I'm sick and tired of seeing bilingual this and bilingual that. It's ridiculous that signs and forms are in English and Spanish or any other languages for that matter. When I buy a product why is there English and Spanish on it or in the instructions? This is ridiculous. If you want to be an American learn English! Learn it now! I don't care what language(s) you want to speak at home, feel free to do so. When my grandparents came to this country they learned to speak English. They found a way to do it. They didn't expect anyone to cater to them. They wanted to become Americans. They knew that learning to speak English was one of the first steps they had to take in becoming an American. You can maintain whatever culture you want, practice any religion you want, that's the beauty of this country. But don't make us cater to you because you are too lazy or uninterested in learning to speak English. English is the language of this country. No more multi-lingual forms at the Department of Motor Vehicles. No more multi-lingual signs. Just learn English if you want to be an American.
Teddy Roosevelt, three days before his death, on January 3, 1919 said it best:
"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
I shake my head in dismay when I think about how far we've fallen in the ensuing 90 years. We need to get this country back on track in so many ways and this is just one of them.
Bravo, Jay!
ReplyDeleteThe fiction prevalent today (and completely detached from historic reality) is that immigrants have an inherent RIGHT to move to America and that the U.S. government's job is to accomodate them however possible.
When those who wish to live in America refuse to become a part of the fabric of our culture and society, they not only short-circuit their own potential, but they place a great drag on the body politic as a whole.
It is the ultimate in arrogance and selifshness to live in the United States of America and expect that country and its people to adapt to you, rather than for you to be willing to adapt to them.
Having said that, we should not use the strongly defensible platform Jay has outlined as a vehicle for hate or racism. I really don't care if you are from the Ukraine, Borneo or Mexico, or some other far-flung locale.
Just come here legally, be willing to work and learn English, and we'll love you as a neighbor.
If you're a criminal I hope you are vanquished.
If youa re lazy I hope you are run off like a cockroach.
If you seek asylum please remember that too many folks in a lifeboat drag everybody to the bottom. Where would America be now if we had sought asylum in Spanish-controlled Mexico, instead of fightning the British? Stay in your own country and fight for your freedom if that's what it takes!
YOU do not have an inherent right to be in this country: if you desire to be a part of America then please act like an American.
This starts with adopting our language. Thanks!
SCL
Excellent points, both of you made. I couldn't agree more!!!
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