What Language Should I Learn?

Hello. I am pretty much a complete beginner as my only experience with programming has been some AutoHotKey scripts. I would like to get to C++ eventually, but right now I am looking for languages that will help me learn programming basics. I am mostly considering Python or Visual Basic right now, however, I would like your opinions on which language or languages would be best. Thanks.

Haskell. then once you understand all that recursion,pure functions,and algebraic data types crap that is essential to all 'real' languages, learn something declerative - like clojure or XSLT