Just as usual Al Jazeera did not finish Palin’s sentence – only enough to take a cheap shot. Wonder how many times they juggle their Middle East language?  If you will take a look, while they criticize, but cannot even spell the word criticize (Merriam Webster) correctly (criticised).  So Al Jazeera you are not so perfect either – we all make mistakes!  Better look in the mirror at yourself!  The reason for this critique is – Women are second-rate citizens in their country – they forgot they were in America where we speak American English!  In America we spell criticize with a “Z” instead of an “S.”

Source: Al Jazeera And Agencies

Sarah Palin tells immigrants to speak ‘American.’

Former vice-presidential candidate criticises Republican candidate Jeb Bush for speaking in Spanish at a rally.

07 Sep 2015

Palin said language was a ‘unifying aspect’ of a nation.

Former US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has been criticised after telling immigrants to the country to speak “American”.

Palin was speaking to CNN’s State of the Union programme on Sunday when she was asked to comment on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s condemnation of fellow contender Jeb Bush for speaking Spanish in front of a Hispanic audience.

The controversy of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign

“I think we can send a message and say: ‘You want to be in America? A: you better be here legally, or you’re out of here. B: when you’re here, let’s speak American.’ I mean, that’s just, that’s … let’s speak English,” Palin said on the show.

The former governor of the state of Alaska added language should be a “unifying aspect of a nation” and must be understood by everyone.

The wording of Palin’s comments sparked a hail of criticism online with many tweets mocking her for the gaffe while condemning her stance on immigration.

Palin also said she might like to be appointed energy secretary if Trump wins the presidency.

“I think a lot about the Department of Energy, because energy is my baby, oil and gas and minerals, those things that God has dumped on this part of the earth for mankind’s use, instead of relying on unfriendly foreign nations for us to import their resources,” Palin said.

“And if I were head of that,” she said of the department, “I would get rid of it”.

Comments:

“For English, please press 1.” Is first in a list of most annoying menu options in automated telephone services. One appreciates the English option in countries where it is a second language, but in the US such a message is absurd ad nauseam.

As someone who speaks and reads several languages, I have to agree with Sarah Palin on this point — though it pains me to admit it.

There is an expression among Mexican communities in the US, “Mi estómago se encuentra en Estados Unidos, pero mi corazón está en México.” Or, in case Sarah is reading, “My stomach is in the US, but my heart is in Mexico.” Fair enough, but following your heart won’t lead to a better paycheck.

Based on my experience living and working abroad, my foreign colleagues who fail to adapt to their adopted cultures face the greatest failure rates. And it’s rarely a pretty thing.

Sarah is right, for the wrong reasons. Migrants should not refuse themselves the opportunities that assimilation offers. Regardless how you feel about the messenger, the message still stands. Living in the US is a golden opportunity to learn English and improve your prospects.

Don’t believe it? Ask some of the millions of hard-working ESL students in countries where English is the language for a range of academic and professional fields including diplomacy, law, business, trade, science, IT technology, and medicine, to name a few.

I close with a quote by former Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, “When I speak in Italy, I speak Italian. When I speak at the EU, I speak English.”

kommonsentsjane