I guess he would know.

his english waas pretty rough in the beginning....did you ever see "Hercules in New York"? terrible

the governator has a good point. yeah, its not the pc thing to say. but what he's saying has a valid point. you need to immerse yourself in the culture and language. that's not to say avoid your own culture and language. but to make quick progress in a foreign tongue, speak the foreign tongue! my friend lived in taiwan for a year and he can speak fluent mandarin now because he had no choice but to speak the language. my parents who were immigrants were the same way. heck, my mom scored really high on the english entrance exam for the local community college here and can comprehend nearly 90% of normal conversation (ie. non-technical speak) because she forced herself to learn the language - try doing that in your mid thirties with 2 young kids to look after. its not hating any culture or language - but if you want to learn english, immerse yourself in an environment that fosters said growth... kinda like crossfit!

Ahnold isn't putting forward any revolutionary ideas...that type of learning is called immersion and it's used the world over by people trying to learn a new language.

Of course, the key point there is "trying to learn a new language". Many visitors to our country don't seem particularly inclined to put forth that effort.

finally someone says it...

CFT rules, laying the ground rules for competition, very cool. Will each of the affilitate be hosting?

Gotta admit, Arnold is probably the straightest speaking politician in America right now...he will actually answer the question asked.

I am from Europe and I agree with Arnie 100%. I myself would feel ashamed to come to a foreign country and not learn how to speak the language and then try to have the country learn my language. I think that is disrespectful.

Is it crossfit total rules ? or crossfit powerlifting?

I agree immersion training is the best way.

Begin rant.

You have to remember, the southern half of California tends to sometimes think it is Mexico. I heard the first honest illegal immigrant on the radio the other day from Peru. He said he's been in the US for 12 years, has a tax identification number (ya some illegal aliens pay taxes!), never wants to go back to Peru. I had a problem though, not once did I ever hear him say "I want to be a U.S. citizen."

Ya, so learn the language....why? They (and by they I'm speaking of the illegals who aren't motivated to become citizens, and that is a lot) don't want to be a U.S. citizen, they want to live here and be an illegal alien. They do not respect our laws enough to abide by them in the first place coming here. Without a sense of respect why would you learn the language to a country you honestly care nothing about?

Sorry for the rant, but come to California, we fester in this debate. I'm glad our governor has the balls to say something that our Washington politicians won't. I feel really bad for the millions of LEGAL people who worked to get here, if anyone should be po'd I would think it would be them.

End of a very biased and opinionated rant.

I'm a newly commissioned Infantry 2LT and so I'll be heading down to Benning in August. I've been doing crossfit for about a year now but its been pretty annoying trying to adapt workouts around my poor gym at school. Does anyone know of a crossfit gym (or at least a crossfit friendly gym) in the Fort Benning (Columbus, GA) area.

Also, any info on a way to get in touch with crossfitters at/around Benning would also be appreciated.

#11 Jamison, If you're heading to Benning for OBC, the chances are very very good that you'll have things to worry about other than off post gyms. You will have some acess to local military gym and some days you might not be too tired or busy to take advantage of it. Get good at doing what crossfit you can do with zero to minimal equipment. K-

The Euros and the Israelis seems to assimilate well.

Maybe the folks from south of the border don't put value in education and assimilation.

Some would argue genetics...that would generate some interesting backlash.

wow, please let this be the only response to #13. He's just trolling. As for Arnie's statement, right on, every person with a working brain has got to admit he's right.

#12 kman - I'll be snow birding at benning for more than 2 months... haha I agree, I don't plan on doing too much crossfit during obc and ranger school.

I agree with Arnie even though its common sense. I haven't been following him much, but have liked what Ive heard. It's a good point to say that most illegals prefer to stay illegal, and in that sense, really don't care to learn English. Back to Arnie, its a good point, but in all honesty we need to ban Spanish speaking channels along with putting bi-lingual messages on everything in print. I know thats going to create a lot or argument but I'm sorry, if all we care about are big businesses making money by catering to anyone they can, we will never get anywhere. I think in this sense, the government should, to an extent, be able to regulate businesses.

