What I cannot understand is how a person can come to the US and expect not to speak English.

My forbears learnt it within a few months and before they even came, in an age when most people werent even literate, books were for the priviledged and professionals only, and when there weren't even gramaphones, let alone mp3 players.

So why can this fat custard tart eating lady even learn "Im sorry", or "Would you mind if I sat here"?

That just isn't right.