DarrylS

The Senate faced with huge financial deficits, thinking about loosing 200,000 AK47's, ignoring that a 21 million dolllar contracts for limo service for Homeland Security that was awarded to a very questionable company, and ignoring the fact we are arming warlords in Somalia took time from their busy schedule to vote on keeping English as the National Language. A spokesperson for the Senate said, "The American People need this and we need to look like we are doing something down here, the rest of the crap is irrevelant and this is what is really important." Some will call this pandering, I for one agree. Not sure if this happened before or after the Gay Marriage thing.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...051800242.html

Senate Votes English as 'National Language'
Bill Keeps in Place Multilingual Laws

By Jonathan Weisman and Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, May 19, 2006; Page A01

After an emotional debate fraught with symbolism, the Senate yesterday voted to make English the "national language" of the United States, declaring that no one has a right to federal communications or services in a language other than English except for those already guaranteed by law.

The measure, approved 63 to 34, directs the government to "preserve and enhance" the role of English, without altering current laws that require some government documents and services be provided in other languages. Opponents, however, said it could negate executive orders, regulations, civil service guidances and other multilingual ordinances not officially sanctioned by acts of Congress.

That vote, considered a defeat for immigration-rights advocates, was followed last night by an important victory: By 58 to 35, the Senate killed an amendment that would have blocked eventual citizenship for future immigrants who arrive under a temporary work permit. Democrats and Republicans agreed that the amendment would have destroyed the fragile, bipartisan coalition backing the Senate bill.

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

wistahpatsfan

Of course it's pandering and wrongly motivated, but it's also a good idea IMO. I have no problem other than the fact that they're fiddling while Rome burns.

bmf31c

They should be ashamed. I posted a few months ago about bills to rename Post Offices after people. It's the same with steroids in baseball. Do some real work!

Fiddling while rome burns describes it to a (T).

mgcolby

Can they do it for the atm's as well?

On a serious note, I think the time could be better spent but this is something that unfortunately needed to be done. It is amazing that we have to even have this as a law. We should put up a big sign that reads "Welcome to America, Now *****ing speak English"

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Hey, Bill you're wasting Brady's prime years......oh wait....
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The Gr8est

If we had required English be spoken to do business and attend schools we wouldn't have nearly the assimilation problems we have now.

Let's see..... which political party felt it was mean-spirited to demand that English be spoken in our schools?

Now before anyone decides to respond with any "racist" claims or "that's easy for me to say, consider that my wife is Japanese. Due to some extended deployments that I had in my Navy career, my son, at age 5, had lived most of his life in Japan and spoke NO English. When we got stationed in Hawaii he started kindergarden in that condition. There was some English as a second langauge assistance 2-3 times per week for a couple of years, but he was basically immersed into the English speaking society. He suffered no ill affects that I can see and is getting ready to graduate high school. He has gotten high honors every year and is fluent in English and Japanese.

Not forcing these hispanic immigrants to learn our language has led to many problems and was totally unnecessary. What is wrong with demanding that people who want to live here learn our language and customs?

Harry Boy

In the Gooey Ga Ga world of Liberalism we would be a nation of people all walking around not being able to communicate with each other.

In the starry eyed world of liberalism there would be fifty different signs on street corners all printed in a different language saying "STOP".

Not being able to communicate with others breeds "Segregation" do the know it all liberals even realize that.

Chevy

Great ... tax dollars at work ...

It's going on at the state level, too ... The Louisiana Congress has on their agenda the important issue of naming the "Official Hurricane Katrina Song" ...

The last song to really help anyone was "Puberty Love" (obscure reference).

Patters

I'm all for English being the national language. It is a great unifier, and it is the greatest language in the world because it's so flexible. That said, all students should be offered the option of learning a second language and all communities should offer immersion programs for people to quickly get up to speed in English to reduce the need for bilingual education. That said, this is of course one of those political issues that politicians are using to avoid the tough, challenging ones facing America.

The Gr8est

Hmmm, English as a second language as "optional". Maybe the government will let me have the "option" of paying my taxes...or not.

This is the United States, we speak English here. You want to immigrate here? We will assist you in learning our language, but we should not accomodate you if you chose not to exercise the "option" to learn English.

I am offended that I have to press "1" for English in the United States.

Patters

I didn't suggest English as a second language, but as the primary language, the national language.