[Grovenet] ear mark this!

Walt Wentz waltw at teleport.com
Tue Feb 12 22:21:01 PST 2008 

Then why bother making it the "official" language, if it doesn't need 
protection (and it doesn't)?
It's just a contrived non-issue... a completely meaningless and 
ineffectual political gimmick designed to pander to the paranoid and 
intolerant, like "Whites Only" seats in the old Deep South.


>How could NOT encouraging students and others to speak English be beneficial
>to end our non-official bilingualism?
>Please be certain that you are the one bringing up 'protecting' Engligh. I
>don't see making English the offical language equal to protecting it.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com]On
>Behalf Of Walt Wentz
>Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 7:37 PM
>To: Forest Grove local interests list
>Subject: Re: [Grovenet] ear mark this!
>
>
>Thereby effectively cutting off communications with anyone who needs
>to access to government, but can't speak the "official" language?
>Thereby also insuring their children won't be able to speak it
>either, but ending ESL in schools?
>Somehow, I don't think this will end the problem of "protecting"
>English.  Taking a glance at the history of South Africa and Quebec,
>trying to legislate "official bilingualism," with everything
>duplicated slavishly in two languages,doesn't work too well either.
>It just accentuates the differences. Making English more accessible
>to all would make it the "common" language, rather than the
>"official" one.
>WW
>>we could make it more widely used by dropping ESL in schools, other
>language
>>paperwork in govt, ballets, et al.
>>Ever notice how close the languages are? Why does the door have to read
>>Police Department
>>AND
>>Departamento Del Policia
>>?
>>But you're being obtuse.
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com]On
>>Behalf Of Walt Wentz
>>Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 6:53 PM
>>To: Forest Grove local interests list
>>Subject: Re: [Grovenet] ear mark this!
>>
>>
>>
>>Have you critically read the good General's remarks, and those of
>>others advocating these "English-only" measures? Granted,
>>"chauvinistic, xenophobic, tribal and paranoid" might be more
>>high-toned words for me to use, but I'll stick with the popular
>>usage. If we really want to defend the English language, then we've
>>got to make it more accessible, and hence more widely used-- not try
>>to "protect" it with impracticable "exclusion" laws.
>>We snicker at the French because they have an official agency
>>dedicated to combating "alien" words like "hamburger," that would
>>dare defile the virgin purity of their native language.  Well? Since
>  >English imports and assimilates foreign words on a wholesale basis,
>>would our "official" English also be frozen at an "approved"
>>vocabulary-- dating from, say, 1950?
>>WW
>>
>>>Walt,
>>>
>>>Shallow, mean spirited, xenophobic. All labels that you are
>>indiscriminately
>>>attaching to a gruop of people. Sounds like bigotry to me.
>>>
>>>Steve
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Walt Wentz" <waltw at teleport.com>
>>>To: "Forest Grove local interests list" <grovenet at rdrop.com>
>>>Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 1:37 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [Grovenet] ear mark this!
>>>
>>>
>>>>    Maybe try re-casting the argument as follows:
>>>>    "33 Senators voted against the essentially meaningless attempt to
>>>>    denigrate and discriminate against persons who still speak the
>>>>    language of their land of birth--and who would probably begin
>>>>    speaking English if adequate teaching programs were made available
>by
>>>>    our government, instead of these shallow and mean-spirited appeals
>to
>>>>    xenophobia."
>>>>    Walt
>>>>
>>>>>I did not snoop this, nor do I plan to. However knowing the grove
>folks
>>>>>as I do .. someone will...
>>>>>