Welcome to America! If you wish to stay, please bring and share your culture, your religion, your ideas, your hopes and dreams, and a desire to work. Have your own opinions, speak freely about them, pray or don't as you like, have respect for others, abide by our laws, help us make them better, be a good neighbor, make yourself useful, improve yourself when you can, pay your own way, and take the time to learn our language.

Thanks! America's a better place because you're here.

Oh, and when you run into the likes of J. Montana (#13), tell him sheets are for sleepin’; not for wearin’.

Bob, nice troll.

I hope by 'immersion' we are not saying getting rid of Telemundo and/or Univision. For a few obvious reasons: (1) That's the only place on the dial I can get futball for free (2) The sitcoms are packed with hotties!! (3) I love hearing a commercial in pure Spanish and then the speaker suddenly dropping in 'Black & Decker' or 'Coca-Cola' in perfect english! I know, I am easily amused.

Enjoy the rest day!

19 -indeed.

what is it with trolls today? some bridges getting renovated?

Bob (#18)...apparently you weren't watching very closely. I saw CrossFit banners hung on the walls.

Some days CrossFit takes you over and you feel like tackling a "girl" just for the sake of beating a previous time. Woke up this morning and said "Let's get Angie in 15 minutes today." I know it is nothing glorious, but I finally achieved her in 15 minutes. Thanks CrossFit for always making me want to achieve more and become better.

Sure, Herr Goebels, ban all spanish speaking channels. I have no problem with making a working knowledge of english a requirement for entry; the people who argue against things like that do not seem to remember that when we did things like that at Ellis Island the prospective immigrants rose to the occasion instead of fighting against the system and declaring it to be unjust. All of this is a moot point of course because we dont control access to our country. Seriously though, you people who talk of banning things make me sick. I watch spanish tv even though I was born here and I'm not even latino. I like it because they actually have the most fair and balanced news coverage and because American soccer broadcasts just suck...I actually prefer to watch the US Men's national team en espanol. Hoy, los EE.UU. jugaramos contra panama a 1600 EST en telefutura!!! Viva los Estados Unidos!!!

Legal immigrants working towards citizenship have always displayed a strong desire to assimilate, and in so doing, have made this country great. But now, we also have 22 million people here illegally. What precisely does it mean when the governor of our largest state with the largest number of illegal aliens is giving those people advice on how to assimilate? Assimilating, requires, among other things, embracing our laws. What precisely does it mean to assimilate illegally ?

Thanks for the refreshing bit of dialog from Arnold.

It was interesting for me that this week there would be a video about Mary's recovery study on Brendan. I'm looking forward to seeing the results.

I'm was just checking in and decided to update you all,

I was in surgery for 7 1/2 hours on Tuesday and was awake for about half of it. The Doc's went in through my groin area and one spot on my chest and made an electrical map of my heart. They gave me addreneline to coax my extra electrical pathway into firing up. They were able to pinpoint the pathway. Unfortunately, it was in my left Atrium, so they had to go through the wall of my heart to get to it. The Doc's then zapped it shut and ran tests.
It was sucessful. I was told to not do much for 5 days then ease back into things. Today I can finally drive.
I was very greatful that my husband was there. The kids did great holding down the fort.

What amazes me most, is that before my surgery, I felt ill or off on most days and just sucked it up, thinking it was normal. My feet, lower legs, and hands were swollen a lot too.
Now I get tired quick, but I feel good and no more swelling.

I'm quite curious to see how well I will be able to perform once I can get back into the swing of things.

Kate

Ah, Kate, welcome back! Congratulations on a successful ablation. Thanks for catching us up--we were wondering. Remember that you are part of a very long race; recover before you tackle the next stage. We're all still here, holding your place until you get fully back.

Welcome back, Kate!

Kate,
good stuff. I can barely go to the dentist without climing up the wall. Your courage is noteworthy. Stay in the fight.

Joey

Kate- Stay strong and we look fwd to seeing you posting your scores again soon.

