English only proposal evokes strong emotion
Posted July 6th, 2008 by cazeringue
output
Many of my parents generation lost their cajun french speaking heritage because the public and private schools forbid them to speak cajun french in the 40s and 50s.
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Get rid of public schools and send your kids to the school
of your choice.
I don't care what language you or your children speak but please don't ask me to subsidize forms, school books, ballots, etc. into your native tongue.
___________
Lisa C.
“Elections are short term efforts; revolutions are long term projects.”
--Ron Paul
Join the rEVOLution here: http://www.campaignforlib...
though on the other hand
people who send their children to private schools shouldn't be forced to pay for your children's eduction on top of their own.
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Keep our government limited.
Shouldn't we require the government to read, speak and understand English before they make a law that requires English only as our official language? They obviously have trouble reading and understanding the Constitution; so what difference does it make?
grant
that was great...
...sadly I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
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So what?
What people speak in their own homes or amongst friends makes no difference. But the idea that their should be no standard language in a given country is just plain ignorance. If you don't have one standard language then you will have to print every form or publication in every stinking language of the world. Do you want ot pay the taxes nessessary to have everything govenment to be printed in every conceivable language? Multiculturalism is one of the things destroying this country. I think too many people on this site confuse libertarian with liberal.
We need one language for governmental business and english is the obvious choice. And if people don't want to learn it then to bad for them. You may want a different language, if I had my choice it would be Hebrew, but any honest thinking person would agree that English should be the standard and only language of our government and governmental institutions.
"The day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the wicked will be stubble"
It should be a states issue not a federal law.
or a federal Language.
I grew up in Canada...
And can only speak english - french was taught in class, but with no one to speak it to outside of the classroom, it didnt stick - and only in Quebec will you find french speaking communities larger than extended families...to the rest of Canada, french is largely an annoyance. And having friends and family in Belgium I can only say that language seems like a barrier between the flemish and french communities that breeds distrust and dislike.
Wouldn't that be great to
Wouldn't that be great to have one big happy family? One world, one language...no more distrust or dislike :rolleyes::rolleyes:
Stay focused on downsizing government.
If we cut government spending and the size of the government the issue of what language they use would be mute. This problem shouldn't even be an issue. As long as a majority of congressmen speak english I imagine english will be used. Had their been a majority of German speakers writing the Constitution then we would probably have had the Constitution in German, or French, it doesn't matter, either way we are faced with the same problem of too much government today.
Common Sense
Some time back, California had a ballot proposition up for vote regarding English and the schools. I don't remember whether it required English only, or if it required other languages be provided. The main point was that the state would decide.
My mom and step-father were both public high school teachers and administrators. He taught English and was a school librarian and my mom taught social studies, government and was a vice-principal. They're both life-long Democrats.
I asked them what they thought of the measure, and which approach they thought was better: English-only or bilingual? I was really pleased when my step-father said he thought the teachers and parents should decide, case by case. (So libertarian!)
My own belief is that there is only one reason to publish in or speak a language and that is a desire to communicate. The reason to publish ballots in other languages is because it may help get a better result. The reason to teach in another language is a desire to communicate ideas to someone who would not otherwise understand them. If you think this is counter-productive, then propose something else, or do a study to see what works.
These are ideological battles that must be fought at the local level. There's no reason to use force or mandates. It's a problem that largely solves itself in the marketplace.
IMissLiberty
Still fighting for freedom from England.
I don't think we should make English the "official" language because I don't live in England. New World Order is English you fool.
Language
The "New World Order" is using the language barrier to put a wedge against "We The People" in order to divide the Country.
"The North American Union"
Like it or not its happening, it is one of their tools to divide us.
It may very well be the "Cultural" differences more so than the actual language(s), but regardless it divides and weakens us.
Hence, they are trying to make us "citizens of the world" verses "American Citizens"!
http://www.americanpatrol...
