Senate Votes Twice for English Language

[TechBear_Seattle]

WASHINGTON - Whether English is America's "national language" or its national "common and unifying language" was a question dominating the Senate immigration debate.

The Senate first voted 63-34 to make English the national language after lawmakers who led the effort said it would promote national unity.

But critics argued the move would prevent limited English speakers from getting language assistance required by an executive order enacted under President Clinton. So the Senate also voted 58-39 to make English the nation's "common and unifying language."

"We are trying to make an assimilation statement," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., one of two dozen senators who voted Thursday for both English proposals.

The article continues at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060519/ap_on_go_co/immigration

[bowens43]

1. dumb asses......

[Inland]

2. Why not just vote for national unity? It means as much.

Calling english a national language doesn't make it so. Calling it common and unifying doesn't make it so. It's an expression of hope, I guess, at best. Therefore why not just make a wish of national unity and see if we all end up speaking one language? Blow out the candles and squeeze your eyes shut tight, senate.

[kskiska]

30. Reminds me of Abe Lincoln's joke

Calling a tail a leg, how many legs does a dog have?

Five?

Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it one.

[TAPat]

3. Don't these people have anything better

to do? Gee Whiz :eyes:

BTW - Wanted you to know that I always read & enjoy your posts! :hi:

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Like outlawing equal marriage?

And thanks for your kind words :blush:

[AlCzervik]

5. The Salazar amend. is the one for "Unifying" ut the important part is

that his was voted on after the Inhofe amendment--the difference between the 2? The Salazar amend. includes--"Non-english speakers will not be punished".

[rkc3]

8. That was done to protect bush - since he barely speaks the language.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

6. Boy am I relieved!

:sarcasm: I lay awake nights thinking "I sure hope the Senate addresses the nasty question of a national language. Everyone I know is talking about it!"

[dkos refugee]

39. sarcasm?

I hear it all the time. People in this country should be able to speak and understand english. It's not too much to ask.

[catnhatnh]

7. "You will be assimilated...."

...The Borg collective,or Lindsey Graham???

[w4rma]

9. This is just more pre-election con-artistry to rile up Repug fringers (nt)

[underpants]

10. Oh crap does this mean that Bush has to resign?

:bounce:

[One_Life_To_Give]

11. Can argue it already said laguage is english

If english is not the official language then we should ask why the Code of Federal Regulations has requirements for certain information and text to be in english but no other language.

Seems to me we tell people english is not mandatory. But never do anything that would not make a non-english speaking/reading person a second class citizen. Unless the intent is to make a permanent slave class out of the non-english speaking.

[kestrel91316]

15. I also note that the Code of Federal Regulations is itself written in

English, and only English, AFAIK.

What is our common language, if NOT English, I wonder??????

[jerry611]

21. Or they could learn english perhaps????

And I would say that english is mandatory. You can't get a medium or high paying job without knowing how to speak english. If they continue to refuse learning English, they will be stuck picking fruit or flipping burgers.

Their choice...

[Bridget Burke]

12. And they voted to fund free ESL classes throughout the country!

Surely they did?

[ugarte]

13. Haha...nt

[eowyn_of_rohan]

28. The free ESL classes are indirectly referred to....

"The measure declares that there is no affirmative right to receive services in languages other than English, except where required by federal law".

[Bridget Burke]

31. Ah, "The White Lady of Rohan"

How do you say that in Rohirric?

[eowyn_of_rohan]

33. Ah, Bridget, the Ephemeral

you're here, then Poof! gone again.

[Bridget Burke]

34. I'm still here.

In fact, I asked you a question, farther down the thread.

Weren't many dwellers in Middle Earth multilingual?

[eowyn_of_rohan]

38. You are so full of questions

and I doubt you are interested in the answer to this one, or you would look it up yourself, but in the Rohirric language Eowyn would probably be Lo/Loho-wyn. I am not an expert on Rohirric language, but I did give myself a crash course in French (to supplement my high-school French), so that I could converse reasonably well when I traveled in France.

[TlalocW]

14. After this

Maybe they can move on to their other important work such as declaring the sun our main source of energy, proposing a national law mandating that living people must breathe, and that we must obey the law of gravity.

TlalocW

[TechBear_Seattle]

16. "We must obey the law of gravity"

Except when President-For-Life Bush deems the law of gravity to be inconsistent with national defense and the War on Terruh.

[Demeter]

23. Just Observer Dear Leader's Bike Riding

He's still defying gravity after all these years!