How can anyone have an issue w/what Arnold said? It's the truth. It's kind of like saying if you want to improve your health, stay away from McDonalds.

I wonder how much publicity this will get, especially since it's a Republican putting out an honest way for people to better themselves, as compared to some of Hillary's rants and pathetic attempts at jokes of late.

Any predictions for tomorrow? I haven't been doing this long enough to get a feel for it but I'm hoping maybe something involving the C2.

During our workouts we are told that wrist wraps and belts are considered supportive pieces of equipment and therefore, take away from some of the value of the workout....why is it then that during the competitions it is acceptable to then put on the belts and wrist wraps???

47/M/153/715
Crossfit Cleveland Saturday in the park.

"Helen" subbed 25# DB (used what was avail)
11:40

19 folks joined Bill and Paul for their 5th Sat. WOD. Congrats to them and continued best of luck.

5 rounds
200m run
3 HSPU
6 Ring Dip (muscle-up to start)
9 push-up

12:50

It might do everyone some good to brush up on thier North American History...much of western America WAS Mexico not too long ago! Monterey, CA was the CAPITOL of Mexican provinces...I wonder where we got names like Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Jose, San Francisco, San Diego, Modesto, Madera, Reno? Also, he first constitution of independent California DECLARED that all official government business be conducted in BOTH Spanish and English. There are towns in the (now) USA that were founded by Spanish speaking MEXCIANS and who have has lineages of people consistantly living in them for over 400 years! I venture to guess, 400 years is way longer than anyone commenting here can date back when thier ancestors first arrival to the US as, you guessed it, immigrants! Where did your people come from or is everyone commenting here Hopi, Sioux, Iriqouis, Navajo... As far as I am concerned the Mexicans are just returning home. We pushed them out in the 1800s when our Manifest Destiny mindset drove thousands of Mexican land owners off thier land and forced them to return to Mexico empty handed.
In my opinion the kind of people who make this country great are the people who are willing to risk EVERYTHING to make a better life for themselves and thier families. Personally I want people who are motivated enough to try to get across a border 10 times to make a good living and a better life for there family in my country. If you are willing to work hard (you try standing in a field of strawberries bent over for hours breathing in toxic methyl bromide for a few dollars a day) you can stay. Afterall we really do benefit tremendously from illegal immigration...The amount of sales tax paid, income tax paid, social security paid (but never redeemed) helps us (the citizens) not the illegal workers.
Complain all you want about illegal immigration but watch as your economy unravels when we start deporting these folks. And they are people remember...not just "illegals" They were not as fortunate or as privileged as me to be born into a vastly wealthy nation like the US. They have to sacrifice and work hard to get here and stay here...how many of us would take the same risk or be willing to work these tough jobs to better our lives?

And they've done a fine, fine job of wealth production in Mexico, haven't they? That's why everyone in the United States is banging down Mexico's door to get over there to take advantage of their consitutional integrity, enlightened business policies, and resulting economic dynamism. Mexico has a tremendous wealth in natural resources. We should be jealous.

Or, do I have that backwards? Do they come here because we have it figured out, and they don't?

If they still owned California, do you really think California would be "California", or would it be a really long, poor beach country, much like Baja?

You can debate the ethics of Manifest Destiny, but not the fact that we have made full use of the resources of our land to produce the most powerful nation in history, and provided an effective counter to numerous would-be global totalitarianisms.

Our Constitution is written in English. All of our citizens should be able to read it, and if they don't want to be citizens, they shouldn't be here. Asking people to speak English is not the same as asking them to reject their own culture and history. It is simply asking that they respect what we have accomplished, and the ideals upon which our successes rest.