And, to those who think that a language restriction is abominable have already lost your confidence in Our Constitution, "Our Society", "Our Heritage", " Our Inheritance", "Our Culture". One of the things that made us what we are, "a common language".
The British has not and do not own the English Language, in case this is one of your arguments that we're still bound by them in\by some form or fashion.
... ... ...
But, maybe at this point, it doesn't matter anyway?
We have become too weak to defend ourselves?
Then, they are winning or have already won us into slavery.
... ... ...
So, how does it feel to be "A New World Order Citizen", "A North American Union Citizen", you have been taught well.
I disagree with the english mandate
The United States wasn't created as a bastion for English speakers, it wasn't only settled by English speakers and the idea that the government has the right to mandate a language is preposterous.
The second you turn something into law and people feel like they're losing a part of themselves, you bring in blow back. I work in the public school system and a number of the eleven-year-olds I work with are the mouthpieces for their parents who speak hardly any English at all. The laws being suggested wouldn't give programs for people wanting to learn English, all they would do is further cut off these people from the country they live in.
If you want to help non-English speaking Americans learn the language, donate to a charity that facilitates it, don't use the government as a tool to curb their freedom.
All of this talk just reminds me of the years leading up to our entry into WWII when German-Americans were forced to abandon their culture, and their language because of American prejudices.
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"The laws being suggested
"The laws being suggested wouldn't give programs for people wanting to learn English,"
Rather than "giving" programs (meaning paid for by taxpayers), how about those people who choose to move to the US without learning English and want to learn English pay for it themselves? Or pick up a book (in a language they already know) on learning English.
But if they are here illegally, why should we help them?
Do you want me to help a rapist? How about a child molester? You are so worried about peoples freedom who have come here uninvited, illegally then you give them everything you earn, but stop giving them everything I earn. Think about the unnecessary cost of printing things in multiple languages. Think about the division this creates. When I first moved to Texas almost 30 years ago everybody spoke English with few exceptions, now all information is provided in Spanish first. Americans have become unwanted guests in thier own country! People of Hispanic descent have told me repeatedly that they are going to take the U.S. back for Mexico. And you want me to feel sorry for these people and give them my money? Why should I be forced to learn Spanish, if they won't even try to learn English? The men who wrote the Constitution took a vote to decide which language it would be written in, either German or English, since these were the two largest "minorities" at the time. They chose English, and it worked fine for all immigrants until recently. If someone is incapable of learning a new language, then they will have to adapt, just as I do when I speak with deaf people or someone from another country. The millions of immigrants that have come before now did,so what has changed?
"Check your premise"
It hasn't been established that ALL immigrants who struggle with English are here illegally. Drag your red herring across some other path.
Sic Semper Tyrannis!
Professor Bernardo de la Paz
Impolite and impatient pedantic putz.
Yeah, I know so many self-proclaimed "Professors" ....
.. who can't understand English either.
And your point is...?
Non Illegitimi Carborundum
Professor Bernardo de la Paz
Impolite and impatient pedantic putz.
You were implying my argument is wrong by.....
saying that I stated an absolute that is not in evidence, which I did not state. Do you live in Texas or California or any other border state? Do you actually have real life experience on which to base your ideas? Or is it just opinion based on your education? You see, I work with hundreds of "educated" people (actually thousands) everyday, and they all will tell you that they are better than everyone else because they are the elite of the worlds population in education. If you don't believe it, just look at the documentation of their degrees. They have diplomas, which they bought, that are direct evidence of education and intelligence. Of course, we ignore the 75% cheating rate, the fact that in schools in Texas the passing grade had been lowered to a 52 from a 60, and is going lower next year. But just look at our graduation rates, never been better. What dropout rate? Those kids must be going to another school, so we won't count them as having dropped out. My point being is that the amount of arrogance, conceit and elitism I see in our school systems almost everyday cannot cover up the ignorance. With your comments I rest my case.
thank you.
thank you.
I came to America from Germany
in the 1950's not knowing a word of English.I was in the 1rst grade
and was put into a little 2 room school in the farmlands of Kansas.The teacher didn't have to spend any extra time on me because the kids taught me English out on the playground.