>>>>>33 Senators Voted Against English as America's Official Language
>>>>>On June 6, 2007, 33 Senators Voted Against English as America's
>Official
>>   >>>Language. On Wed. 6 June 2007, 23:35:23-0500, Colonel Harry Riley ,
>USA
>>>>>, Ret. wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>Senators:
>>>>>
>>>>>Your vote against an amendment to the Immigration Bill 1348 to make
>>>>>English America 's official language is astounding. On D-Day, no less,
>>>>>when we honor those that sacrificed in order to secure the bedrock,
>>>>>character and principles of America , I can only surmise your vote
>>>>>reflects a loyalty to illegal aliens. I don't much care where you come
>>>>>from. What your religion is. Whether you're black, white, or some
>other
>>>>>color......male or female......Democrat, Republican or
>>>>>Independent....... But I do care when you are a United States Senator
>>>>>representing Citizens of America .......and vote against English as
>the
>>>>>official language of the United States .
>>>>>
>>>>>Your vote reflects Betrayal. Political Surrender. Violates Your Pledge
>>>>>of Allegiance. Dishonors historical principle. Rejects Patriotism.
>>   >>>Borders on traitorous action and, in my opinion, makes you unfit to
>>>>>serve as a United States Senator........
>>>>>Impeachment.......Recall........Or other appropriate action is
>warranted
>>>>>or worse.
>>>>>
>>>>>Four of you voting against English as America 's Official Language are
>>>>>Presidential Candidates: Senator Biden, Senator Clinton, Senator Dodd,
>>>>>and Senator Obama. Four Senators vying to lead America, but won't or
>>>>>don't have the courage to cast a vote in favor of "English" as
>America's
>>>>>Official Language when 91% of American Citizens want English
>officially
>>>>>designated as our language. This is the second time in the last
>several
>>>>>months this list of Senators have disgraced themselves as "political
>>>>>hacks"...... Unworthy as Senators and certainly unqualified to serve
>as
>>>>>President of the United States . If America is as angry as I am, you
>>>>>will realize a backlash so stunning it will literally "rock you out of
>>>>>your panties"......... and preferably totally out of the United States
>>>>>Senate. The entire immigration bill is a farce.... your action only
>>>>>confirms this really isn't about America .....it is about self-serving
>>>>>politics.....despicable at best. It has been said: "Never Argue with
>an
>>>    >>Idiot.... They'll drag you down to their level!" The following
>Senators
>>>>>voted against making English the official language of America :
>>>>>
>>>>>Akaka (D-HI)
>>>>>Bayh (D-IN)
>>>>>Biden (D-DE) Wants to be President?
>>>>>Bingaman (D-NM)
>>>>>Boxer (D-CA)
>>>>>Cantwell (D-WA)
>>>>>Clinton (D-NY) Wants to be President? (GOD FORBID!)
>>>>>Dayton (D-MN)
>>>>>Dodd (D- MN) wants to be president
>>>>>Domenici ( R-NM) coward. protecting his senate seat
>>>>>Durbin (D-IL)
>>>>>Feingold (D-WI) - not unusual for him
>>>>>Feinstein (D-CA)
>>>>>Harkin (D-IA)
>>>>>Inouye (D-HI)
>>>>>Jeffords (L-VT)
>>>>>Kennedy - (D-MA)
>  >>>>Kerry (D-MA) wanted to be president
>>>>>kohl (D-WI))
>>>>>Lautenberg (D-NJ)
>>>>>Leahy (D-VT)
>>>>>Levin (D-MI)
>>>>>Lieberman (D-CT) Disappointment here.....
>>>>>Menendez (D-NJ)
>>>>>Mikulski (D-MD)
>>>>>Murray (D-WA)
>>>>>Obama (D-IL) Wants to be President? GOD FORBID!
>>>>>Reed (D-RI)
>>>>>Reid (D-NV) Senate Majority Leader
>>>>>Salazar (D-CO)
>>>>>Sarbanes (D-MD)
>>>>>Schumer (D-NY)
>>>>>Stabenow (D-M
>>>>>
>>>>>"Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage
>>>>>morale, and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be
>arrested,
>>>>>exiled or hanged!!! President Abraham Lincoln
>>>>>
>>>>>Every potential voter should be aware of this! Please circulate this
>>>>>TILL THE ELECTION in November 2008.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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