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Bernie Thomas
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“We have but one language here, and that is the English language,
and we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans.”
President Theodore Roosevelt
The 2008 Summer Olympics are the best I can remember seeing, coming from a country that was until recently, shrouded in secrecy, away from the prying eyes of the world, and The United States.
If you saw the opening ceremonies, you couldn’t help but admire the precision and meticulous execution of the routines. Routines performed by people, not computer graphics. But as impressive as they were, I find I am more impressed with the people themselves.
Brian Williams, NBC Nightly News, aired a piece about Beijing cabbie, Kong Zaun Liang (I apologize for the spelling, but it’s my best guess). Mister Kong, as Williams calls him, has spent the last seven years getting ready for these two short weeks, learning to speak English, and displaying a sign in the windshield of his Hyundai that proudly proclaims—ENGLISH SPOKEN CAB.
I find it distressing, that here, in my own country, my own Congress refuses to sanction English as the official language of The United States, yet the Chinese Government is teaching it to its people. What does that say about OUR Government? Senator Omaha? You have a comment?
No Senator, the question was NOT, “how can we come up with both a legal, sensible immigration policy.” The question was, should English be designated the official language of The United States? Why do you politicians only answer the questions you ask yourselves? And by the bye, Ms. Clinton, it’s absurd to think it illegal to print pamphlets in other tongues, just because English is our official language. But even if it is, you’re a Congressman. Pass a law. Isn’t that what you do?
The following is what LiveLeak.com has to say about it.
“85% of the countries on this planet have an official language. About 90% of Americans (including the majority of Spanish speaking immigrants) want English to be America's official language. France has an official language, Germany has official language, Mexico has an official language. But for some reason it is only xenophobic, jingoistic etc. for America to choose an official language. Why? Why is senator Gravel the only one on this panel with enough sense to raise his hand?"
If a Chinese National like Mister Kong can take seven years to teach himself English, why can’t immigrants, legal or otherwise, make the same effort, and why won’t our own Government insist upon it?
Maybe it’s time to send Congress a message.
Maybe it’s time to clean house, on both sides of the aisle.
Topics: Taxi! , English Official U.S. Language
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