The Buckets by Greg Cravens for October 11, 2013

To understand animals it is necessary to listen empathetically.-It works with some people, as well.

As should all people. They used to be so proud to become American, but now?

Just for the record, I was pleased with this cartoon when I thought of what could happen here in the comment section. So, let’s see what people have to say. Will this turn into a discussion about dogs, or about immigration? Place your bets, please….

I’m pretty sure my lab fully understands English, she just lacks the appropriate vocal chords to respond in English.

Message! :-) I think it would be a lot easier for immigrants to make it in America if they learned to speak English. So many of them have their children translate and of course with children, some things get lost in translation. I also don’t think it’s a bad idea for Americans to at least learn Spanish. I worked at a place where they brought in an employee who only spoke Spanish and I was expected to help her fill out forms and instruct her on what to do. Wanting to be different, I took French in school.

We have some friends who’re from Switzerland. They have four official languages in Switzerland. The people there are really, really good with languages and have the mental and social benefits that come from knowing more than one. I have been accused of being very stupid for having expressed this opinion… But it was by someone who didn’t speak English very well, and didn’t speak any other languages at all, so his opinion can and should be disregarded.

And, in order to avoid skewing the conversation one way or the other- I have a German Shepherd. He’s really big and very sweet. People in the park seem very happy when he obeys my commands to ‘come here’ and ‘leave it’ and ‘cross the road’. It may be because he looks pretty intimidating.There you go. Dogs and Politics.

“Bark!”“Roof!”“Ralph!”“Worf!”

You know, all those crimes that you say the “illegal” drunk driver committed could have been committed just as easily by a legal immigrant, and even easier by a native US citizen (because there are more people the native citizen could blend into). I trust you know that the person was an immigrant based on her physical appearance and accent. But… how can you claim with all certainty that the woman was an illegal immigrant?

Your problem was not the immigration status of the driver, your problem was drunk driving!

Side note: Illegal immigrants are less likely to break the law than other people that are otherwise in the same circumstance, because they know they have a higher price to pay. While the legal resident may get out of the affair with a warning, a reasonable fine, or a short jail sentence, the illegal will also be deported.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with the United States of America having an official language. Every country but ours has an official language. It’s baloney when they say it would be discriminatory. If an American moved to live in another country, they would have to learn the language there. It just makes common sense to do so. And if you think about it a bit, if England hadn’t seized Manhattan in 1665 when a Dutch colony was there, we would be speaking Dutch instead of English.

Agreed Frank.

Excellent!

xxx

Not every dog is Lassie. But they all get their point across. As do cats. They read us so well.

.Canada has two offical languages English & French. It would be nice to be fluent in both. Sadly, my brain is better at mumble & grrr than a second language. Unfortunately I have a co-pod worker who is fluent in both, which comes in handy when I have a client who is from Quebec.- the rest of the gang is pretty good as well. We have a diverse group so help in Punjabi, Hindi, Japanese, Cantonese, and Farsi is always there.

Maybe there’s a badger at the door ? Oh, wait, wrong comic…

Maybe Dogzilla thinks your speaking the wrong language…

I cannot say much for dogs language as I’m not around them much, but I can address cats language skills.We have had cats that have positively learned to emulate human English. We have one cub – not quite 4 years old – that has specific vocalizations for “water” and “door” that have even been recognized by guests. The only time he makes these to sounds is when he wants fresh water or the door to the cat run opened.We had one that passed a few years ago that had 5 or 6 distinct and recognizable “words”, including his name. He only made that sound when he wanted to snuggle in your lap but it was occupied by another feline, a laptop, or other obstruction. Then he would poke or shove at whatever was filling your lap while looking you straight in the face and saying his name.

There, I addressed both national language and animal language. I guess that makes me a centrist.

Grandad is apparently one more incoherent Republican.