Great editorial: Politicians fan language war

[Lindacooks]

Exactly what does promoting the English language have to do with protecting borders and reforming immigration policy?

Absolutely nothing. Unless you think that the real problem with the U.S. immigration system is that immigrants aren't assimilating and that the debate over immigration reform isn't just about the security of our border but also the purity of our culture and the integrity of our language.

<snip>

It all has a familiar odor -- reminiscent of the nativists, the Know-Nothings, proponents of the Americanization movement and all the other groups that have set off cultural alarm bells over one immigrant group after another during the course of U.S. history. It's an ugly place to be. But at least in the current climate, you have plenty of company.

There were those renegade Republicans who, over the objections of the House leadership, recently tried to hold up the reauthorization of the 1965 Voting Rights Act because they wanted to strip it of the requirement that ballots in some states be printed in "several languages" (read: Spanish).

<snip>

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/20/navarrette/index.html

[eppur_se_muova]

1. K&R. nt

[gula]

2. Well it matters when it is your pResident.

Exactly what does promoting the English language have to do with protecting borders and reforming immigration policy?
Excuse me. but this is just too hilarious for words given the language skills of the chosen one.