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Press One For English
I listened carefully to the President’s speech last night. I like the President, voted for him twice and would again; however, I have questioned what our policy actually is regarding our borders and immigration. I believe the President made a good start in addressing the issue and hope he will carry through with his plan.
One thing that struck me was that he mentioned, three times, the importance of the English language in a successful immigration policy.
Having traveled extensively in Latin and Central America, living with missionaries and local pastors, I have seen the devastating effect multi-language can have on the development of any country. Guatemala comes to mind. With nearly 100 dialects in the country, Guatemala has languished socially for generations.
Rios Mott, former President of Guatemala and friend, once told me if they could solve the language problem, they could effectively address all the other problems in the country.
Yet, there are special interest groups who have been lobbying for years to undermine English as our national language. They have been using the power and money of government and the public schools to achieve their goals. And it continues to this moment. In fact, there is a move to label it “work place” discrimination for employees to be required to speak English on the job and to customers.
Much has been said and written on this issue.
Winston Churchill once said, “This gift of a common tongue is a priceless inheritance.”
Theodore Roosevelt said it more strongly. “We must have but one flag. We must have but one language. That must be the language of the Declaration of Independence, of Washington’s Farewell Address, of Lincoln’s Gettysburg speech and second inaugural. We cannot tolerate any attempt to oppose or supplant the language and culture that has come down to us from the builders of this Republic.”
President Bush, President Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, our Founders and many others of us along the way recognize the importance of language.
America is not bound by bloodlines or land, but rather by hope and a vision for our future. And our language is fundamental to our national identity and to our destiny.
Perhaps there will be a time again when it will be unnecessary to “press one” for English.
Several years ago, Phyllis Schlafly wrote an outstanding article on the subject. To read her report, click here.
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Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
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11 Comments:
If you thought Bush's propositions were a good start towards resolving the illegal alien conundrum and would vote again for him, I'd like to offer you a prime piece of real estate in the Florida Everglades at a great price.
I came to this great country 9 years ago... with no English. I realized the importance of being able to understand, read, and speak English. I went to college, then university, and finished with a masters degree. I support the English language through which people can understand and be understood. There is no offence or discrimination in asking/requiring this in the country of the English language.
The claim that English is the ONLY language anybody here should speak is a load of Scheiße/merde/mierda/dreck/skit/cac. America is an amalgam of diverse cultures and stronger because of the influx of immigrants; the only people who aren't immigrants here are Native Americans. Celebrating the culture and language of one's country/culture of origin doesn't make anyone any less of an American, and accomodating people for whom English is a second language shows respect for both languages as it provides for better communication between people.
I work in a clinic where many Hispanic- non-English speaking patients come. I am often frustrated with the fact th at people will come to our nation to live and utilize the system and are unwilling to learn the language. If living here is so much better than where they are from, why not have the respect to learn the language. I appreciate the fact that there will be a learning curve, but it is essential if you are going to live in a country and serve in it that you know it's language. I would expect and do the same myself if I was moving to a foreign country.
English language proficiency is the key to success in this country. I work in a large high tech company with lots of high paying jobs for well educated, skilled employees. About 50% of my co-workers are foreign born. All of the speak English.
Regarding the president's speech, I am reminded of the promises of strict border enforcement we received from the Reagan administration in the 80's. We were promised a more secure border and we accepted an amnesty program as a part of the package. We got the amnesty program, but the border was not secured.
We won't be fooled again.
I'm a big supporter of legal immigration, so please don't call me a nativist. Call me an old fashioned law-and-order voter instead. Voters like me have been electing Republicans for decades.
If the Republican party won't give us a law-and-order solution to this issue, then perhaps law-and-order voters should send a signal to the Republican Party by sitting on their hands this coming election season.
As one of the liberals who occasionly posts contrary ideas, I find it odd to agree, however, I'm all for border security. I think the current situation is a security risk and that it drives down all of our wages and unnecessary consumes our common resources. Regarding language, I would never be so arrogant as to visit or move to a foreign country and expect them to cater to my language. I'm believe in the benefits of cultural diversity, but I don't think we need to sacrifice basic communication. btw - if you really want law and order, please vote democratic for Congress in 2006. I understand how that sounds wrong to most readers of this forum, but please look deep in your heart and ask if you can believe or trust this administration any longer? We need to restore the balance of power our forefathers envisioned. We have several months, please mull it over.
My thoughts, as my German GG grandfather had to do when he came over to America for a better life, (learn the English language) to assimilate grow and prosper. I believe no more of this coddling immigrants. I feel all immigrants today should be made to learn the language this country was founded upon, to assimilate, like all others who came here in our country's history, which by the way is not a long history. One thing that really gets on my nerves, when you call myriad phone numbers and they say "prsss one for english". That says it all in a nutshell. It should be "press 1 for if you don't understand what you hear". That should get some nasty comments aimed my way, so be it. Learn the English language or get out of this country.
"That should get some nasty comments aimed my way, so be it. Learn the English language or get out of this country."
The Pharisees couldn't have said it better. Bravo.
I am not sure why anyone would not want to make it mandatory for at least children to learn English .
Besides insulting people's religion ? Just fr the sake of the kid , there is so much more available and choices open to a kid who knows the English language . More opportunity , better income , and choices of what to do with life .
Mick,
If there is so much advantage to learning the language then you shouldn't have to even use words like 'mandatory' 'make' and the like. If it is an advantage then they will learn it.
The difference is between making it easy to do and forcing people to do it. Do you know Americans that have moved to Europe, Central America? Do you know the large percentage of them that never learn the language of the country they are living in? You don't see them being told it is 'mandatory' to learn it, do you? If its to their advantage to do so they do by choice, not by force.
Why are people so sure that they know how other people should live their lives and are so arrogantly confident they are right that they are willing to force their decision on others? The catch phrase for America used to be 'The freest nation on earth' - not so much these days it seems.
vishanti said...
Mick,
If there is so much advantage to learning the language then you shouldn't have to even use words like 'mandatory' 'make' and the like. If it is an advantage then they will learn it.
Well sometimes cultures and our own prejudices stop us from doing is commonsense , there many examples of parents making their kids speak their native tongue instead of English .. You have little knowledge or compassion for the kids in this situation ... We are no longer a melting pot , people actually support the salad idea , leaving many people falling ou of the bowl when it comes to the opportunities this country has to offer because they can't speak English .
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