU uponit7771 Sep 2017 #84

There were two threads today. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #87

Is this OK with you ? stonecutter357 Sep 2017 #132

It's #fakenews. stonecutter357 Sep 2017 #90

I haven't noticed them either. If she's mocked, I've seen it as a cynical contrast R B Garr Sep 2017 #94

Hmm...let me think. Do I care if racists are hurt if you use them as a weapon? Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #86

"Rascist" Dreamer Tatum Sep 2017 #104

I make fun of foreign accents sometimes. Dont think its xenophobic. nt LexVegas Sep 2017 #85

Really? melman Sep 2017 #89

You must stay offended. nt LexVegas Sep 2017 #96

So you can't answer melman Sep 2017 #97

I dont answer to you. Sorry... LexVegas Sep 2017 #99

Agreed melman Sep 2017 #91

OMG. Do you use Sunscreen #5000? Because you seem extremely sensitive. WinkyDink Sep 2017 #103

Extremely sensitive? melman Sep 2017 #106

What is that, a mink coat? moriah Sep 2017 #153

I'm old enough to remember Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #111

And "I'd rather be dead than Red".... moriah Sep 2017 #154

I haven't chimed in, but I think she's fair game ecstatic Sep 2017 #105

This has NOTHING to do with whether SHE is fair game Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #109

I don't agree that that's what's happening ("using foreignness as an insult") ecstatic Sep 2017 #114

So it's OK to use the N-word as an insult, as long as you aren't using it Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #135

There's plenty of that as well as fat shaming, ageism, law enforcement apologists... EarthFirst Sep 2017 #108

Agreed, all around. n/t Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #110

Agreed. This isn't the DU of yesteryear. I remember, probably 10 years ago or more when Purveyor Sep 2017 #112

My disgust with her has nothing to with where she was born. If arthritisR_US Sep 2017 #113

Precisely! Right on the money. VOX Sep 2017 #116

As long as you're not ridiculing her by making fun of her accident Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #133

I do view her as a horrible accident like her husband, a horrible arthritisR_US Sep 2017 #143

Not inclined to be charitable to someone who supported 45's birther crap... VOX Sep 2017 #115

Her bullying BS is the height of hypocrisy given how arthritisR_US Sep 2017 #119

One of the biggest lessons learned as a black woman in America... Quayblue Sep 2017 #121

Recommended and agreed. guillaumeb Sep 2017 #122

There are many xenophobic posts on DU, but the ones talking about Melania Ninsianna Sep 2017 #123

Mentioning or noticing an accent is different from ridiculing it, or someone because of it. n/t Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #131

Depends on how they're mentioning or noticing it. I think this is a bit hyperreactive Ninsianna Sep 2017 #134

"of which a great deal is easily found" melman Sep 2017 #137

Then open your eyes and take a look my friend, it's not exactly hidden. Ninsianna Sep 2017 #138

Nice of you to judge that what I - and the majorityof people in this thread - Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #140

Well, accusing people of xenophobia by projecting a very odd definition of it Ninsianna Sep 2017 #142

As I have expressly stated several times Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #161

Yes, and while we're at it, can we please stop making odious comments about people's weight and InAbLuEsTaTe Sep 2017 #127

+1000 Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #130

Even Trump's hair? Haha. WinkyDink Sep 2017 #150

I have an accent and I will make fun of her as well mshasta Sep 2017 #141

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2017 #146

The next swimsuit edition comes out in February snooper2 Sep 2017 #147

Children of politicians should never be discussed and spouses rarely unless they make a political stevenleser Sep 2017 #148

I hate it when people pick on someone that claimed Obama was Kenyan. tenderfoot Sep 2017 #151

I never even hinted that criticizing her generally was xenophobic. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #162

Post removed Post removed Sep 2017 #152

absolutely. drray23 Sep 2017 #159

Your post made me think of this... NurseJackie Sep 2017 #164

Were I to hear your (or any) French accent, I'd be thrilled! I would ask you your hometown, tell WinkyDink Sep 2017 #166

For what it's worth TeapotInATempest Sep 2017 #163

Thank-you for this post. Chemisse Sep 2017 #165