Arnold hit it on the head. In my opinion if you want to become a part of the American fabric the first thing you need to do is learn the language. Our language is one of the things that connects all of us as AMERICANS! If you love this country so much, so much you want to leave or flee your current home, then you should do whatever it takes in order assimilate to your new country. That is if you really want to be an Amarican or just merely take advantage of all the benefits afforded to Americans. Unfortuneately, I believe in most cases today it is the latter then the former. Not to mention, the benefits afforded are a result of many lives sacrificed by American service men through the years while our country progressed. I imagine critics of Arnold will not see the connection, and probably don't have a problem with the current condition of our southern border either.
Bottom line, if "immigrants" wanted to become Americans they would learn the language and conform to the culture they have chosen and not criticize Arnold, who is an immigrant and feels blessed by this county, and demand that Americans accommodate them because of their refusal to learn and speak our language in society.

Erica, #32,

"As far as I am concerned the Mexicans are just returning home."

Do you believe that those of European or any other ancestry are entitled to just "return home" without applying for visas?

Um, I'm not sure if anyone else is aware but the Crossfit article on Wikipedia is going to be deleted because it hasn't been updated or improved.

just curious i arrived in california in the foothill ranch area and i am interested in checking out a crossfit facility but i am not familiar with the area as to which is the closest one any help would be appreciated. i will be here for about a month so i would love to see one. thx.

#32...Hilarious.

Parts of western America were Mexico more than 150 years ago. That's hardly what anyone would call "recent", unless your worldview runs on the geologic time scale.

Your assertion that the kind of people you admire are those who are willing to "risk EVERYTHING to make a better life for themselves and their families"...does that "risk EVERYTHING" include breaking the law? Because if it does, I think there are some gentlemen from Enron and other criminals that would love to get your endorsement. After all, they're all just trying to "make a better life for themselves and their families". There is no excuse for breaking the law, but I have yet to hear a single objection to anyone that has come to this country legally.

Your economic arguments are ridiculous. Illegal immigrants make next to nothing because they're willing to work for almost nothing and they lack the legal footing to demand improvements in working conditions/pay. I for one would be more than willing to spend more for my strawberries, etc. if companies were paying legal citizens a higher wage to do the same job. This is not a question of there not being citizens willing to do the same job...it's a matter of not being willing to do the same job at the nothing wage paid to illegals.

FWIW...we all work "tough" jobs to better our lives. Nobody I know of gets paid well for just sitting around doing nothing.

Hey Everyone,
Just wanted to post a quick thanks for the amazing efforts at the Vancouver Cert last weekend. It has taken me this long to recover so I could post! If I could put forth a suggestion though, don't take 3 months off before the cert! My wife and I had our son 3 months ago, and I have been skipping my workouts. Well, I paid in full last week!
Thanks to Coach, Annie, Nicole, Rob, Tony, Carrie, Dave and everyone I have forgotton to list. It was also great to meet some of my fellow posters! AppoloSwabbie, in the Flesh!
All the best and keep up the good work.
Cheers, Nick

Thanks guys for the welcome back! :)

#32 Erica-
You talk about the Spanish speaking Mexicans owning California and the US, but weren't the Aztecs conquered by the Spanish and therefore forced to learn the language over 400 years ago? So shouldn't your beef be with the Spanish Government too?

If you want to talk historically about immigration, perhaps you also need to learn more about the immigration routes of the Native Americans.

Kate

#37
Dana Point has a Crossfit

i think the immigrants should learn english, but they are being catered to nowadays and thus we're making it difficult to learn it. they can get by without having to speak a word of it most days. it's just as much our problem, or fault, as it is theirs. i call my freakin' insurance company, phone company, bank, local movie theater, etc., and spanish is always an option (sometimes it is the first option and english is the second!).

when living abroad, most americans, or westerners for that matter, were not that anxious or motivated to learn the native language of the country they were residing in. most americans say that immigrants must learn english, but most americans/westerners abroad are not very willing to learn the language of the country they are within.

legal or illegal, it doesn't matter to me. most immigrants are probably doing the cruddy, low wage jobs that most americans think they are too good for. so, who else is going to get that cruddy job done? who else is going to pick those strawberries or mop up the pile of baby vomit in the food store?

