Para espanol, oprima el dos

[standup]

To remain a strong republic, we must be one society
By KATHLEEN PARKER

Para espanol, oprima el dos. Even if one does not speak Spanish, most Americans are familiar with those words. They hear them nearly any time they make a call to the phone, utility or other company that offers service in two languages. “For Spanish, press two.” Even though I speak and love Spanish, I find myself increasingly annoyed by this unsubtle notice that the U.S. is gradually becoming a bilingual nation. And therein lies the source of much aggravation American citizens feel as Congress weighs in on illegal immigration.

Welcome to the U.S. one and all — within reason and according to the law — but all must become one if we are to remain a strong republic. That’s the single most compelling truth we seem to know instinctively even if no one is willing to say it. Whatever one’s views in the abstract regarding a guest worker or modified amnesty program, the concrete reality is that many of those seeking to stay in the U.S. are not seeking also to become Americans of the U.S. variety. Indeed, the clear message from some of those protesting the past week or so — and the content of many e-mails that found their way to my mailbox — is that Mexican immigrants are taking back what they consider to be theirs.

At least a segment of those protesting consider themselves to be neither immigrant nor illegal. Signs at one recent rally, for example, read “This is our country, not yours!” and “All Europeans are illegal.” “Reconquista” is the word they choose to define their mission, meaning “reconquest.” An e-mailer suggested that I get myself ready for the boat back home because I — being of European descent — don’t belong in the U.S. Only American Indians have a rightful claim to the lands my family has occupied since the 1600s, according to the writer’s historical yardstick. And only Mexicans have a right to border states that formerly belonged to Mexico. Well. Where to begin? More to the point, where to end? ....

Do illegal Mexican immigrants really want Texas or Arizona or California without the U.S. economy, or the U.S. social services, or the inspired government instruments that have made this country so attractive to so many? That’s the pinch, isn’t it? The country’s riches and benefits are not free for the picking — nor are they all necessarily indigenous to the physical territory — but are part of a national package that demands citizenship of its citizenry...

http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=36&url_article_id=13658&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2

[marmar]

1. "increasingly annoyed .... that the U.S. is becoming a bilingual nation"

Translation: "annoyed ... that he U.S. is becoming a more racially and ethnically diverse nation." Deal with it Kathleen. It's our future, so accept it and learn to embrace it.

[alarimer]

5. Places change, people change, times change

I think a VERY large part of this debate is racist at its very core. So this isn't going to ba lily-white nation (as if it ever was). So what? I am tired of these racist whiners.

[BuddhaGirl]

16. Katherine Parker welcomes your feedback

[e-mail] :evilgrin:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. aber Deutsch war einmal eine andere Sprache

(But German was once also another language).

Up until WWI, there were numerous German language newspapers, especially in the Midwest, and German was spoken in the home and in the litergy of the German Lutheran Church. Germans have been immigrants to this country since colonial times, with a large influx around 1850, and German continued to be spoken by families up until 1917. What changed things was time.

[xchrom]

3. of all the things there are to worry about -- a multi-lingual country

doesn't even make my list.

[Bridget Burke]

9. San Antonio, Texas, had trilingual city signs until WWI

English, Spanish & German. Many Central Europeans had emigrated to Texas.

The German influence is still evident in San Antonio's cultural institutions. And Spanish is doing quite well, indeed.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Don't worry

by the second or third generation everyone is speaking english after they come here. American culture is too overwhelming and it's hard not to succumb to the borg. Enjoy the diversity while it lasts. Besides their food is better then ours.

[Jim__]

6. A simple courtesy to people who don't speak English is an annoyance.

I'd say, "Tough shit Kathleen. Deal with it."

[mainer]

7. bilingualism doesn't hurt Europeans. What's her beef?

I just got home from a trip to Italy and France. Just about everywhere we went, there were signs in English as well. We're the only first-world country that can't deal with hearing another language.

[tocqueville]

10. it's not comparable

a service to citizens of a Union with different languages doesn't replace the national language. Some European nations are bi- or multilingual (Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, Spain) and that must be respected.

It doesn't mean that the US can't offer a multilingual service for visitors. Afterall it's a sign of politeness.

