Press One for English

[rodeodance]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/20/opinion/20sat2.html?pagewanted=print

May 20, 2006
Editorial
Press One for English

The immigration debate in Congress has hit several low points of mean-spirited dimness, and could go lower still, but on Thursday it came pretty close to rock bottom. By a vote of 63 to 34, the Senate tacked onto its immigration bill an amendment from Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma that declares English to be "the national language of the United States." If you thought otherwise, or weren't sure, well, now you know: We speak English here. None of that "Oprima número dos."

If the amendment merely stated the achingly obvious, it might be nothing to get upset about. Senator Ken Salazar, Democrat of Colorado, offered an amendment asserting, nonbindingly, that English is the language that unites us all. That one was passed, too. But Mr. Inhofe and his allies weren't looking to make a statement about our shared heritage.

They made another point — one that is exclusionary, potentially discriminatory and embarrassingly hostile to the rest of the world.

"Unless otherwise authorized or provided by law," the Inhofe amendment says, "no person has a right, entitlement or claim to have the government of the United States or any of its officials or representatives act, communicate, perform or provide services, or provide materials in any language other than English." It goes on to insist that new citizens be tested for knowledge of English and of certain pillars of American civics, like the Federalist Papers and "The Star-Spangled Banner."

[CrispyQ]

1. Perhaps current citizens should be tested for their English skills.

;)

[joemurphy]

2. How many native-born Americans even know what

the Federalist Papers are? Is this one of the key requirements to being a conscientious citizen of the U.S.? Seems some think so.

[Berry Cool]

3. Well, what we really need to ask is the rarely asked question:

Is our children learning English?

The illiteracy level of our children are appalling.

We should expect the states to show us whether or not we're achieving simple objectives—like literacy, literacy in math, the ability to read and write.

You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.

How do you know if you don't measure if you have a system that simply suckles kids through?

I mean, part of the facts is understanding we have a problem, and part of the facts is what you're going to do about it.

We must have the attitude that every child in America—regardless of where they're raised or how they're born—can learn.

I know that I want to thank you for the importance that you've shown for education and literacy.

[CrispyQ]

5. "...a system that simply suckles kids through?"

:rofl:
:rofl:
:rofl:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. That is sheer demagoguery and B.S.

With a few exceptions, such as people who were already senior citizens when they came over, new citizens are required to learn English, and they have to pass a test on American history and government that few native-born citizens could pass.

The Republicans (and racist Democrats) are spreading (or parrotting) the myth that there are vast armies of immigrants "refusing" (not lacking resources) to learn English for generation after generation and obtaining citizenship without speaking English.