Why Is It That We Have To Speak English?

[snoopy_1]

An officer in the U.S. Naval reserve was attending a conference that included admirals from both the U.S. Navy and the French navy. At a cocktail reception, he found himself in a small group that included
personnel from both navies. The French admiral started complaining that whereas Europeans learned many languages, Americans learned only English.


He then asked: "Why is it that we have to speak English in these conferences rather than you speak French?"

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied: "Maybe it's because we arranged it so you did not have to speak German."

The group became silent.

 

[Hawker rider]

this is crap!

I would probably get flamed over this bigtime again,

But didn't the french admiral have a point????

My wife took "spanish" in high school and part of her college, she wouldn't even be able to order a beer in mexico.

granted the average joe doesn't need anything else besides English to live his life. I just think it shows other cultures respect too, being able to at least understand their language.

 

[chperplt]

But didn't the french admiral have a point????

NO

 

[labbats]

Tell the french to singlehandedly fix the world's problems for 100 years. Then I'll take lessons.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Hey, when abroad -know the language or take your chances...

Dont expect English when in France and dont expect French when in America (or Spanglish)

but I agree -- the ugly American is just as bad as the French snob.

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

the ugly American is just as bad as the French snob.

well said

 

[kevdog]

well said

well said.

FYI, the reason Europe speaks english is because in 1972 the European countries took a vote on which language would be learned as the common language to speak between countries and English beat German by only a few percentage points. This is 100% true so I don't want to hear any stupid MF say anything else.