Does This Guy Have To Learn English?

[Punch The Clown]

I went on a call last week. Anyway, the call came in as a cardiac. After evaluating the patient we determined her problems were not cardiac, but more like a flu. She was 90 years old. Anyway, while my partner was doing the paperwork I was looking at the pictures on the wall. There were a few pictures of a Chinese man in a US uniform. The patients husband, who was in his 90's, started pointing at the pic saying "Me, Me!". Neither the old man or his wife spoke English. I asked the Grandson why his Grandfather was in a US uniform. He told me he was in the USAAF. Anyway, questioning him using the Grandson as an interpreter, I found out a bit of the story. Grandpa was in the Chinese Air Force in 1939, was with the AVG, and joined the USAAF in 1941 where he served until 1945. He was in the 14th Air Force. I threw out stuff like CBI and Claire Chennault and he started getting all happy and excited and was saying "China India". Anyway, all this took place in only a few minutes. They never learned English because after the war they moved to the US and settled in a Chinese neighborhood. They worked in the garment business, and owned their own home in a nice area. I would have loved to have had more time to interview Grandpa but I give him a pass on not being English speaking.

[timshufflin]

If the old man were your son, would you give him a pass? I would call my son a lazy SOB if that were him. I would also think that of myself. The man was lazy and needed to step up, he missed out on a large part of life because of his poor effort and increased the problems we have in this country of having to "press 1".

[Punch The Clown]

Now that I think about it you may be right. The fact that he served in the Military during WWII, worked and paid his taxes, and never sucked off the teat of the taxpayer clouded my judgement. Why am I always wrong?

[Prince Humperdink]

Tim,Your response to Comrade Punchie reeks of Conservative tones.I am starting to doubt Your sincerity towards Our dear leader and the party.perhaps a little reflection is in order?

[cuppednlocked]

Time for re-education!

[Punch The Clown]

I have given thought to visiting this Chinese Veteran just to ask him a few questions. WWII Vets are going fast, but wait! I Forgot!!!! All of them are probably collecting Socialist Security anyway.

[KnickKnack]

I still liked your story and found it heart warming. Tim has become politically confused since he tried being a Democrat Liberal Pinko Commie and not having it work out so well for him. Now he is lost in purgatory and trying to see the light. Give him a little slack for not taking the time to learn Chinese and missing out on a big part of life. Press 2 for the Spanish translation of this post.

[herrmann]

My departed Aunt Anna was born in Hungary. She learned English with no accent. When all my Hunky relatives were sitting around BSing in Hungarian, she would admonish them; "Speak English, we are in the new country!"

[timshufflin]

My departed Aunt Anna was born in Hungary. She learned English with no accent. When all my Hunky relatives were sitting around BSing in Hungarian, she would admonish them; "Speak English, we are in the new country!"

And this is how I would expect myself or my children to act.

[seaninmich]

so this guy gets a pass because he's a WWII vet?? why not ALL vets, then? and since they can't do their jobs alone, we better give a free pass to the people that make the tanks for them, make the planes for them, and make the ships for them. in fact, we better give a free pass to the people that sew the uniform and put the laces in their boots. Surely they, too are heroes. And since all the heroes get a free pass, let's not require any of our teachers, social workers, firemen, or police to learn English. after all, they are heroes. and since no hero teacher could do her job without a clean school, there is no way we can expect the janitors to speak English. that would be so wrong.

now that you bring it up, no one should have to learn English EVER.

[HerkFE]

now that you bring it up, no one should have to learn English EVER.

I never liked that class anyway.

[KnickKnack]

I never liked that class anyway.

As I recall, there weren't many classes that you did like. ;)