Christopher Columbus discovered/claimed the new world in the name of Spain in 1492. For the next 96 years Spanish explorers established that claim throughout north and south America. The Spanish fleet enforced the claim, but in 1588 King Philip II decided to invade England, with a new less experianced commander. His military advised him agaisnt the invasion and even they did not predict bad weather. The Spanish fleet was defeated! If King Philip II had simply listened, America would be a Spanish speaking nation today. Leadership is important!
Give it a few more years and we'll be a Spanish speaking nation anyway.
ReplyDeleteGood point Ed. And if Anne Bolyn would have taken the exile in France that Henry offered her and her kid, we wouldn't be speaking English.
ReplyDeleteI once met a guy who told me his name and I said, “Oh you’re Mexican”. He got pissed at me and said no “I’m Spanish”.
ReplyDeleteSo I asked him where he was from, expecting him to say something like Madrid or Barcelona or some other town. He replied, “I was born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico”.
Apparently I didn’t pay enough attention in World History while in school. I always thought they where two completely different countries.
We should thank the English for introducing slavery to their very first settlement in Jamestown. Without the English we wouldn't have the diversity we enjoy today.
ReplyDeleteYou witnessed "Class distinction." Higher class educated Mexican citezens claim to be spanish. It diferentiates them from the dirt poor.
ReplyDeleteThere's a pecking order, here, too, but I can't remember it. Cubans, Mexicans, and Peurto Ricans all look down on each other for various reasons.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, if Hitler hadn't opened a second front, we might be speaking German.
And if Eve would've refused the apple, we'd be in Paradise.
Sure, sure... always the blame goes back to the woman! Geech!
ReplyDeleteWe also owe the English for bringing the European custom of scalping your enemy to America. Who would have guessed that we would rebel against the English and eventually become the worlds champion of human rights, right after we slaugtered women and children Native Americans at Wounded Knee, just a hundred years ago!
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