Ok folks, I guess it’s time to throw out a few more rants about things that annoy the crap outta me. Today’s hodge-podge medley starts off with… “
Cultural Blackmail”. Then we’ll explore the absurd phenomenon I like to call “
Winter Festival”.
Cultural Blackmail – I have a theory about something that we all seem to find ourselves victim of. I like to call it cultural blackmail because it seems as tho the powers-that-be like to saturate our entertainment, our marketing and our products with trends and views that not all of us share. They shove an idea down our throats everywhere we turn until we’re so sick and tired of being annoyed and offended by it… that we hopelessly give in and accept it as “normal”. Let me illustrate this…
Up until about a year or two ago, products that are internationally delivered came with multi-lingual instructions. It wasn’t uncommon to find French, German, Spanish, English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages in the boxes. This is marketably understandable, citing the fact that these products are used around the world and need to include instructions in local languages. However, it seems to be the new market trend here in the United States to use two languages in 9/10ths of products we see and buy each day. English and Spanish are splayed over everything we watch, see, touch, use or consume. It’s offensive and intrusive to the American culture!!
Oh I know there are those out there who would get all indignant over this viewpoint and call me racially or culturally biased. But, before you label me and file me away in your little box of evil people… let me expound on this subject a bit. You might begin to see my reasoning. I’m of the opinion that each and every country ought to have a primary (or “official”) language. The inclusion of other languages within its society is understandable and necessary for several reasons. But each country ought to be recognized for a main dialect. The United States has been and continues to be a predominantly English speaking society. In fact, most of the world has adopted English as the “common denominator” language. They typically teach it in addition to their own.
The United States is about the only country in the world where we’re trying to force-encorporate Spanish into our society as an additional “official language”. Look on TV and you’ll see channels specifically designed for Latino viewers. Go to the store and nearly every single package you pick up will have a Spanish version of the labeling. Go to a restaurant, and there it is again in small print just below the English wording. Go to any public restroom and they have Spanish instructions on safety procedure signs.
Why are we, as a country, catering to this crap? Children’s shows… musical influences… common terminology… even toys, are being altered to force-feed the acceptance of either the Spanish language or Latino culture into our predominantly English speaking and culturally established society. Granted…yes… we are a “melting pot” of cultures. I won’t argue that. Most of us are genetic “mutts” if you will, coming from several lines of culture and/or races. Our diversity is beautiful.
But, there are many other races, creeds, colors, cultures and languages that are found in the United States. Where are all of the Japanese terms? Where are the Chinese warning signs in the restrooms? Where are the German food label translations in the menus at restaurants? Aren’t there German-Americans in the United States who need linguistic translations? No? Why? Oh… because they learned English. Because their families came over from Germany or Japan or China or Korea or wherever, and wanted to become Americans. Because they learned the language that Americans speak… English.
So, why is Spanish being plastered all over everything we see, hear, touch, eat, drink or use? Because we’ve become complacent as a nation to the plague of illegal immigration into this country from Mexico. The illegals don’t give a damn about learning to speak English. They want the jobs we don’t like to do and they want to earn as much money as possible without paying a dime in taxes. They use public sympathy about their financial hardships in Mexico to gain a foothold in America, and then play upon our sensibilities to have us adapt to THEIR language, instead of the other way around.
Don’t get me wrong here… I love Mexican culture. Mexican food is awesome. Mexican music is catchy and Mexican girls are very sexy. But, just because the upstanding LEGAL immigrants become Latino-Americans doesn’t make them any more special or deserving of a linguistic-acceptance-campaign than it would be for African-Americans to suddenly demand the inclusion any (or all) of the 153 known languages in Africa. And if you don’t think there are at least 153… I would like to direct your attention to the following published list:
The main point is this: We don’t need to include Spanish on everything we interact with in the United States. In the spirit of fairness to all of our culturally diverse American citizens, we should cater to every segment of society… or cater to only one common language: English. I vote for the latter, because we’re a nation founded upon democracy. A democracy functions by the rule of the majority. It is an undeniable fact that the majority of our nation speak English.
This being said… I would like to wish our nation a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza, and Felis Navidad.
Winter Festival – Oh my dear stars… what have we become? You’ve read my rants about this mental-masturbation we’ve come to know as Political Correctness, founded upon the ideal that we should be “culturally, racially or culturally sensitive to diverse viewpoints”. While I’m sure it was invented in the best of intentions, it has quickly grown and festered into the single biggest pussification of the American backbone that this country has ever seen!! The culmination of this atrocious behavior comes in the degridation and unsanctimonious thumbing of the nose at the most holy Christian holiday of the entire year. I speak, of course, about Christmas.
How low do we have to sink as a nation, before we finally remember that we are a nation that was founded upon freedom of speech… and freedom of religion… without fear of retaliation by our government? We have become so utterly crippled by the fear of offending our fellow man in any shape, form or fashion… that we are cowards to stand up and exercise our freedoms!! I have yet to see a Christian horde forming in the streets to assault Athiests. I have never witnessed Jews waging a media attack against them either. When is the last time you heard that any God-loving religious denomination in this nation has set about to force their religious beliefs upon those unwilling and uninterested to partake in worship? If you have, I would certainly like to hear about it.
So tell me why we are inclined to alter the way we openly celebrate this wonderful holiday season. Why are we, the God-loving majority, being forced to call “Christmas” or “Hannukah” by a new name? Has our conscience been so beaten and smothered by Political Correctness that we refuse to acknowledge our Faith upon the most important occasion of the year? Truly, there can be no sadder state of affairs within this great nation of ours. To let those who believe upon nothing and lead their lives lost to the knowledge of a loving God… dictate how we, as believers, conduct ourselves at this most joyous time of year… is heart-breaking. I, for one, respect the fact that we have freedom of religion in American. You may choose to believe as you believe. You are also free to believe in nothing. But you are NOT free to tell me that I am prohibited from displaying a nativity scene with a baby Jesus, in a public place. You are NOT free to tell me that our Jewish friends are prohibited from displaying a Menorah in a public place.
Our government was founded upon Christian principles. It’s historical fact. Men who believed in God formed a government that was intended to respect the worship of God and to stay out of the affairs of religious expression. In fact… it was well-established that this nation’s government was to be governed by a fear of God, a respect to His authority, and in ALL matters… a respect to our right to worship as we saw fit. Separation of Church and State wasn’t intended to keep Faith or God out of our government… it was intended to keep our government’s power and rule out of our Churches. If you doubt me… take a look around Washington DC. Monuments, buildings and even the etched wording upon the doorway to the United States Congress will back me up. We are one nation, under God.
God help us never to forget our basic, human rights that were given by Him... and guaranteed by the spilled blood of our forefathers. May their selfless, ultimate sacrifices never be in vain.
