One of my greater embarrasments, as an American, is this current thrust to make English as the 'official' language. (I have several other embarrasments also). My Fathers' native language is Finnish. When I was a kritter growing up, he would NEVER speak Finn around home, unless he lost his temper. When I was about 40, the "Nordic Heritage Museum" opened up in Ballard, (Seattle) Washington. (USA) I signed us up and we took language classes together. It was something of another bonding time with the two of us. Today, my Father is 93 and lives with my Mother in a nursing home four blocks from our home. I often visit him late at night, and we sometimes speak the old phrases. I feel it's VERY IMPORTANT for the 'language police' to realize that there are many ways to say "I LOVE YOU," and that some of the other ways have deeper meanings. English is just one language in a world of many languages. Today, english has became the international language of trade and business. I would rather tell my Father that I love him, in his own tongue, than a language which is synonymous with business and trade. I hope that all non-english speakers of the world fight hard to keep their own identities and cultures and heritage. KITTOS, Bob(deckman)Nelson