[TechBear_Seattle]

24. Which is within his powers as unitary executive n/t

[jerry611]

17. Someone please explain to me why this is bad?

When immigrants come here, why is it so wrong to make them learn our language? Why does it become a requirement for us to learn theirs?

Now I agree that learning other languages is good and helps you understand other cultures, but I don't see how it is right to force Americans to learn it.

It should not be our problem.

[sidpleasant]

18. When were you required to learn another language?

What were the circumstances, and how exactly was the requirement worded? Was the requirement a local ordinance or state law? Did you challenge it in court and if so, did you lose? What was the punishment for failure to learn a second language? Were you permitted to learn any second language you liked, or were you forced to learn a specific language? Where did this "forced to learn another language" incident happen? I can't recall hearing of any place in the US where bi - lingualism is mandatory, so please share your unfortunate story with us in detail.

[ButterflyBlood]

19. And he probably hasn't immigrated to another country with another language

If he did, he probably would expect to have to learn their language. I would too.

[jerry611]

20. You still didn't answer my question

Why is it so wrong to make people who immigrate here learn the english language?

And yes, we are being forced to learn spanish. In San Diego, some corporations won't hire you unless you are bilingual.
Its the new way for corporations to claim that Americans don't want the job so they will outsource it to immigrants for half the cost.

[sidpleasant]

25. "some corporations won't hire you unless you are bilingual"

So if you didn't want to work for one of those corporations you wouldn't be forced to learn a second language? That undercuts your "forced" argument rather dramatically, don't you think? They're not forcing you to do anything; they're looking for a specific set of skills that include bilingualism. Nothing wrong with that - a truck repair shop isn't "forcing" applicants to learn diesel engine repair when they list that skill in want - ads for mechanics. If you don't want to learn another language then don't work for the subset of all businesses in San Diego that require bilingualism.

As for the issue you're stuck on, you should do some research before regurgitating Minutemen talking points. The idea that there are large numbers of immigrants who can't speak any English is a right wing myth. According to the 2000 US census 65 percent of foreign - born US residents over the age of five who speak a language other than English at home speak English "very well" or "well." Another 35 percent had limited English proficiency. Further, there's plenty of academic research that demonstrates that English is overwhelmingly the language of the children and grandchildren of immigrants. The grandchildren of immigrants are thoroughly linguistically assimilated with only a minority being bilingual.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

29. Does not seem to be a myth

Since we spend multiple millions annually to provide services and assistance in Spanish to immigrants (largely undocumented) who do not speak English.

[Bridget Burke]

32. Where did you get your figures?

Ballots are also printed in Vietnamese in Houston.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

35. oops! stand corrected

make that billions

[Bridget Burke]

36. Okay--you pulled those figures out of your...

brain?

[eowyn_of_rohan]

37. Do you really believe it is any less? If so, what are your sources?

It's hard to find current statistics on the total amount spent nationally on accomodating non-English speaking immigrants in every way, shape and form, but let's see...Using the public school bilingual education programs as a starting point (since you brought up free ESL classes earlier),
I see in your own state, as of Jan 2005, "(Dual Language) programs' annual costs on average were $290 per pupil in large programs; $406 per pupil in medium programs, and $879 per pupil in small programs" http://ldn.tamu.edu/Archives/CBAReport.pdf Do the math if you care to.

[Bridget Burke]

40. "ESL" classes are "English as a Second Language"....

Not the ones taught in school.

Texas has no Income Tax. Most programs are funded by Sales Tax--paid by everybody. And by Property Tax--also paid by everybody, although renters pay it indirectly. This is my state & I have no problem supporting these programs. If you disagree with your own state's policies, please contact your legislators.

Concerning our federal taxes, I am far more concerned about the obscene amounts now being spent to kill people.

The USA has taken in quite a few non-English speaking immigrants over the last couple of centuries. Somehow, the English language has survived.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

41. yes, that is correct...so?

Cant you make the leap that the 2 types are similar?

Sheeesh, I do hate it when people don't stick to the topics that they bring up, then when they are challenged and don't have a good response, they change the subject, and/or insult the other person...

[treestar]

27. Corporations are not the government. That is their market

decision.

[treestar]

26. Straw man. Who said anything about making you learn theirs?

Most immigrants learn English and they are bilingual. Because they choose to, for their own benefit.

This is all tempest in a teapot and show how pathetic we've become.

[Demeter]

22. This Is A Constitutional Matter--Needs to Be an Amendment

and as such, it will never fly, either, but the futility and illegality of a measure has never bothered Congress before!