Howdy,
Work
{Ride (Airdyne) 2 @ level 7; PC&PP 70x1x42 (20@ :30 interval then 22 @:20 interval; Sit-upx45 (2:00; w/25#'s); ride: 2 @ level 7}. There was ample rest between the rides and the main body of the workout.
Bdw. 82.5kgs...

28/F/110#

been busy, trying to play catch-up!

CFS class:

400m jog around block
tabata lunges: 10# db per side
6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6 Score: 6

skill level test: BW squats for reps 100 reps, all to dynamax ball

3 rounds for time of:

25 DB snatch, 20#DB
25 v-ups
400m run

time: 11:11

then to my gym to make up WOD from Thursday

Complete as many rounds in 20 minutes as you can of:
15 Double-unders
15 Burpees
15 Box Jump
15 ft Rope climb, 1 ascent (sub 15 rope pull-ups)

4 rounds + 15 double unders, 6 burpees

Brand X Saturday AM

Max rounds in 10 minutes of:

1 hill sprint
15 db cleans

Rest 5 minutes

Max Pull ups in 10 minutes

Rest 5 minutes

Max Push Ups in 10 minutes

Add the number of DB cleans, pull ups and pushups completed for you score.

My score 30 cleans + 83 pushups + 105 pull ups = 218

No dumping, by the way (weight lowered in control).

If these people get legal status, then they will be able entitled minimum wage on top of free emergency healthcare, government assistance, housing assistance.

They will not have to become citizens but a certain political party will try to get them the right to vote along with covicted felons.
They will also be able to unionize.

Imagine all that political power over night in the hands in our "Friends" from the south. Wouldn't that be great?

Truely a fine example of the American Dream at work.
Lie, cheat, steal, get rewarded, demand more, get more, work less, get to vote, seize power, watch everything fall apart, demand the rest help.

Seriously, if California did "magically" become part of Mexico, how long before they ruined it into a sea of poverty and corruption? I say less than a year.

The only think that drives Mexico's economy is the vacuum-lock they have to our southern border. It is the single largest wealth redistrobution tactic going in the entire world. It is only prolonging Mexican corruption reform.

Go to San Diego and TJ, clear as day.

Screw 'em, there is no nutritional value in lettuce any way.

Learning another language definitely makes appreciation of cultures based around that language much simpler and more likely. Americans are notoriously monolingual, and it's darkly amusing to think of illegals adding to the monolingual masses.

I have spent years in the past teaching other languages (French, German, Spanish) to English-speakers, and appreciate Arnold's point. Immersion with effort is the best, if not the only, way to really get ahold of a new language.

I'm sure he would also encourage English-only speakers to learn at least one more language, though it's a different point and would have taken away from the message he was trying to get across.

Learning a second language makes you think a lot more deeply about your first language, as well, which brings up the point that many illegals are "analfabetos," i.e. illiterate even in Spanish. That could certainly make learning English more difficult.

There is a complex chain of causation resulting in stubbornly monolingual immigrants, among whose links are illiteracy, lack of education, poverty, corruption . . . you can probably see where that's going. Blaming the immigrants for their country's historical political failures ignores centuries of our own country's inaction regarding corrupt and far-from-democratic administrations right on our doorstep. It has been easier, apparently, for powerful US interests to exploit our hemisphere's resources in an unfettered way, when corrupt and pliable governments are in place.

Surely it's clear that the U.S. has been the most powerful country in this hemisphere long enough to have made sure its own rising tide lifted all boats?

Our history of failure to support democracy in our own hemisphere was very shortsighted in terms of national security. Supporting our enemies' enemies worked no better in South and Central America - resulting in perpetual guerrilla-style conflict - than it did in, say, Afghanistan.

Erica, #32,

It might do YOU some good to brush up on YOUR history. We bought California (and other areas) from Mexico for $15M as one of the conditions to end the Mexican-American War (The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo). If you'll recall, Mexico invaded Texas years after Texans voted to secede from Mexico and its consequent voluntary annexation by the United States. In relevance to your argument, you'll have to further remember that Mexico revolted from Spanish Rule in the Mexican War of Independence(1821). Their claim to Texas is no more substantial than their claim to Mexico.