They would point to things,tell me what it was and have me repeat it.They had a good time with their pet project and I
learned English in no time!Life was so simple back then!
That's when we were with
That's when we were with confidence, now we are losing it and resort to ...
In Order to Have
ORDER, this country must have one universal language. English. You can speak all the other launguages you want as long as you can communicate with the universial language ENGLISH.
Are you saying we are in a
Are you saying we are in a state of disorder only because we don't have an official language mandated by law? If order is your higher purpose, how about changing your name to "2bordered"?
How about changing your name
to idiot? Sounds like a winner to me. Name one country that does not have a universal language and has survived the test of time. In order to have ORDER, people have to be able to communicate with each other. Name one country that has ever survived without borders or no common language? What you advocate is nothing more than chaos.
Just One?
"Name one country that has ever survived without ...[a] common language?"
Off the top of my head, I can think of Switzerland, Belgium, and Canada.
Anarchists don't necessarily promote chaos so much as we oppose arbitrary state bullying.
Sic Semper Tyrannis!
Professor Bernardo de la Paz
Impolite and impatient pedantic putz.
I grew up in Canada...
And can only speak english - french was taught in class, but with no one to speak it to outside of the classroom, it didnt stick - and only in Quebec will you find french speaking communities larger than extended families...to the rest of Canada, french is largely an annoyance. And having friends and family in Belgium I can only say that language seems like a barrier between the flemish and french communities that breeds distrust and dislike.
Tell that to the founders
Tell that to the founders when they established this constitutional republic without precedence. You are putting the cart in front of the horse -communication before langauage, not the other way around if you know anything about about human development/history. By the way, dictatorship has more illustrious history.
Guess what....
They settled on ENGLISH. If you cant see that the real owners of this country and thier NWO agendas are trying to divide this country via language? Just another nail being driven into the coffin of America. They want chaos, they want division, they want nations of poor, they want us starving and begging for thier redemption. You advocate language before communication? Then you advocate chaos. Cart in front of the horse huh? Be careful you dont get run over by the cart, since you can't communicate with the driver. Fool or shill? I am begining to wonder.
Plank in your eye
Your campaign to promote English would carry more weight if you actually demonstrated some ability to use it.
"cant" is dogma. The abbreviation of "can not" is "can't".
The possessive form of they is "their".
Question marks ("?") are used to end interrogative statements. Not only is your second attempt at a sentence not a question, it isn't even an actual sentence, but just the first half of an if/then statement with no conclusion.
Your third attempt is also not a sentence. I can't tell whether it is an object or a subject phrase, and in any event it lacks a verb.
Standard usage instructs us to double the terminal consonant in verbs with short vowels in the final syllable before adding "ed", "er", or "ing", therefore the actual spelling should be "beginning."
I'm no longer wondering.
Sic Semper Tyrannis!
Professor Bernardo de la Paz
Impolite and impatient pedantic putz.
Wrong! If the requirement of
Wrong! If the requirement of official language were that important, they would have put that mandate into the constitution. People communicate despite language barrier. Don't change the subject and keep your line straight, you are an advacate of "official language" by government mandate.
Can you tell the difference between "ought to" and "have to"?
Let's See....
I think English won. That's the "official language" so get used to it. The Founders didn't NEED a requirement. They HAD COMMON SENSE. It's too bad you dont. People communicate despite the language barrier? What planet are you living on? Are you mental? WE HAVE TO HAVE A COMMON LANGUAGE OR ELSE YOU HAVE CHAOS. Do you advocate millions of our tax dollars being spent on teaching every launguage under the sun? Yeah, If the government is right I will "advocate it" and this time they are finally spot on. Please remove your head from the depths of your bowels and you be sure to have a nice day.
"those who govern the least,
"those who govern the least, goven the best". that's the common sense they had but obviously you don't. I speak English/fill-in-the-blank to communicate, not because the law or anyone else says so.
