I don't quite see what your reply adds because what I posted already clearly indicates that right-wing people also learn Esperanto. To say that a large number of people (now and historically) have gravitated to Esperanto because they feel its aims concur(red) with their general social view is neither controversial nor false.

Frankly I think your IAL motive is somewhat questionable and rather typical of rightist waffle. Keeping Spanish out by forcing (or in softer terms encouraging) them to use an IAL, while English remains dominant everywhere else. Happily for you it's your mother tongue. Is it not really that you're just miffed about Spanish's growth in general in the U.S?

bartlett22183:So those advocates who consider themselves liberals or leftists have to be very, very careful that they do not alienate conservative / rightist samideanoj from the Fina Venko.

I don't particularly care if I'm seen as humorless and like Vestitor, I can't say I totally agree with your post, but I also don't want to be perpetuating myths that most Esperanto speakers are computer programmers (not true, even if there are many programmers in the community), potentially putting someone off who has no interest whatsoever in computers. Like you say, alienating people unnecessarily by implying (even jokingly implying) that you should be a certain kind of person to fit into the Esperanto community. A male, socially inept left-wing LGBT vegetarian computer programmer, I guess, if we're going to just pile on all the stereotypes?

It is a community that is big enough for lots of different people and while I am happy to tell a vegetarian "Esperanto events usually have good provision for vegetarians because there are many vegetarians in the community", it's counterproductive to tell a conservative "Esperanto speakers are mostly liberals so you probably won't find a lot of people agreeing with you". They will find that out soon enough, and in any case, the line between left and right varies around the world, as do the issues that are considered liberal or conservative favorites, so an American "leftist" may well find herself agreeing with European conservatives on certain issues, and vice versa.

erinja:A male, socially inept left-wing LGBT vegetarian computer programmer, I guess, if we're going to just pile on all the stereotypes?

Haha..you left out 'lesbian', 'one-legged' and 'single mother'.

erinja:...in any case, the line between left and right varies around the world, as do the issues that are considered liberal or conservative favorites, so an American "leftist" may well find herself agreeing with European conservatives on certain issues, and vice versa.

That's very true.

erinja:... the line between left and right varies around the world, ...

In EU area that ancient categorization of left vs right can be seen obsolete. Now in Germany, biggest conservative party take positions which only social democrats had before, same situation reverse. In Greece lefties party Syriza goes in (strategic) coalition with right-wing populist Independent Greeks.

spreecamper: In EU area that ancient categorization of left vs right can be seen obsolete. Now in Germany, biggest conservative party take positions which only social democrats had before, same situation reverse. In Greece lefties party Syriza goes in (strategic) coalition with right-wing populist Independent Greeks.

I don't think this is true at all, though it's often repeated. Whatever 'deals' certain parties of coalition minorities make to be able to take power is not a reflection of the obsolescence of ideology. If that were true there would be no need to hammer out a coalition agreement at all. Or perhaps the ones willing to work together happen to be largely fence-sitters or eager for power.

No one can credibly claim, for example, that the newly-appointed economic advisor to the Corbyn Labour Party, Yanis Varoufakis, is not 'left-wing'. Or that Merkel is not a economically right-wing. There are anomalies and nuances of course, but the broad distinctions remain.

The last person to notably claim the death of ideology, Francis Fukuyama, now looks something of a twit. I don't think he's an Esperantist, even if he is utopian.

I think that there is widespread agreement among esperantistaj samideanoj that an international auxiliary language, especially a so-called constructed one, such as E-o, is socially desirable. It has the potential (obviously not a sure thing) to promote a particle of harmony among people who otherwise do not share a common language, with less risk of language jealousy among native tongues. So far as I know, that was one of Zamenhof's ideals, which has been shared by other conIALists. My only point is that in pursuit of a common goal we take care that our common purpose not be overshadowed or overwhelmed by socio-political considerations which may hinder the movado. Let those matters be discussed later.

SPadern:

Alkanadi:I am also impressed with how quickly people in Europe learn Esperanto. Maybe because they are exposed to a lot of languages.

What makes you think that? Is there anything particular you've noticed?

I just noticed that they learn quickly. It doesn't seem to take them too long compared to the mono-glot English speakers, such as myself.

Vestitor:I don't think this is true at all, though it's often repeated. Whatever 'deals' certain parties of coalition minorities make to be able to take power is not a reflection of the obsolescence of ideology. If that were true there would be no need to hammer out a coalition agreement at all. Or perhaps the ones willing to work together happen to be largely fence-sitters or eager for power.

Okay, yes. Political parties are keen to gain and stay in power. Lets call it creativity. All I most hope that politicans will fail to polarize citizens into some civil war like trouble. Btw now some kind of political polarizations is happen in Germany, too. Right-wing nationalists get in power with two-digit percent in three German federal states. I'm really sick of their ethnopluralism ideas. Their ideas are such disgusting. Fortunately, and I know by myself, there are by trend tolerant esperantists (I don't believe in some kind of standard esperantist because I met to much different ones) in areas whose government gets nationalistically.

Alkanadi:

SPadern:

Alkanadi:I am also impressed with how quickly people in Europe learn Esperanto. Maybe because they are exposed to a lot of languages.

What makes you think that? Is there anything particular you've noticed?

I just noticed that they learn quickly. It doesn't seem to take them too long compared to the mono-glot English speakers, such as myself.

You have to find out what learning type you are and what kind of learning material suits you. I.e. don't feel ashamed to try learning material for children. Try to speak, to write, read (yes, why not in this order instead reverse?). Maybe create your very personal learning material by yourself? Compared with other conlangs for Esperanto there exists lots of different types of learning material. And try to find proper 'role model' means instead of Evildela, maybe better orientate you on Barbaro Esperantisto.

spreecamper:

Vestitor:I don't think this is true at all, though it's often repeated. Whatever 'deals' certain parties of coalition minorities make to be able to take power is not a reflection of the obsolescence of ideology. If that were true there would be no need to hammer out a coalition agreement at all. Or perhaps the ones willing to work together happen to be largely fence-sitters or eager for power.

Okay, yes. Political parties are keen to gain and stay in power. Lets call it creativity. All I most hope that politicans will fail to polarize citizens into some civil war like trouble. Btw now some kind of political polarizations is happen in Germany, too. Right-wing nationalists get in power with two-digit percent in three German federal states. I'm really sick of their ethnopluralism ideas. Their ideas are such disgusting. Fortunately, and I know by myself, there are by trend tolerant esperantists (I don't believe in some kind of standard esperantist because I met to much different ones) in areas whose government gets nationalistically.

"Ethnopluralism" is not a term I have seen before.
Could you please explain what it means.