As has been mentioned, the Spanish government owned all that land after they took if from the people commonly known as Native Americans. However, current theories support that there really are no Native Americans, just people who got here before the Europeans. Unfortunately, given the contrasting and unresolved theories of original American habitation by people of Asian origin (Siberian Land Bridge and Watercraft Migration theories) it's impossible to determine who got here first and who can legitimately claim this land as "theirs".

SO, please stop the nonsense about Mexicans "just returning home".

BTW, the term Manifest Destiny was coined by the Jackson Democrats no earlier than 1845 and opposed by the Whigs and Republicans. Bad, bad, naughty Democrats -stealing from the brown man. I guess some things never change.

Dear Date, I am delighted to hear you are 'on the other side.' Congrats! Keep us posted on your recovery process.

As for the Governator - all this time, I thought it was illegal for a politician to speak the truth. Good news abounds. Paul

Whoops, I meant "Kate"!

As I sat here I had some random thoughts and thought I would share.

I have picked seasonal produce (Strawberries, Cotton, Beans, Grapes, etc...), But thats what I had to do to make money growing up in the San Juaquin Valley( I'm not Hispanic, I'm of Irish and American Indian heritage). So I know how hard the work is. I also can't fault someone who wants to go some where and make a better life for himself and his family. But w/that being said, There is a right and wrong way to do it.

I read a story in a magazine awhile back about a guy who tried to move to Mexico and become a citizen. Many months/years and $ later he gave up. The US is the easiest country to gain citizenship in in the world. We do not ask for much. Learn the language, take pride in your new country of residence, and help take care of and maintain it. Simple.

I know through out my travels around this world, the locals would show more respect to those of us who took the time and try to learn what we could of the local language and use it, then those who didn't. And you can see that here in the USA too.

This land has been taken from, stolen, sold and fought for more times then we even know I'm sure. We didn't just ride in and start kicking people out. I believe that there was some $$ exchanged w/the Mexican Gov't if I'm not mistaken. So who is at fault then? The US or the Mexican Gov't? Who cares, it's all spilled milk now. We need to stop the people from coming over so freely, for secutirty reasons alone is cause enough, and get everyone here right now on board w/a plan that will make them part of the team. But for God's Sake, take some pride in the country that is giving you a chance to be something. I know I do!

Just some randome thoughts as I sit here on watch. Please excuse the rambling.

#48, Rob,

"It has been easier, apparently, for powerful US interests to exploit our hemisphere's resources in an unfettered way, when corrupt and pliable governments are in place."

It could be argued that our failure to enforce our own immigration laws is an example of "powerful US interests exploit[ing] our hemisphere's resources." The process being made all the more easy by "the corrupt and pliable" Mexican government. But for our employment of millions of illegal immigrants, the Mexican government might actually have to reform itself.

CCT Joey- I must admit bro, you have a 2nd carreer as a writer in the future. Drop me a line sometime.

Legal immigration, I am all for it.

English is the language to learn, not just becuase we as Americans speak it. There is no need for Latin american Immigrants (legal or illegal) to avoid it. It is simply a good investment. It is the international language by any practical sense. It is the international Air Traffic Control Language. It is used in the Olympics. Scholars from all over the word learn it in order to communicate world wide. It is the language of prospartity and modernity. It is as important to the world as latin and more useful in today's world for the lay-man.

Like petrolium has become the fuel for the world's economy, english is the language of transaction and freedom. Since I don't know exactly what to be "American" means outside of rugged individualism. I fail to see why any immigrant, legal or illegal, would resist being one if they are going to live inside the borders.

We kick @$$.

DJ, Do they still got you teaching squids to paint rocks at the bottom of Panama City Bay?

For some reason my posts aren't making the filter.
I recently found some really cheap kettle bells online for under 70 bucks, which includes shipping. If you want to know the website, send me an email. Every time I have posted it, it has been deleted.

