Immigrants in U.S. should 'speak American': Ex-VP nominee Palin

[Zorro]

Source: Reuters

Immigrants to the United States should "speak American," former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin said on Sunday, adding her voice to a controversy triggered by Donald Trump's criticism of fellow Republican White House hopeful Jeb Bush's use of Spanish.

"It's a benefit of Jeb Bush to be able to be so fluent in Spanish, because we have a large and wonderful Hispanic population that is helping to build America," Palin said on CNN's "State of the Union."

"On the other hand, you know, I think we can send a message and say: 'You want to be in America? A, you better be here legally, or you're out of here. B, when you're here, let's speak American.' I mean, that's just, that's - let's speak English," added Palin, Republican presidential nominee John McCain's running mate in 2008.

Palin, who is popular among some U.S. conservatives, said that "a unifying aspect of a nation is the language that is understood by all." Most of the illegal immigrants in the United States come from Mexico and other Spanish-speaking Latin American countries.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/immigrants-u-speak-american-ex-vp-nominee-palin-201351052.html

---

This is not from The Onion.

Thank you Senator McCain for foisting this colossal ignoramus into the national political arena.

[allan01]

1. please . please tell me where it says that english is the " official" language ?

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

7. Where it says english is the one language of america as it is ?

I would have to think about that. ! what language do teachers in the United States speak in as a rule when they teach ?
If you have a diploma or a degree from a university in the United States ,what language is the written word in ?
And what does that all mean ? As to where does it say ,to your question ,I would say that very question did indeed exist way back when to founders were writing the constitution. If you want to know more about where it says english is the official language, I suggest you start there in your research as yer sailing back in time !

But of course Sarah Palin is a clown but as it so happens she has it right to some degree !

As I recall in the 80's around 84, H.G. Rickover was out on the lecture circuit and when he was in southern California ,L.A. ,he addressed the Jewish community ,and that very question came up . The members of the jewish community in southern California asked H.G. Rickover, how many languages will be appropriate in speaking ?

The question was asked because in southern California there are multi languages spoken . So the question was how many-2,3,5 how many ?

H.G. Rickover was rather pissed off at the question ,and when he thought a question was either nonsensical or ridiculous,
he would become powerfully pissed.

He snapped back, ONE. English.

I remember when I read that article in the L.A. times back in 84 ,I recall thinking, I thought so !
At the same time I understood why it is such a question would come up in southern California.

It's kind of like those baby on board little thingies people put in the back window of the automobile- little but shaped and colored like a official road warning sign. Some or many people when driving thought that they had to slow down than proceed with caution because of the baby on board little thingie.

Thing is those things are sold in dollar stores ! Actually the first dollar store in L.A. came into existence back there in 80's. !
The baby on board thingies are thingies people put in their rear windows - it's a thing not backed by a law. But people got confused.

Not the same as if a person or persons step out into the road or a street, when they do California law say you the motorist must come to a complete stop be it a cross walk or not. People get confused.

And thats the point, you see people get confused.

The founders figured that out many years ago. ! but don't take my word for it, find out for yourself.

[joealexander]

24. I'm at a loss.

I never post, but I read here every day. I had to chime in to ask if this was satirical. If it is, then--haha! If it isn't... Wow. That is some intensely stupid reasoning. I mean--I say that as a person who would normally NEVER question someone's intelligence.

That stop sign thing--We'd have to ban tourism with that logic--or children who can't read. And the founding fathers wrote the constitution in English because, and forgive me for stating the obvious, they all Spoke English.

I live in Midwood, Brooklyn. Half of the people I know are either Hasidic or Sephardic Jews. Many of these families have been Americans for generations--but because of cultural and religious expectations, speak Yiddish or Hebrew. Do we dismantle Judaism in the US to satisfy this logic?

Again, if you were joking. Haha!

If not...this is the kind of stuff we get when we let Reagan shutter all of the mental health facilities in the country.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

25. Hay joe, that's the name of a song too by the way. !

Is it a joke ? No ,i don't think so. Actually Reagan was president when I lived in southern California.The stop sign thing,you would have to know something about the laws in California to what thats about. and ha ha, people being confused about what to do when you see a sign in back window of the car in front of you when it displays a yellow sign with black lettering what says BABY ON BOARD. Of course there is no such sign in the drivers manual ,but how many motor vehicle operators keep one on hand ? !! ha ha. Actually ,it's a no brainier, but those little signs in the back windows
had drivers confused. Another article I read in the L.A. Times. California state patrol officers were ofter asked about that as well.

L.A. California is multi cultural similar to NYC that way, however in a very cool different way. The schools now mind you are and always have been every bit as good if not better than New York, I should know been there in both places !! ha ha.


The founders were educated by the way, spoke more than one language, most did anyway ! So wants an aristocrat right ! ha ha. It was common place for those who had education to speak multiple languages. The families of wealth in the colonies send them off to England or France ,or wherever in europe to gain an education and culture,society and all that ,ha ha ! and they traveled around over there in society.

