What Is Our National Language?

[HARDCORE]

ONCE UPON A TIME, IN A LAND FAR, FAR AWAY, the people adopted a language and mandated that: ?Even though the customs and heritage of those yearning to breathe free would be respected, that language (English) would be accepted as our national tongue!?

Well in the event that you haven?t noticed, English is fast becoming an also ran in a country that is being forced to change to meet the whims of an army of foreign newcomers! Instead of availing themselves, in many cases, of the free education that is readily offered in our public schools, and learning the speech of the nation that they have supposedly adopted, we now find ourselves forced to print all documents (or instructions printed upon these documents) in several different languages and dialects!

The rationale now being offered up to explain this shift away from sovereignty and national identity, is one of (so-called) fairness and equality? However, it seems to me that a massive expense is now being incurred in order to satiate a never-ending stream of foreign nationals, and this to perpetuate a shift toward internationalism in my most humble opinion. For instead of having these people Americanize, regardless of their point of origin, segments of our government now seem to find it much easier and far more convenient to bastardize the status quo?

Is this being undertaken in order to pacify the needs of a new wave of foreign immigrants, and in the process, have we abandoned that which was baptized in fire and blood? ?Have we truly embarked upon the foolish campaign of altering all that has worked well for us for nearly 230 years??

I recently noticed that several important (government-produced) forms are now being printed in multiple languages. I further noted that English was often allocated a position at (or near) the bottom of the instructions contained within a few of these documents! As such, apparently the old saying that goes: ?When in Rome, do as the Romans do?, has been abandoned and replaced with yet another neo-mandate? One that points toward a new practice of adhering to Foreign dictates, and this before honoring the rights and duties of genuine citizenship. And for the record, learning English here in the ?Land of the Free? should be a prime mandate of citizenship, in my opinion!

I am as aware of the words inscribed upon the Statue of Liberty (the Mother of Exiles) as are most: ?Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free!? However, it must also be noted and accepted that, with these words also comes a monumental responsibility!

We are not the cornucopia of humanity. Nor is anyone absolutely guaranteed the good life here in our midst. And most of all, we are not a thing to be changed at will by foreign entities or immigrants who may have despoiled or ravished their own homelands! People who seek to turn us into what they have just escaped from!

We are a land of opportunity, but not a hapless bastion to be converted into yet another Third World Enclave. One that is to be bled, raped, sucked dry, and then abandoned like the husk of a long dead fly, securely trapped within some giant, foreign web!

We offer hope to those who truly love what we stand for, and not a blank check or a barren canvas to paint over at will. This is our land and those who seek to truly become part of it, to enhance it, and to protect it, have always been welcome. We can not, however, continue to let our time-tested way of life be altered by any neophyte (or group thereof), who came to partake of our sacred blessings, and then immediately sought to convert us to their foreign habits or outdated customs. This is the United States of America, and those who journey here, should adopt our language, respect our laws, and wed themselves to our way of life.

Granted, part of our greatness comes from our ability to digest foreign cultures, and not to be digested by them! For were this not the case, and if one?s points of origin, and not the United States, is still primary in their minds, hearts, and loyalties, then by all means, that is where they truly belong!

VERITAS (Truth)

[BLUEHAWK]

I gotta agree with most of that... it irritates the hell outa me.

[Stick]

Rick, Happy Birthday.
P.S. I had the advantage of once being wed to a Latvian. She was first generation American but both her parents fled Latvia on foot during the Russian overtaking of their homeland before World War 2. "Mom" (Mirdza) and "Dad" (Arvid) would speak Latvian in their own home and when talking among themselves unless there was an American, English speaking person present at which point only English was spoken. Daina, my wife at the time, learned English first even though she was born shortly after her parents arrived in the United States. Latvian was a second language to her.
The Latvian community in Cleveland is a strong and proud community and many times Arvid and Mirdza would have affairs when several Latvians were in their home. Once anyone entered that house, if there was an American present, only English was spoken. If someone started to speak in another language they were promptly corrected by Arvid who would say "We're in America now. We will do as Americans do. Speak English damn it."
Why is it that there is so much of this "SECOND LANGUAGE" crap, now even being mandated in a lot of the public schools?

[revwardoc]

Couldn't agree more. This country is becoming a Tower of Babel. Speak whatever language you want at home, but for business, education, and legal purposes, it should be English.

[HARDCORE]

STICK -

My paternal grandparents were originally from the Azores. And like the story that you related, they too were only fluent in Portuguese! However, when I was in their home (farm) they limited their conversations to what English they had command of.

However, they never once insisted that I speak Portuguese and they were proud of their adopted land, having arrived here just before the turn of the Twentieth Century. Two of their three surviving sons served in the Army, and my father served in both the African and European Theaters (WWII).

We are indeed a nation of immigrants, but once here, the immigrants of yore, quickly became Americans in spirit, dedication and deed.

Many (if not most) newcomers as well, are eager to adopt our ways and our love of country. A few, however, want the best that we have to offer but refuse to adhere to the laws and general customs of the land.

I personally like what Kennedy had to say about "Asking not what your country can do for you, rather ask what you can do for your country!!" Wouldn't it be grand if some of those who now violate our borders and our laws felt the same?

RICK

[SparrowHawk62]

English! When a my I tlaian peoples came over on the boat they had to learn to speaka american.
When me I rish folks came over on the boat they had to learn to speak american.

Screw speaking spanish, screw the translations in every friggen language. You can't speak, read and write english, pack your shit and get the hell out of my country. That's right the one I served honorably. It's not PC, don't whine to me.

This is probably one of the best 'jokes' that I've read in a while...

A Somali arrives in Minneapolis as a new immigrant to the United States. He stops the first person he sees walking down the street and says, "Thank you Mr. American for letting me in this country, and giving me housing, food stamps, free medical care and free education!" But the passer-by says "You are mistaken, I am Mexican".

The man goes on and encounters another passer-by. "Thank you for having such a beautiful country here in America!" The person says "I no American, I Vietnamese."

The new arrival walks further, and the next person he sees he stops, shakes his hand and says "Thank you for the wonderful America!" That person puts up his hand and says "I am from Middle East, I am not an American!"

He finally sees a nice lady and asks suspiciously, "Are you an American?" She says, "No, I am from Russia!" So he is puzzled, and asks her, "Where are all the Americans?" The Russian lady looks at her watch, shrugs, and says...
"Probably at work!"