No rest day. CrossFit Fredericton WoD:
100 squats
100 pushups
100 lunges
100 ring pullups
100 burpees

47:04

Ring pullups were about 3:1 assisted/jumping to kipping ratio

Great workout with the Freddy Beach crowd!! Thanks for the chance to workout, Anthony & Jodi!!!

Al

As a nearly 20-year resident of California who is regularly frustrated by communication difficulties with non-English speaking immigrants of both the legal and illegal variety, I am so glad Arnold spoke up and articulated on of the things I have thought (and said) more than once.

I found a great quote by Teddy Roosevelt a while ago when I was watching the Mexican flag being carried down our streets in marches. Seems as true today is it probably was when first uttered:

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American.

There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." (Jan. 3, 1919)

Did some Crossfit in the park this morning with a few friends. We got slowed up by the 92 degree weather and humidity in Chicago, but it was still nice to workout outside for a change.

25-20-15-10-5
-200m run
-Wall balls
-200m run
-Burpees

Cory- 23:50
Chris- 25:05
Kerry- 25:12
Teresa- 25:21
Terry- 28:35

Weather for Yellow stone Park, Wyoming-

Sunday Night: A slight chance of rain showers, mixing with SNOW after midnight. Some thunder is also possible. Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. West northwest wind between 7 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Just noteworthy.

Schwarzenegger has it backwards. It is English-language TV that should be banned, because it is holding back both children and adults from learning the essential language of the future of Los Estados Unidos do Norteamerica.

His wife probably put him up to the remark. She didn't want him to go into politics because it interrupted her career as a public affairs journalist and prevented her from going into Democratic politics like her cousins. If Schwarzenegger were to run again, 100% of all of the following groups would be morally required to vote against him:
• Hispanics
• All other immigrants, legal or illegal (you don't think illegal status prevents anyone from voting in California, do you?), because in making his vicious attack on Hispanics Schwarzenegger has attacked all other immigrants as well
• African-Americans, in solidarity as "people of color" with the Hispanics so terribly wronged by Sr. Schwarzenegger
• All correct-thinking whites, because to do otherwise would show that they, too, are vicious, hate-filled racists

That leaves him only the vicious, hate-filled white vote, which surely can't be a majority in California.

Missed the WOD two days ago and didn't want to make the trip to my rope climbing place. Did Fran in the garage in 5:23.

#63 AEsop,
Do you really believe that the Govenator, an immigrant himself, had malice in his heart as he made his statement? Or is this just the typical knee-jerk reaction that we are so used to seeing?

I heard a story on NPR the other day regarding the LAPD working with the INS. LAPD screens the jailed persons, and if they are not citizens or legal residents, they turn them over to INS who returns them to Tijuana. Okay getting to the point: A 29 year old American citizen who is developmently handicaped was arrested for tagging. However, because he could not speak English (although born in America 29 years ago), and because of his mental disability, he told LAPD that he wasn't from that "area," so LAPD turned him over to INS which returned him to Mexico. NPR interviewed his mother (who has lived in America for at least 29 years) and she did not speak any English, either. Her complaint was that he was an American citizen and now he's been dumped in an extremely dangerous city, and is unable to locate him. And it's LAPD's and INS' fault for doing this to her son, because he's an American citizen...who couldn't speak English.

Should have gotten an ID.

He also should have spoken English. After 29 years I would think anyone could learn the rudiments of our language. That is a really, really long time to not know how to communicate. It's shameful. No doubt the fact that his mother never bothered had something to do with it.

At the risk of stating the obvious as well, if he hadn't been "tagging" (otherwise known as vandalizing someone else's property), he wouldn't have been arrested, and his failure to master even the basics of our common language would not have been an issue.

This does raise the question, though: if English were the official language, and all would-be citizens were required to exhibit basic profiency in it to gain full citizenship, then this problem would not have occurred. Most liberals prefer governmental interventions of various sorts anyway, so why not make a law that would prevent outrages like this in the future?

