enter one furious journalist

[chanter1944]

How dare they?

I've just heard via the BBC that the US Congress is attempting to pass a legislation amending the constitution so that English would become the official language of the United States.

What the *colorful phrases in several languages* do they think they're doing? The answer would probably be some long-winded speech heavy on the rhetoric and involving words like "fitting in" and "should be thankful", unless I miss my guess... or my more than slightly satirical view of the right wing.

Have they not taken one nanosecond to realize that this proposal flies in the face of everything from the Civil Rights Act to the concept of the open, nonjudgmental society we're supposedly promoting around the world? Emphasis on supposedly. And don't even get me started on the imposition of an official language inflaming tensions between social groups, to say nothing of international relations.

This makes the idea of our promoting democracy here there and everywhere that much more laughable... granted that isn't hard to do to begin with. So it's another case of do as I say, not as I do, is it? God, what am I still doing in this bloody country?

and this coming down from a right-leaning Congress lead by a president who can barely master his choice for "official" languages. Nucular indeed.

Todos los ciudadanos educados y creen que los libertidades civiles y derechos humanos deben continuar, levantanse y hacen los politicos oirlos!

Take *that* to your capital hill and smoke it.

Comments

[swami-bob.livejournal.com]

Well, let me put it to you this way.

When I'm at the DMV, they have TRANSLATORS to take their tests because they can't read the street signs and frnakly that scares me. They have tests in multiple languages. People who do not speak English well do not progress in society.

Making English the official language makes sense to me. Beaureaucratic expenses will be reduced and the playing field will be just a bit more level.

Also, let me put it to you this way, since you liked to say something in Spanish, do you think Mexico has dual language forms? I can tell you for a fact they don't (at least as of the last time I was in Mexico). If you were to move to France do you think they would provide you with dual language forms? No, you have to learn French.

And for the comment about being unable to speak their native language in their own homes, well, at the risk of being offensive, that's stupid and alarmist.

But then again, I wouldn't expect anyone who has such blind hatred for Bush and Congress to step back and actually look at this objectively.

As for me, I'm all for it.

[kitrona.livejournal.com]

It's acually not. The government has stepped in to legislate what's legal in peoples' bedrooms, why wouldn't they extend that to the whole house?

Nope, sorry, no blind hate for Bush and Congress. General disdain for wilful stupidity, yeah.

I'm for encouraging people to learn English, and I see no reason that citizenship ceremonies should be held in anything OTHER than English, but as I said, there are so many other issues that need attention that this all seems rather... odd.

And thanks for reading something into my comment that wasn't there.

[swami-bob.livejournal.com]

I hate to break this to you, but every country has some sort of legislation restricting sexual activities or "in the bedroom" activities. Are these laws in enforced? In countries like the US, no, they're mainly unenforceable due to our rights to privacy, et cetera. But in other countries where privacy isn't so respected, they are enforced.

Frankly, I'm sick and tired of every move Bush and/or Congress makes being hailed as stupid, et cetera. I don't really have much love for the man, and I haven't been very secretive about that fact. That said, I feel like a lot of people bash on the Congress or President not because of any rational thought but just instead a knee-jerk reaction for their dislike of Bush/Congroess/government in general.

[kitrona.livejournal.com]

You can be tired of it, but since it's not me hailing "every move Bush and/or Congress makes" as stupid, I hope that comment was addressed to the US at large.

I really do think this is stupid. There are much better ways to achieve the same goal, or similar, without even the appearance of discrimination, let alone getting immigrants up in arms. Even letting it cool down for a few more months would be preferable, because even if this isn't a reaction to the immigration issue, it will be seen as one.

That said, my in-laws immigrated from Haiti, and while they have an accent, they still speak perfectly understandable English. I just don't think legislating this country-wide is a good idea.

[kitrona.livejournal.com]

Of course, my in-laws also went to the trouble of becoming citizens, so maybe they're not representative of the immigrants now.

[swami-bob.livejournal.com]

No, it wasn't aimed at you. You debate intelligently :) As for your parents, that's awesome. They worked within the system. It's funny, all the people I know who immigrated here were so pissed off at a "day without immigrants" and all of them were from Central/South America. Their opinion was, "I did what I was required to do, what makes you so special as to bypass it?"

I have nothing against immigration or maintaining a connection to one's culture, I feel that's very important, but I also think if you choose to live here you really should learn to speak English. It's a statistical fact that if you don't speak English you are at a strong disadvantage. I also feel that encouraging illegal immigrants to be able to work is doing them a great disservice. They are not protected by employment laws and they cannot report their employers for abuse. They are not entitled to minimum wage (which is still a joke). I have to wonder if people who are so insistent on any immigrant's right to work really support the exploitation of laborers? Why else would they encourage it?

I just don't get it.