This Week's Backside Of The Bell Curve Winner!

George W.'s Gal Pal
And (Hopefully)
Loose Lipped Pseudo-Linguist

Dr. Condoleezza
(Da, I'm running for President!)
Rice

Rice Announces Presidential Run by Mistake

By BARRY SCHWEID
AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It was a long interview in Moscow, and maybe she was tired from her travels, but for just a moment Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declared Wednesday that she would seek the U.S. presidency.

"One day you will run for president?" Rice was asked on Ekko Moskvy Radio.

"President, da, da," Rice readily replied.

That, as nearly everyone knows, even if they are not fluent in Russian as Rice is believed to be, means yes.

"Nyet, nyet, nyet, nyet," Rice quickly added, taking herself out of the race as fast as she'd gotten into it. LINK

OK. Here's the deal.

I have an MA in French and German (double major), along with undergrad Russian, grad level Italian, and HS Latin.

Da and Nyet answers demand that you understand the question posed. To understand the question posed, you have to know what the words in the question mean.

Most people can memorize enough words in a language to ask, "Where is the bathroom?" The problem is knowing enough vocabulary words to understand the answer to the question. Trust me. Your bladder will thank you for learning the words!

Condi says that the Russian language "is difficult."

Of course, it's difficult...
If you don't know what the words mean.

Let's face it. The world laughs at us Americans because of our national disdain for learning world languages. Sadly, most of our current ambassadors and envoys can't speak the native languages of the countries where they're supposedly representing US interests. They're BushCo Biz friends.

George W. can't even speak English. I'd bet an analysis of his language usage would demonstrate a basic 1500-3000 word vocabulary.

When Dr. Condoleezza Rice can't answer a simple future tense Da or Nyet question in her doctoral level language major, not only does she perpetuate the Stupid American image; she disgraces our entire higher education system, as well.

It's one thing to explain that you studied a language but don't claim to be proficient (or your skills are rusty). Most native speakers will applaud your attempt and forgive all errors.

It's quite another, however, to claim you're fluent in a language and proceed to humiliate the USA by botching the one word answer to a simple question.

I would prefer to believe that Condi answered the question correctly when she replied, "Da! Da!"

As frightening as that prospect may seem, at least it's not as embarrassing as the alternative.

Heavy sigh, either way.