Re: CHAT: "La Bandera Estrellada"

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.

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