GOP tries to make English official

[sabra]

Source: WashTimes

Some Republican senators are calling the English-language requirements in the immigration bill toothless and want the bill to declare English the "national" language of the U.S. and the country's official means of doing business.

The fight is over whether the bill should call English the "common" language -- as it reads now -- or deem it the "national," or official language, which the Republican senators say would cut the amount of government services provided in other languages and would overturn President Clinton's 2000 executive order that encouraged federal services to be delivered in different languages.

Sen. James M. Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican, has proposed an amendment to make English the national language -- a move that he said declares that "there is not an entitlement for language, other than the English language, to be given to people who want government services. Very simple."

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070601-122911-7447r.htm

[sutz12]

1. Sure, as soon as PResident Bush learns to speak it. nt

[MissMillie]

2. !!!!

:thumbsup:

[geardaddy]

3. Bingo.

"nuc-u-lar"

[SemperEadem]

17. I was watching something on C-SPAN a while back

it was Laura Bush taking part in a roast and man! she went on and on about what an idiot she married. She cracked on him by saying at least she knew how to pronounce words, like nuclear--I was like "daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggg!!!!! For real????" After the 3rd crack, it became too painful to keep watching.

[Uncle Joe]

14. ding! ding! ding! ding! We have a winner right out of the gate!

Bob what has our contestant won?

[tandot]

4. this will be a tough one for Bush. I guess he finally has to get his "English for Dummies" book

[BonnieJW]

5. OK, no flames please.

I actually think English should be the national language. The reason we were known as a big melting pot was the fact that everyone HAD to learn English to get along in this country. If "necessity is the mother of invention," I believe frustration is the father. My grandparents immigrated from Russia at the turn of the last century and they learned English at the speed of light. If they wanted to work, find a place to live, buy food, they had to learn English.

When people are able to continue speaking in their native language, they tend to live, do business, only amongst themselves. They don't learn to communicate with their new countrymen and it doesn't make relating to each other a possibility. I've known of Mexicans, Viet Namese, Koreans who have lived in this country for 15 years and still can't speak English. They don't have to.

[immoderate]

6. To what end?

Nobody will benefit from this. There will always be people here who don't speak the language. Why put them at such a disadvantage? Who can really benefit from this? Maybe Neil Bush can market English lessons. This will only cause division and suffering.

It will not help our culture, which is multi-cultural. I like the idea that all languages are "on the market" so to speak. What's English anyway?

I'm no more comfortable with an official language than I would be with an official dress code or an official prayer.
</flame>
--IMM

[dougheffernon]

8. It's called assimilation

How will this cause "division and suffering?" People from other countries are coming here to be part of this country. They want to be included, not divided. And I'm still unclear as to how someone will "suffer" knowing english is the official language. Perhaps you could elaborate on that for me, I might be missing something.

[Xipe Totec]

12. Assimilation?

Please, do tell...



While we're at it, let's pick a national religion too, and a national party (none of this two party bullshit).

And a national costume (I vote brown shirts and jackboots).

:eyes:

[immoderate]

13. People not fluent in the "official" language will be subject to discrimination.

Perhaps not from you or me, but there will be those. And when it's time to reach out to those people, will we be required to do it in English? That's a big help. If not, why have an official language? It makes it harder for some minorities to get services.

One of the great things about this country is the enclaves of diversity, Chinatown, Little Italy, etc. If it's a free country, you should have the freedom not to assimilate -- to maintain whatever culture you want. I don't think there is anything to be gained by the homogenization of culture. And there is much to be lost.

Who will be helped by declaring English the "official" language?

--IMM

[Odin2005]

15. They will assimilate eventually, just as our ancestors did.

You don't find too many folks up here in Minnesota speaking Norwegian and German anymore, the same will be true of the Hispanic-American community 50 years from now.

[youngdem]

16. Thanks for the voice of reason.

I sincerely fail to see how in the world it is divisive for everyone to speak the same language.

People do what they are expected to do. Let's expect everyone to speak at least one common language. I sure know the police department would appreciate that quite a bit. Doctors too.

[treestar]

7. This has never been a problem long term

Nobody is still speaking Polish, Italian, Norweigian, etc. And English was never declared "official" either.

Today's immigrants will do the same thing.

It's all a tempest in a teapot for control freaks, I guess some people need "official" everything. Just let it be. Even if Spanish does become a major U.S. language, or even the dominant one, it'll take so long it won't be your problem.

[dougheffernon]

9. Yes, it won't be my problem....

but I wouldn't want it to be a problem for my children and grandchildren. I prefer to look at the future of this country and not my own selfish interest of today.

[Warren Stupidity]

21. what is the 'it' you are worried about?

That is going to be a problem for your children and grandchildren?

[SemperEadem]

18. it was only that way because Spain didn't gain as big a foothold

in this county as England or France; they focused primarily on Latin America and the western/southwestern region of America and the Pacific because the English focused on the eastern seaboard to colonize, which is where the country's governmental seat was established--that is the ONLY reason why this country's national language isn't Spanish, not because English is a better language.

[Warren Stupidity]

19. How did we manage for hundreds of years

to assimilate wave after wave of immigrants without the Almighty State imposing a national language on us?

I fail to see the section of the constitution that gives the federal government the authority to declare a national language.

Which english would you like to make the national language? Should we have an idiotic national english board as the french do for their national language to impose standard english on us? Should we impose fines on language violations?

Oh, and starting a post with 'don't flame me' is just begging for flames.

[bamacrat]

10. I agree that learning English should be a requirement for citizenship but..

this is an obvious ploy to try and increase his poll numbers and republican support.

[Warren Stupidity]

22. With some exceptions english is already a requirement.

So citizenship is already covered.

[TreasonousBastard]

11. Does this include Puerto Ricans, who...

often speak only Spanish but just happen to be US citizens?

And does it include the Japanese executives from Sharp, Minolta, Nikon and others who stay here for a few months to a year and have to deal with a fair amount of government paperwork. Or the European workers here for the same reason?

Or the embassy, UN and other workers here for diplomatic reasons?

Or tourists?

This is simply bullshit pandering-- through all the immigrant waves we've had we have never had to call English "official," but we have had to promote ESL programs.

ESL programs that are now being defunded even as many complain that immigrants don't speak English.

[roody]

20. Huey putos.