My question is about the proper grammar in a short phrase.

Question

I have been contested about a popular bumper sticker phrase that reads:  "If you can read this, thank a teacher.  If you can read this in English, thank a soldier."  The argument is that this is incorrect and that the word 'this' in both sentences should be eliminated because it is paradoxical, senseless and self-contradictory.  According to this argument, it should read, "If you can read, thank a teacher.  If you can read in English, thank a soldier."

 

Can you comment on which is the correct or most correct grammatically please?   Thank You, Richard 

Answer 1

If you're arguing about English, let's first ask what you mean by  I have been contested about...

 

That needs rewording!

 

As to whether the word "this" should appear in the bumper sticker, I say Yes, because it refers to the bumper sticker itself.  A valid sentiment!  

 

Perhaps the second clause, about thanking a soldier if you can read 'this' in English, refers to WWII soldiers who stopped Hitler from taking over the world, in which case German might have become the universal language. 

 

Another favorite bumper sticker of mine is "Question Authority!"