So Joe really,you can speak any language you want to in America.As to the obvious Joe, the show me question the poster above my post presented was actually addressed by the founders . Now if you don't believe that,so what, you don't believe it. But here is the thing, it is a fact.
There is no law that says you must speak and write in english,never has been. I helps a lot if you like to work ! ha ha !

By the way I lived in up state New York a very long time ago, most everyone spoke english !! ha ha ! and everybody I knew down your way also spoke english as the first language !! ha ha !!!

And english is the spoken word throughout the United States military too there Joe, just so you know.It really does help a whole lot if one can read it and write it . It was a minimal requirement, that may have changed a little . I doubt that though. Commands and orders don't come down in five different languages so everybody gets it.

It all comes down in english.
Not because it is the first language,but because it is the one language. So joe let me ask you, is that a joke ?

[AllyCat]

30. OMG. This would be less disturbing if you had a more solid grasp on

Written English. Excusing that, there is no "one language".

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

32. Less disturbing ?

Perhaps you missed a point. Or maybe I didn't clarify . Either way it makes no difference .
If you say there is no one language ,than I suppose according to you there is no one language !
And according to Palin everybody should speak one language !So one way or the other it makes no difference,or does it ?
Disturbing ? I suppose there is no excuse for that.

Written command, oh ya ,I get it. Seriously.

[valerief]

41. Thanks for letting me add you to my Forever Ignored list. nt

[KansDem]

27. Here...

[forest444]

2. And Ms. Palin should speak English.

If she can ever manage it.

[Zorro]

16. She speaks fluent Manglish

As someone on Discussionist said.

[forest444]

17. Banzinga

[cascadiance]

3. Native Americans are probably laughing heavily at this!

And will come to her house and speak native American languages and ask why she can't do so if she's asking that everyone should do so!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. Considering her native tongue is "forked".

[YoungDemCA]

4. "They should stop speakin' Mexican and start speaking American!"

[TexasProgresive]

6. This from someone who speaks their own made up language

Palinese.

[Ahpook]

8. American?

She may need a class herself?

What a twit

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. I certainly think it is advantageous to speak English

in the US. In states with a large Hispanic population, it's advantageous to be bilingual. But the US has never designated English as the official language.

[L. Coyote]

23. If you don't mind the cultural limitations of speaking English.

Of course, if English is all you speak, you don't know how limited your culture is.

[TexasBushwhacker]

37. Did you read my post or just the title?

I said it was advantageous to be bilingual. I wish my Spanish was better. I know Mexican Americans who wish their Spanish was better. But English is the dominant language in the US. Not being fluent in English severely limits your career options here, even in a state like Texas that has a lot of Spanish speakers.

[pampango]

44. Indeed anyone who volunteers in "English as a second language" classes knows how much

most immigrants want to speak English. They move here for a better life and most know that speaking English makes that a lot easier. They hardly need a law telling them that.

[The Jungle 1]

10. Pensylvania Dutch

Do my Pennsylvania Dutch neighbors need to stop teaching Pennsylvania Dutch to their children? I am pretty sure they are not gonna like that.

What happened to freedom. I thought freedom applied to everyone. The freedom to speak any language you fing want to speak. If you don't want to speak to someone then shut your piehole and don't speak to them. What America needs is more people who mind their own business. Just saying!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

12. I guess everyone is supposed to worship Jayzuz too....

And be straight.

And white.

And like the same music. (Lawrence Welk and John Philip Sousa)

And drink the same beer...



(That hippie needs a shave.)

[Kali]

11. she sets such a great example

[63splitwindow]

13. Here is her primary contribution to American society...

[link:|

[SoapBox]

14. But...she can see Russia!

Oh that's in Alaska...not from her gated mansion in Scottsdale.

[Botany]

15. Good God in Butter is she stupid.

" .... when you're here, let's speak American."

Well, at least she knows all about the Queen running England.

The former Alaska governor reportedly made the comment during the 2008 presidential campaign as aides to John McCain, the Republican candidate, scrambled to bring his surprise-pick running mate up to speed on foreign affairs.

Her confusion emerged during a coaching session with Steve Schmidt, a top McCain adviser, who asked Mrs Palin what she would do if Britain began to waver in its commitment to the Iraq war.

In one of the many rambling responses that steadily eroded her credibility during the campaign, Mrs Palin reportedly replied that she would "continue to have an open dialogue" with the Queen.

A horrified Mr Schmidt informed her that that the prime minister, then Gordon Brown, would be responsible for the decision.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/sarah-palin/9094048/Sarah-Palin-believed-Queen-was-in-charge-of-British-forces-in-Iraq.html

[mwooldri]

18. Where can I sign up for these American language lessons?

Rosetta Stone doesn't offer anything in "American".

