Surely it’s a misunderstanding and it has nothing to do with his politics? He’s MAGA in case anyone was wondering, a huge Trump defender. Anyway, whenever I tell Grandpa (who I live with) that I want to see the world or go to Germany or Norway on a school trip, or see Norway when I get older with my dad perhaps, he says “Why can’t you just stay here?” or “Why can’t you visit this country first?”
Then he goes on about how people speak English in America and in Germany and Norway, they speak other languages when I want to learn another language. I want to be fluent in my second and heritage language Norwegian and in German, which I will hopefully become a polyglot in English, Spanish, German, Norwegian and Toki Pona by 2029.
Also, I’ve told him that I know several monolingual English speakers who went to other non-English speaking countries like Mexico, but he still won’t listen and help me save up. (I don’t have a job yet and I’m only 15).
Not only this, as much as I love him due to him being family, I don’t love his views. He doesn’t really like immigrants due to his thinking they all can’t speak English. If they speak accented English, he still tells them to “speak English”. Maybe he doesn’t want to “BECOME the immigrant” (in quotes, because well… we’re not Native). Also, I will forever not understand people’s hatred towards immigrants and their desire to embrace their home culture in a better country.
People like that have always existed, and always will. They live a life where whatever they ever wanted is right nearby, and they can’t imagine that the place which is good enough for them isn’t good enough for someone else.
I will say this: don’t let his attitude make you afraid of traveling. I’m always a homebody, but even for me there’s an excitement in being a stranger in a strange land every once in a while. Give it a try.
He’s MAGA in case anyone was wondering,
Yeah, I’m pretty sure we all figured that one out.
Modern conservatism is based on fear and hatred of the ‘other.’ “Immigrants” (brown people with accents), gays, ‘wrong’ religions (mostly those practiced by brown people with accents), etc.
Your grandfather is scared of them, and hates them for making him scared. It’s rooted in racism and phobias. No justification from him will change it.
As you get older, you will have the option to agree with him, ignore his behaviour for the sake of family harmony, or aggressively reject his beliefs - which will potentially mean rejecting him. Choose wisely, and keep your compassion alive.
he goes on about how people speak English in America and in Germany and Norway, they speak other languages
They do speak other languages. However, 88% of Norwegians seem to be fluent in English. The percentage is less in Germany, I think about 25%, but that’s still enough people that you could get by, particularly in the tourist areas.
Pappy votes MAGA. So it’s very likely that the Norwegians and Germans that know English have a better grasp of it.
I got by with little more than danke, ja and zwei bier.
¿Qué?
He’s been groomed to be terrified of American cities, let alone other countries.
The speak English to those that speak with an accent can come about because some people have a very hard time with accents. Especially as they get older. My mom has a very hard time understanding a someone from the Middle East who is speaking English. It’s not that she is racist it’s that’s she older and her ears are wearing out. My dad is the same way. My mom is more patient when dealing with people who have a strong accent. My dad… less so.
I worked with my dad and got him to understand that it’s not that they aren’t speaking English… it’s that they have a strong accent. I at least got him to stop saying “speak English “ . It’s a small step.
My point is: talk to your grandpa and see if he has a hard time understanding the accent.
The rest of it, ask why he doesn’t like travel. Is he afraid of crime or what is it. Maybe you can show him the truth
To sum it up - Americans are cowards.
Sadly, current events just reinforce that reality even more.
You’re not going to find a rational, well reasoned, explanation. It’s just emotions. Fear, pride, shame. Most people are too cowardly to do any difficult introspection, and an older person who’s probably never practiced it is a unlikely to start now.
Reasonably well traveled American here. 10 countries over 5 continents as of this comment.
You should go and see the world. It’s an amazing experience! I think wanting to learn more languages is commendable and I hope you do. But even if you don’t, don’t let that stop you from traveling. English is widely spoken, especially in the service industry. And translation apps, while clunky, work well enough.
Your Grandpa doesn’t sound like he wants his mind changed. I say that partly from what you said, and partly because I know the type. And it’s hard to convince anyone who isn’t interested in changing their preconceived notions. Which is sad, being stuck in a box of his own making. I can understand you wanting him to see it the way you do. But if you can’t, that’s not your fault. And he can’t hold you back unless you let him.
He’s probably racist and it has to do with his politics
If he likes English so much he should move to England. America isn’t the place to live if you only want to speak English.
The vast majority of people do speak English in some form, but England isn’t exclusively English either. Nearly 1 in 10 people resident in England and Wales didn’t list English or Welsh as their main language in a 2021 census.
Depending on how you count you can get 12 or more indigenous languages in the UK, at least 7 of which are commonly recognised (English, Welsh, Irish, Scots, Scots Gealic, Cornish, BSL). Scotland has 4 official languages, Wales has 2, Northern Ireland’s official language is Irish and notably not English, and England has no official language. Then there’s the non-indigenous languages like Polish and Punjabi, there’s enough speakers using those are their main language to be notable.
Some people and especially old people have a lot of experience in not doing anything. They like to reaffirm their decision.
If he suddenly changed his mind, he’d also have to acknowledge that he had lived most of his life with a narrow mind in all the situations where he chose not to take a chance. It’s the sunken cost fallacy.
It’s not just old people. It happens all the time in all kinds of ways when someone doesn’t want to rigorously investigate their options in a situation and simply go with what they already have. They’ll make up excuses for their (lack of) choice afterwards. It could be chosing a restaurant, buying a car, settling in a certain neighborhood or anything really.
It’s likely not that this attitude results from his politics, but that his politics result from the same views that result in this attitude. It’s a narrow world view, perpetuated by propaganda and the american civil religion (not that this is exclusive to the US, but it sure seems prevalent there).
Ignore him best you can, and do what makes you happy. Not sure if there’s a way to convince him to help you save for it, but if he thinks that murica is the greatest country on earth, it seems unlikely he’d ever support you wanting to leave that - temporarily or permanently.
Because it sounds fucking exhausting and like you tryings to brainwash them.
