West Coast Connection Forum
Lifestyle => Train of Thought => Topic started by: Real American on May 19, 2006, 03:49:05 PM
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http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060518-114129-1805r.htm
Reid calls language proposal racist
By Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
May 19, 2006
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid called a proposal to make English the official language "racist" on the Senate floor yesterday.
"This amendment is racist. I think it's directed basically to people who speak Spanish," the Democrat said during the already tense debate over immigration reform.
Moments later, the Senate approved the measure on a 63-34 vote. Virtually all Republicans were joined by 11 Democrats to approve the largely symbolic amendment. Immediately following that vote, the Senate approved a second amendment, declaring on a 58-39 vote that English is the "common and unifying language."
Such proposals enjoy overwhelming support among American voters.
A poll by Zogby International earlier this year found that 84 percent of Americans say English should be the official language of government operations. The same poll found that 77 percent of Hispanics agree.
And it's a bipartisan issue, according to the poll, which found that 92 percent of Republicans and 82 percent of Democrats approve making English the country's official language.
Mr. Reid's charge of racism caused a stir of whispers in the Senate chamber and gallery, and Sen. James M. Inhofe, the Oklahoma Republican who offered the amendment, was clearly offended.
As Mr. Reid continued his floor speech, an aide passed him a note on a folded sheet of yellow legal paper. After reading the note, the Nevada Democrat tried to clarify his remarks.
"Even though I feel this amendment is unfair, I don't in any way suggest that Jim Inhofe is a racist," Mr. Reid said. "I don't believe that at all. I just believe that this amendment has, to some people, that connotation -- not that he's a racist, but that the amendment is."
It's certainly not the first time that Mr. Reid has used stark language in the debate over immigration.
"Our federal wallet is stretched to the limit by illegal aliens getting welfare, food stamps, medical care and other benefits without paying taxes," he said in 1993. "These programs were not meant to entice freeloaders and scam artists from around the world."
Earlier this year, Mr. Reid confessed on the Senate floor that his anti-immigrant fervor "mostly lasted about a week or two" before his wife brought him around to the more open position he holds today.
But nearly a year after his "freeloaders" statement, Mr. Reid was on the Senate floor criticizing immigrants again and worrying about their cultural impact.
"We must reduce the annual admissions of legal immigrants to more moderate levels in order to provide for a better country -- both environmentally and socially -- in the years to come," Mr. Reid said, according to a June 16, 1994, report by States News Service.
When Mr. Inhofe took to the floor yesterday, he didn't address Mr. Reid over his charge of racism but did defend his proposal.
"I think it's an insult to Hispanics to say that we are not going to have English as the national language because you're not capable of operating and speaking and succeeding in a country like this," he said.
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they should put immigrants who cant speak english in death camps
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I think it's a good idea that America has a national language, to reflect the country which is largely English speakers. Not that it matters, beacause like the article said it's a largely symbolic Amendment. It won't really change much.
Did this sentence strike anyone else as a little stupid? Or is it just me?
"I think it's an insult to Hispanics to say that we are not going to have English as the national language because you're not capable of operating and speaking and succeeding in a country like this," he said.
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I was watching the news today and they asked some guy from El Salvador about his opinion on this issue and he says "Well...I'm against it because I want to still speak my native language with my family." and another dude said "Well, Spanish used to be the native language here, so why should it change."
Either he's mentally retarded or trying to be a smartass. Personally, I'm all for this. You go anywhere else in the world, they're not gonna cater to you or make documents in your language. It will make things more universal too.
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I think it's a good idea that America has a national language, to reflect the country which is largely English speakers. Not that it matters, beacause like the article said it's a largely symbolic Amendment. It won't really change much.
Did this sentence strike anyone else as a little stupid? Or is it just me?
"I think it's an insult to Hispanics to say that we are not going to have English as the national language because you're not capable of operating and speaking and succeeding in a country like this," he said.
yeah the quote is kinda dumb but the guy is just nicely telling mexicans if you dont learn to speak english in America you are a dumb fuck. i happen to agree
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wow i though english was the official language already....wow
anyways like siko said if you go anywhere else in the world they're not going to cater to you if you can't speak the native tounge...
also i think it's pretty indignant to come here and not even bother to learn the language, no one is telling you to forget your old one....just learn the one that is spoken here, hell me and and all my family did that, we all speak two languages
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wow i though english was the official language already....wow
I have to admit I was also left by suprise when I found out 'bout this just recently
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wow i though english was the official language already....wow
I have to admit I was also left by suprise when I found out 'bout this just recently
yea me too. i dont get how this amendment is supposed to be racist??? it doesnt mean that they have to cease speaking their native language and give up their culture or anything. this statement is pointless.