[Bridget Burke]

11. Not to mention hellholes like Belgium & Switzerland.

On this continent--don't forget Canada!

[tocqueville]

8. the trap of communautarism

exactly the same debate than in France

the answer is : "the Republic is one and undivisible" (skip God)

if one allows the culture of the local community to precede the common culture of the nation, it's not a melting pot but a patchwork

You must be American, French or whatever FIRST than Jew, Christian, black or Mexican...

it applies to language, religion, ethnic background

it doesn't mean that you don't have the right to express your background, culture, religion and nobody has the right to suppress that expression

But that can NEVER precede, come BEFORE, the common heritage of the Republic and the Nation. It does'nt have to be expressed through jingoism, but by rallying diversity.

the Brits let Londonistan develop, the French "the zone" (poor suburbs with overwhelming north-african ethnicity).
They paid it dearly.

English is the official language of the US. There is no need for several languages. But if you want to communicate in another it's one of your freedoms. But you cannot demand that this freedom precedes the general one when you are a citizen. It can only be a service for turists.

a patchwork of communities is the dead of a nation.

[Bridget Burke]

12. Do you mean "communitarianism"

The Anti-Communitarian League (ACL) website is full of nonsense. Find a better argument.

English is NOT the official language of the US.

And why are you NOT speaking & writing exclusively in French?

[tocqueville]

14. communitarianism (oops language is difficult) is'nt right either

there maybe not a clear official statement that English is the official language (I think that some States might even be officially bilingual), but English is the de facto official language.

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JWCRAWFORD/langleg.htm

it would be quite arrogant, provocative and - meaningless - to write in French on an English-speaking forum. There is a French-speaking forum on DU and that is very nice and an expression of a progressive broad and universal mindset. As long I can express myself in an understandable English, I am going of course to use it.

My point is : if you use one of your differences (language, race, religion etc..) as a reason to IMPOSE a special treatment and thus isolate yourself from the whole community, you are asking for trouble. Asking that your differences are respected is another thing, nobody ought to be discriminated.

If you move to another country to become a citizen, it's normal that your learn the dominating language. It shows that you care about the institutions of your new country and participate in its development.

communitarianism is a political ideology which have roots in libertarianiam and socialism. It was not what I meant. I raw-translated a French expression "communautarisme" which is an ideology meaning that communities (based on race, religion etc...) have a PRIORITY over NATIONAL legislation. It means that special laws can be applied in a community even if those are completely foreign to the national body.

Should Mormons be allowed to be polygams ? Should Muslims in the USA allowed to apply sharia as justice ?
These are more extreme examples. But the language question isn't unimportant. If you allow a community NOT to use the common language of the nation, it's a form of alienation, because communication becomes very difficult, except for experts. What is the next step ? territory ? secession ? Quebec is a good example.

"Communautarism" is a neologism, couldn't find anything better. But it's relevant to the discussion. Because it has to to with the definition of a nation.

[Bridget Burke]

15. The Spanish-speaking have not IMPOSED their language on the US.

In Texas, especially, Spanish was here before English. Many who upset the Anglophones by speaking Spanish can also speak English; they simply prefer to speak Spanish among themselves. Houston has a huge immigrant population--from many countries. We see signs in other languages--although English is always included & the merchants are glad to sell to everybody. And we hear many other languages.

The second generation all learn English well. Or as well as those from English-speaking households. Your English is not perfect because English is not your first language. I assure you that many English-only folks had fewer English skills than you do.

The parents learn some English but have a hard time finding English classes that fit their work schedules. The grandparents may never learn English--but that has been true for many immigrants.

Polygamy & Sharia Law would violate American laws. Speaking Spanish--or any other language--is not illegal.

[Bridget Burke]

13. We have NEVER been "one society"

No, "illegal Mexican immigrants" do NOT want the southwestern states to leave the USA. They are pointing out that they can belong here, too; they are not exactly newcomers. I remember "Aztlan" as a concept of Chicano Rights--representing mostly Native Born Mexican-Americans.

Spanish speakers know that they should learn English to succeed in US society. So--why are there not more free or cheap ESL classes--timed so that working people can attend? Our Public Schools DO teach English--"bilingual" programs are designed to help new students adapt to the system.

[Moderator]

17. Locking...

The author is no longer with us.