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Re: CHAT: "La Bandera Estrellada"

From:Danny Wier <dawier@...>
Date:Saturday, August 5, 2000, 0:20
First of all, yes we should translate Beethoven from the original
German; I forgot to state that (and post the Urtext like I usually try
to do).

--- "Thomas R. Wier" <artabanos@...> wrote:

> This is actually not always true. It's quite dependent on ethnic and > regional > factors. The Texas Republican establishment for example (which is to > say, > most of the state's political establishment) since at least 1994 when > George > W. Bush was first elected governor has been firmly against any moves > to enshrine > English as the official language, either de jure in a Constitutional > ammendment > or de facto through roundabout Congressional legislation. George W. > Bush has been > somewhat instrumental in reinforcing that attitude even when it ran > against the > grain of the party's leaders. Most of these are from the Deep South, > where > sentiment for an English-only ammendment to the US Constitution runs > strongest. > The Republican national establishment only at times appears to speak > with one voice > on this issue because virtually all its leadership is made up of > reactionary Southerners > like Trent Lott, the Senate Maj. Leader. [FWIW, it is precisely > these Southerners who > have been excluded from prominence at the recent party convention in > Philadelphia. > W. staged something of a palace coup, in reverse.] There is, in other > words, a lot > more diversity there than you might think.
To put an English Only law into effect in Texas is like banning turkey on Thanksgiving. Texas has always been inherently multilingual (not just Spanish and English, but German and French as well), so such a law would stick in the craw of a lot of Texans of all political persuasions. Besides the US Supreme Court ruled such laws unconstitutional. The right wing of the GOP only believes in free speech as long as it's English and freedom of religion for the WASP establishment. (And probably the right to bear arms for "good white people".) And I predicted a split in the Republican party as far back as the mid 80s. This after a scandalous Democratic administration in the 1990s. The next President afterwards, if I remember correctly, turned out to be popular, but his progressivism and moderatism raises the ire of the New Right gang who are bitter over the centrist shift in the GOP, and many leave the party to join other new political parties. And I knew that H. Ross Perot would be involved in this somehow -- of course he founded the Reform Party, which Buchanan is expected to run for. This is something I hate to talk about as it would sound egotistical and/or delusional. I am beginning to be confirmed that I have ESP. Anyway, let's change the subject.
> As my kakologist friend put it, "The Republicans are dumb but > practical; the > Democrats are smart but naive." That's an overgeneralization, but a > fun one > to say!
Or as Winston Churchill would say (something like): "To not be liberal in one's twenties is heartless. To not be conservative in one's forties is foolish." (What the hell did he exactly say, !¿anybody?!)
> > What an interesting Conlang idea! "Republicano: learn to talk for > hours > > without saying anything meaningful!" A language composed entirely > of empty > > slogans and idle threats!
Great idea! I'd include a lot of "Christianese" cliches which most laypersons have no idea what they mean. Especially that overused mispronounced Hebrew word "amen". That would in effect produce two dialects: Catholic Politicalese and Baptist Politicalese. Or actually four, if you split each into Democrat and Republican branches. (Those who have seen some of my posts in conculture know of my work-in-progress, a political satire of sorts taking place in a futuristic dystopian America. Imagine if the ultra-conservatives and ultra-liberals got together and took over the government -- and you get the worst of both worlds. Incidentally these absolutist theocrats are made up of Traditionalist Catholics and Fundamentalist Protestants.)
> (An aside: Here's a neat cynical statistic. According to _Der > Spiegel_ > Magazine, 26% of all internet users consider one of their life goals > to be having power and influence.)
According to the Woody Allen movie _Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex But Were Afraid To Ask_, excessive masturbation causes political interest. DaW. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Kick off your party with Yahoo! Invites. http://invites.yahoo.com/