Poverty and poor education are not going to be eradicated just by learning English and American ideals. Whatever happened to that basic American tenet that all (wo)men are created equal? I don't see any qualifiers in the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution that limit basic rights to English speakers only.

::also loves Maria's very spicy brains::

Grazie, sorella.

Thank you, Maria. And everyone else who's had intelligent and thoughtful things to say on the subject.

Or what Erin and billytea have said, much more eloquently and succinctly than I ever could.

I thought you were perfectly eloquent. And with actual legal knowledge, which is always a plus. (During your comment on Britain and France, though, I did find myself asking "What if xenophobia is their cultural heritage?")

Oh, one thing I think is worth clarifying: the French government is not trying to ban headscarves. It's proposing to ban the full burqa. (The current opinion seems to be that their proposal is unconstitutional anyway, so anything that sticks will have to be watered down - possibly limited to places where they can cite separation of church and state, as is already the case in schools and the civil service, and places where security demands that a person's face can be seen.)

Ah. Good to know. See, I knew there was something I didn't know, and I just couldn't be arsed to look it up that late in the evening.

Damn, I'm up early. That ain't right.

Damn, I'm up early. That ain't right.

You came back woke up wrong!

Heh.

You came back woke up wrong!

Hmm, not exactly...But I am awake now, and I wonder if I should try to get a few more hours of shuteye.

Thanks, everyone.

Go back to sleep, Erin. Especially since I can't.

(During your comment on Britain and France, though, I did find myself asking "What if xenophobia is their cultural heritage?")

Call me naive, but even if xenophobia is part of their cultural heritage, there is nothing that's forcing either country to preserve it. A national identity should evolve and be enriched by the addition of new elements, rather than cower in fear of the unknown and different. Celebrate history, but don't be enslaved to it.

See now, you fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia" - but only slightly less well-known is this: "Never take an Australian seriously when taking the piss is on the line"!

Is Theo around? I have a census question!

Sophia, Garv is working for the census -- maybe I can answer?

This news that Sandra Bullock adopted a baby makes the whole story that much more heartbreaking.