In general Europeans are fluent in more languages than average typical everyday Americans. Why? Americans don't give a dam* that's why? Why?

So your answer is complacency. Provincial thinking. Nationalism/tribalism  

Somehow that doesn’t strike you as a problem. Let me clue you in. This is exactly why people with this mindset have such poor understanding of the world. Why they succumb to and even revere hollow conspiracy theories, indefensible dogmas and schizotypal claims. 

What Rosie describes here is but a tiny symptom of the problem. 

SIGH. Thanks DB. And so it goes. The beat goes on. And on. And on. Happy Saturday to thee! :)

A fair point, but what other language would you have us speak? Some folks are able to study other languages in school and others are not. With English being spoken so widely, are we to hate and punish ourselves for speaking it to the extent we do? That is, perhaps, the logical extension of Rosie's question.

I think you missed her point. Learning another language has nothing to do with "hating" or "punishing" oneself, but broadening one's horizons. I speak a little German and can read archaic Greek (two idioms, classical and Koine). My niece speaks four languages fluently - alongside her native English (Australian idiom), she learned Polish and French at a very young age and can now handle Mandarin Chinese. She intends to be a career diplomat, so being multilingual is an asset.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with English, but getting a handle on another lingo in addition to it can only be a good thing, no? Particularly as grammar is no longer taught. In some languages, grammatical usage affects the wording used, hence learning those can better one's understanding of grammar in English too. It did mine.

True enough.

Precisely! Thanks. :):):)

Bravo. 

In the process of preparing my response, I read SlartiB’s post, and he hit it right on the head. 

My comments aren’t directed toward those who lack the opportunity to learn another language, but those who refuse the opportunity.
I think (in her way) Rosie was shining light on a species of close-mindedness, particular to Americans.

I myself speak Italian pretty well, and some Spanish (some might even say English) and I can’t say enough about how it affects my embrace of those cultures. Worldliness, as it were, is too undervalued as a commodity in some circles, IMO. 

It is about need. I do not need to learn another language. I live in a country were we all learn the same language. I have no disire to travel to any country which does not speak English. I do not have a job were I speak with people of another language. If I did then I would learn that language. I did take 3 yrs of Spanish in school. But have forgotten the majority because of lack of usage. 

And no it is not a problem for me at all. There are reasons were are a super power and a common language is part of it. 

I am immeasurably grateful not everyone thinks as insularly as that statement. 

I believe my good pal SBF answered that question for you Stu. Why add anything to PERFECTION? So I won't.