Why I continue to simultaneously hope for/hate all humanity.

Just this morning I discovered the BBC offers free language courses online! 'www.bbc.co.uk/languages'
[I'd make that an actual link, but for some reason I can't get blogspot to recognize the html.]

All-in-one Beginner's Courses, Video Introductions for listening/pronunciation, Learning Games like picture-vocab matchups & crossword puzzles, Test Yourself gauging, Grammar & Dictionary shortcuts, ways to find local classes, Useful Phrases & printable Holiday phrases for traveling.
There's even a section for you to offer your own stories and advice for others learning the language.
All of it free!

As I'm happily exploring the site (and thinking of blogging about my happiness in finding this new toy) I'm also reading one of several blogs I subscribe to; this one points out different pop-culture topics useful for sociological discussion.

Today's blog concerns an American organization called 'English First' at 'www.englishfirst.org'.

They're an organization advocating the adoption of English-only laws in the U.S., which would mean government agencies and officials would not be allowed to conduct any type of business in a language other than English. They also oppose bilingual education and bilingual ballots.

Check out the banner that tops their webpage:

Ironically, they use the upraised torch of a gift from France, 'La Liberté Éclairant le Monde' or 'Liberty Enlightening the World' (okay, now we call her 'the Statue of Liberty') as a symbol to "capture the spirit of immigrants who learned English". Nice. So much for enlightenment.

But what really pisses me off (while at the same time offers the perfect indictment you couldn't dream of topping) about 'English First' is that for an an organization concerned with foreigners somehow diluting the English language, and with people being unable to use the English language correctly they didn't even catch their own mistake in their own banner:

OUR SYMBOL IS THE STATUE OF LIBERTY TORCH CAPTURING THE SPIRIT OF IMMIGRANTS WHO LEARNED ENGLISH AND BECAME FULL MEMBERS OF AMERICANS SOCIETY


It really is an odd sensation to find yourself with two windows open, one offering free resources to learn foreign languages and about foreign cultures, and another offering resources (and incorrect grammar) on how to stop the spread of non-native speakers from spoiling 'our' language.