Ki On Dec 21, 2008, at 5:49 PM, KiwisKeeper@aol.com wrote > Sir Winston Churchill was one of them and in my lineage and that is > through > his grandmother who was a Drake. . Most excellently written message, well put, succinct and understandable. Winston Churchill also wrote a book about the History of the English Speaking Peoples, and was quite serious about an English-Language Union of nations, including the U.S. Roosevelt never had much interest in that idea, those some remnants of that policy do survive, especially in terms of military intelligence. And arguably, few modern leaders could come close to the most excellent use of the English language. I wonder what he would have to say about "r u ok?" and the very sloppy styles of writing we encounter on the web. I was never more embarrassed than when in Cornwall, England in 2001, just after 9/11. My guide on the trip informed me, that the impression of UK rootsweb members, Americans are the most illiterate, horribly grammared, impossible to understand people on the planet. I'm afraid by judging from some of what I read, I have to agree and I had to admit "Guilty as Charged." Apparently I public school system is so broken down that that the language is devolving into a meaningless mush of platitudes. Again thank you for presenting a well written account of your feelings. Craig Kilby