I can't resist adding: today, if it was typical, saw roughly 3 dozen Iraqi families lose a member, and 3 American families. There are sizable parts of the world where starvation and death from various illnesses are constant threats. Many families lost daughters today to leukemia or some other childhood illness. There were probably, say 300 fatal car accidents. People were shot and killed by criminals. Kids drowned.

Yet, with the exception of Iraq--the deaths in which are covered such as assiduously as the successes are ignored--none of that is really newsworthy. It might go to the back of the B section.

But is it any less tragic for those involved? Do the mothers and fathers and husbands and wives hurt any less?

The story of the kid getting deported is in some respects sad--I can understand how that would make a mother feel--but at the same time, I'm angry at the sheer stupidity of it, especially in the face of so much other suffering that can't be avoided.

There are so many tragedies that can befall us without warning that when folks have ample warning, opportunity to avoid them, and fail to do so, I just can't get myself worked up enough to expend my compassion.

I've heard two unbelievable stories about kids under 10 in the last week. Those kids deserve our pity. There are a lot of messed up families out there, and parents who should be strung up by their privates.

My Abuela (grandmother) came to this country as an immigrant from Spain, prior to the Spanish Civil War. She came through Ellis Island. She always said that this is America and in America we speak English. She was grateful for what this country gave her. She displayed the American flag every day when possible. My mother grew up bilingual.
Honestly, it's that simple. Learning English doesn't mean one has to give up one's cultural identity.

Oh...Steve....you vicious hate filled racist.

(see #63)

I live in Mexico and completely agree with what your "Governator" says.

One quick point, It is well known in military circles both in the US and in Mexico that when the US invaded Mexico, the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), the US could have taken all of Mexico.

To this day Mexico still resents the humiliation from the US as a result of the Mexican-American war.

A good reference for this is the following link (w/f safe) http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/war/wars_end_guadalupe.html

The mexicans, salvadorans, peruanos and others come here illegally because there is an endemic corruption in the culture of the latinos.

some of the corruption is due to interference from the US in the internal politics of the Latin countries (the Monroe doctrine, TR's "walk softly but carry a big stick" policy)

abso-friggin-lutely right.

My grandparents would not speak Slovenian around their kids. Period. They might speak it to eachother once in a while if they didn't want everyone else to know what they were saying, but they told their kids "You're American, you speak English"

I had my fill last year during the protests when they were waving the Mexican Flags and expecting me to give a crap. A bunch of social programs and monies for Americans angers me enough. A bunch of border jumpers and the social(ist) front grups that fund the protests, who care more about being Mexican, than American also demanding stuff is too much. I guess I did not care a whole lot when they appeared to just want to work, but to get a bunch of social services and the right to vote is to much.

I worked with several Mexican nationals in the service...all good dudes, so I never thought much about it.

Now the illegals have my attention. I don't get to steal SS#s. I don't get to have bank accounts without proof of who I am. I don't get out of traffic stops because don't speak English.

You want services, you become legal and pay taxes.
You want to vote, you become a citizen.
Either way, you need to recognize where you are, why you came, and get the chip off your shoulder.

Learn english so you show those who are rolling out the red carpet, that you intend to be productive and not subvert our system and generosity.

Miles (#63):

I got the sarcasm. Pretty funny. If it was serious (and I am in error), you're a loon.

As RX'd except in my misery and loss of mental faculties, I may have done an extra 12 HPCs, LOL.

Time = 36:11

Previous post on wrong date.

Dale,
I didn't detect any hint of sarcasm in #63. That dude has issues with reality. However, you are correct with regards to my post at #71.
Regards,
Miles

I am from Europe a neighbour of Schwarzenegger's home country. I have met just very few Britons and Americans in my own country who took the slightest effort to learn my language.
Obviously I am not talking about tourist but long term residents.

Well Pete, if it waqs a few hundred then it would not be a big deal, but we are talking at least 12 million who are here illegaly who for the most part do not want to learn the language.

I assume the Americans are legal and not using your social net as a means of substance. Are they trying to get your country to change it's culture and school systems to accomidate their language and beliefs?

I did not think so.