"Freedom of speech" knock, knock, anybody home?
English
Should be our language for purposes of printed material and anything we spend our taxes on. It should be the official language spoken and expected around the country. People who speak another language should do it in a way not to be rude to English speakers. But they should not be ridiculed or forced to do anything. Foreign languages should be taught in school as usual, but classes in schools that receive federal funding at all should only teach other than foreign language only in English. We should not be forced to have schools in other languages. Our street signs, tax form directions should only be in English. The burden should be on the individual to translate for understanding.
From English as an implicit
From English as an implicit "official language" to an explicit official language dictated by law, don't you think we are losing ground in freedom or confidence here? If I were to talk to a friend in Spanish, how is it considered rude to someone who speaks only English? What if this listener also speaks Chinese, does it chang the rudeness to a lesser degree? Don't you think it is more impolite to listen to a personal conversation which you don't understand? Do you mean all tax payers speak English only?? (that doesn't mean I endorse Government tax policy)
My point is that people who speak or don't speak English are in their own risk. For those who demand an "official language" for everyone, maybe they are living in the wrong country.
Your arguments
do not speak to my post. So I'll let you answer your own questions. I don't want to go into, "I didn't say" with you.
Correct, my post wasn't
Correct, my post wasn't directed to yours...maybe 5% :)
Speaking a foriegn language
is great. But if you live in the US you should learn English. You can speak your native language all you want but do'nt expect americans to learn your language or put it on every product and directions. I was looking at a product the other day and it had only a foreign description and directions. You really should not speak your foriegn language while in a group of americans to another person that speaks your language. It's rude. Just like wispering. But you should never be forbiden.
No Constitutional language requirements, but...
It makes sense to learn English as it improves chances of success. The Constitution does not require the use of English. It could be amended to do so. Meanwhile, it doesn't require federal publication or use of other languages either. The 10th Amendment otherwise allows the people or states to otherwise do as they wish. If California, for instance, eventually, under its Constitution, wants to make Spanish its official language, it could probably do so. The federal government is under no obligation to operate its army or print tax forms in more than one language. How, for instance, would the Supreme Court decide cases if attorneys insisted on only conducting their case in another language?
Congressional Authority
The Constitution authorizes the Congress to establish a uniform system of weights and measures. Insofar as language is a measure of meaning, then it is within the jurisdiction of the Congress to establish an official federal language if it so chooses.
I'm not suggesting that it is a good idea, as I think the market does a better job of promoting uniformity and convenience than the heavy hand of the state, but if Congress were inspired to act, then I think that they would be on solid ground.
Sic Semper Tyrannis!
Professor Bernardo de la Paz
I agree to a point
"you really should not speak youf foreign languag while in a group of americans to another person that speaks your language"
That's not rude to me. I like to try and figure out their language.
Of course people who move here will learn English, if they plan on staying. I can totally get all of the people being pissed off about the illegal immigration issue, but that's what this country was founded upon.
Most of this country was acquired after the consitution. I also believe it should be that a NATIONAL language is NONSENSE. This should be left up to the STATES.
Louisiana could have 2 or 3 official languages... English, French and maybe Vietnamese.... where Texas could have English and Spanish as official languages.
My sentiments exactly.
My sentiments exactly.
If you want to come here,
If you want to come here, speak the language. I wouldn't go to France and expect everyone to speak English to me. I'd learn some important french terms and words to get by.
where is "here"?
Your house or mine. Is that your country or mine?
Then go to ENGLAND>.
Then go to england, if you want to speak English.
Remember, Louisiana was French and Spanish a 100 years before Thomas Jefferson purchased it. We were here LONG before you English folk.
All kidding aside, I see it a problem FORCING people to ONLY speak one language and is a down side to PUBLIC school. If someone is caught in the HALLWAYS speaking another language, they were reprimanded. Where is the liberty in that and the rights of free speech.
I guess the constitution was written in ENGLISH and therefor only covers free speech in ENGLISH.