From Bill D:

"As a fact of history, English IS the standard language here, and the 2nd language in much of the rest of the world...and as folks strive to preserve and appreciate their heritage (to note the original question), they also need to remember that they have chosen to alter their heritage and that of their children, and responsibilities come with that."

Exactly.

If I went to live in France, I'd learn French. If I went to live in Spain, I'd learn Spanish, etc...etc..etc. I'd not even hesitate to think about doing it, because no way would I expect French people to talk English to me, likewise with the Spanish. I think it would be arrogant and spoilt brattish of me to assume that *they* should learn *my* language. I'd like them to help me out, yes, and to fall over helpless in laughter as I stumbled through learning the words, but no way would I expect them to learn my language purely because I was too darn lazy, or stubbornly fixed in my attitudes, to learn theirs.

I'd also learn their history, their culture, their way of living, how their society functions, the do's and don't's of it all and their laws.

No-one would have to force me to do this, because this is the new country that I'd chosen of my own accord, the one where I'd want to put down my roots, and so therefore, I'd want to become part of that country, its people, its life, and I'd want that for my children too.

I would never forget my own roots, heritage or culture though, and at home I'd speak in English. I'd miss my own language terribly, but know that I'd be able to converse happily with family and friends. But hard though it would be, I'd know that to get on in my new country I'd need to be able to communicate, be it for a job, or a hospital visit, or down to my local shop, talking to my new neighbours, and I'd work hard to learn, because this would be my new beginning, my new start, and a new life for my children.

The alternative would be sign language for the rest of my days, pointing at things, never understanding, isolation, danger at times, through not being able to communicate in an emergency, and a refusal to join the society I'd come to live amongst. There'd be loneliness, anger, confusion and resentment of the host nation, even though they hadn't caused that resentment at all, because *I* was the one who had refused to change.

And I'd not want to live amongst a whole pile of English people, becaause I'd moved to my new country to become a part of it, not create England on a tiny scale.

I think I'm correct in saying that if I wanted to live in Canada, for instance, then I'd have to speak either French or English, be able to support myself or have someone sponsor me for almost 10 years, in case something went wrong. I'd also have to have many educational skills, with exams to prove that, plus job skills too. It wouldn't matter if I were marrying a Canadian or not, as no special advantages are given for that, the rules are the same.

And I think (although please correct me if I'm wrong) that many of these rules came about because the Canadian Government went to the people, after a huge amount of immigration happened, in a short time, when many nationalities moved to Canada, many unable to support themselves or their families and many unable to even speak English or French and it caused a large amount of problems.

You have to be sensible here. Welcome everyone, but everyone has to be responsible and willing to put some hard work in to make everything work well.

Moving to another country is a two way thing. Firstly, it's YOU deciding to make a huge change in your life and being willing to do all you can to learn about your new country, because it is *yours* now...and it's the host nation being willing to welcome you warmly, with open arms, knowing that you are going to do your damndest to fit in and become a happy part of your new country.

I'd keep my own heritage, pass it to my children, share it with my new neighbours, teach them about it, whilst learning theirs, but I'd also know that from the moment I arrived in my new country, I was now blessed with an extra heritage.