Yours truly, an Englishman that's closer to New York than York.

[Lochloosa]

19. I have one thing to say about Sarah Palin...and only one thing

FUCK YOU JOHN MCCAIN!

[Sunlei]

31. I always wondered what McCain 'owed' to palin & wondered about who the father was of the baby.

Palins family still gets a lot of perks in the state of AZ.

[murielm99]

20. I have always envied people

who grow up bilingual. Many of my cousins speak German and English. My dad married a Swedish American, so we do not.

My daughter is proficient at languages, and speaks Spanish. She has some knowledge of other languages as well, but she is fluent in Spanish and English. She lives in Canada, where they are less ignorant about peoples' use of more than one language.

I think people should keep their first language if possible. I don't care if it is German, Spanish, a Native American language, or whatever. It is great to remember our cultural roots.

Palin is a damn fool.

[SeattleVet]

21. They have come up with Palin's high school English text...

"English as She Is Spoke", by Pedro Carolino

If you are not familiar with this scholarly tome, see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_As_She_Is_Spoke

To craunch the marmoset, indeed!

[L. Coyote]

22. Which one? Quechua, Mayan, Guarani, Aymara, Nahuatl, Mapudungun, Mixtec, Zapotec, Otomi, Totonac ...

I have only studied Quechua so far, but hey, I'm always willing to learn more.

[ZM90]

26. Reminds me of this...

Except YGOTAS Bandit Keith is probably smarter than she is...

[LeftishBrit]

28. "a unifying aspect of a nation is the language that is understood by all."

By all? I'm not sure that either language comprehension or comprehensibility is Palin's own strong point.

[Sunlei]

29. Palin has to be crowned the queen of republican RW, global immigrant hate.

I bet she will never set foot in public, or be welcome in any country south of the USA border.

[47of74]

33. Palin speaks dumb fuck.

Fuck you very much John McCain for inflicting her on us all.

[mdbl]

34. I want to learn American but..

Rosetta Stone doesn't offer that language.

[kathysart_decoration]

35. What exactly is "America?"

America is a continent, it is not actually a country. That word is misused by most people in and out of this country. Everyone in Mexico and beyond speaks some form of "American." Everyone living in Mexico IS an American. Everyone in Canada IS an American. We all live on that "continent" called America.

I read a very good article a number of years ago about this issue. The author of the article wrote about the fact that in many other parts of the American continent people actually are angry that we refer to ourselves as Americans and not all those other people living on this continent. It is a big issue in some other parts of this continent. I had never thought about it, though since then I have tried very hard to not use the word "America" by itself to refer to this country. It is difficult because it is so ingrained. But, I really love to point out that all Mexicans are Americans when I hear anyone make stupid statements.

[marble falls]

36. Pretty damn funny from someone who regularly butchers her "American." I can see her gramatical....

mistakes all the way here in my back yard.

[lastlib]

38. All I can say is, "Jeezus Henry Christ!"

Just listening to her for a minute, I feel my IQ drop three points. Sarah Palin--daily raising the bar on stoopider.

[cosmicone]

39. Will it be acceptable if I spoke Canadan or Australian? n/t

[davidthegnome]

40. Can we send her to Russia?

I mean, you know, like, as a diplomat or something? She could learn to speak - and read and write in Russian. Shouldn't be too hard as she's had so much exposure to the Russian people. In any event...

Only American is allowed in America. It's okay if you talk Canadian when you're in Canada, or Australian when you're in Australia. or Spanglish when you're in Spain. Redneck American might be acceptable, I'm not sure. We'll have to check with Palin first. Y'no, alla dem foaks dat tawks kinna fonneh loyke. Iffin yer kint speakit royt mebbe ya shouldent speakit atawl.

You know what I'm sayin'?

Seriously.... the fact that there are people (besides Palin, who I expect it from) who think this way and talk this way... it hurts my brain. People can speak whatever language they damn well please - and welcome to it. I've always wanted to learn French, Spanish - and Japanese, but I've never really had the patience for learning other languages. It takes time, focus, discipline, exposure, etc. Also, I'm a bit lazy.

I was an English major in College - and our language has so many damned weird things in it, stupid rules invented by half-baked idiots and drunk narcissists that it makes me cringe. I don't blame people one bit for not wanting to learn it. It may be useful, but it is by no means necessary. Universal language my ass. If we're going to pick a universal language, we should pick one that makes more sense. Also, if we're going to pick a primary language for America that you HAVE to speak, I don't think it should be English, seriously, it's a screwy language.

[SummerSnow]

42. 'American ' is now the official language of America according to Palin

[GOLGO 13]

43. As someone that is functional in 3 languages remarks like this get the attention

Of not just the Spanish speakers. Being able to speak, read or even just being able to communicate a little is a matter of pride. Good job at pissing off the non-Spanish speakers.