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It is a typical move by Democrats/liberals. If you disagree with something, don't use reason or facts to make a case against it, just call it racist.
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Yeah, I was surprised by this too. It's just assumed that English is the official language in the US
It is a typical move by Democrats/liberals. If you disagree with something, don't use reason or facts to make a case against it, just call it racist.
Someone upset that this issue isn't controversial and that we all agree with him ;D
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Someone upset that this issue isn't controversial and that we all agree with him ;D
I admit this thread didn't turn out the way I wanted it.
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funnily.. english isnt the only language in the UK (ok england maybe...) but welsh is still spoken in wales..
and america is a much more racially diverse country than the UK.. home of the english language.
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Someone upset that this issue isn't controversial and that we all agree with him ;D
I admit this thread didn't turn out the way I wanted it.
If it makes you feel better, I think in addition to English, Ebonics should be an official language as well.
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If it makes you feel better, I think in addition to English, Ebonics should be an official language as well.
You son of a bitch!!!!!! DAMN LIBERALS!!!!
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remember when they taught ebonics in oakland public schools? theres somethin to bitch about
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remember when they taught ebonics in oakland public schools? theres somethin to bitch about
Nah, dey shoulda expanded da program. To bad dem racis consuhvatives fought ta remove it cuz dey don got no luv fo us.
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hella bootsee politishinz
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Someone upset that this issue isn't controversial and that we all agree with him ;D
I admit this thread didn't turn out the way I wanted it.
LOL at you pretty much admiting that you want people to disagree with you. :laugh:
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this thread is great. Personally, I notice that most countries have 2 or 3 offical languages. So why not have English, Spanish, and Ebonics, everyone wins.
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wow i though english was the official language already....wow
I have to admit I was also left by suprise when I found out 'bout this just recently
i thought it already was english when america was drawing up their constitution they had a vote on whether to make their language english or german, it was close but english provailed
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funnily.. english isnt the only language in the UK (ok england maybe...) but welsh is still spoken in wales..
and america is a much more racially diverse country than the UK.. home of the english language.
wales r just a burden i'm strongly in favour of giving them a full independence, they only account for 2% of our economy but they recieve 4% of our tax revenues, most of them are too lazy to learn new skills since their industrial shit has been declining and they tryna claim benefits whilst still in work and won;t give up their dead language which leads to wasted money spent on making everything in 2 languages.
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their language isn't dead.. its still well spoken thoughout wales.. all the road signs are dual language.. you're misinformed :)
havent you been watching bb..? so the 2 welsh people chosen for bb who are both around the 20 mark speak fluent welsh.... that glynn says he speaks welsh all day and thinks in welsh (i've often heard that multi lingual people 'think' in the language they use the most).. and that he realises now his english isnt as good as he thought.. and him and imogen (the former miss wales) have been holding full on conversations in welsh..
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i know its not literally dead but like say latin, but it is irrelivant 99% of wales speak english anyway its just adds to beurocracy and wasted money
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i know its not literally dead but like say latin, but it is irrelivant 99% of wales speak english anyway its just adds to beurocracy and wasted money
At least Welsh is their native language. In the US, we have immigrants moving here who expect everything in the language of the country they came from. In Los Angeles, they have to print ballots for voting in hundreds of foreign languages. That is complete bullshit.
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i know its not literally dead but like say latin, but it is irrelivant 99% of wales speak english anyway its just adds to beurocracy and wasted money
At least Welsh is their native language. In the US, we have immigrants moving here who expect everything in the language of the country they came from. In Los Angeles, they have to print ballots for voting in hundreds of foreign languages. That is complete bullshit.
The Spanish use to rule the South West, and Mexico has a treaty with the U.S. that Mexican people shall be able to speak Spanish in the South West, or what was Mexico. Also, Los Angeles is the second largest Spanish speaking city. Also, LA is were much of the world meets the U.S., translation, many countries trade to the U.S. using L.A. ports, and they ship their goods through there.
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i know its not literally dead but like say latin, but it is irrelivant 99% of wales speak english anyway its just adds to beurocracy and wasted money
At least Welsh is their native language. In the US, we have immigrants moving here who expect everything in the language of the country they came from. In Los Angeles, they have to print ballots for voting in hundreds of foreign languages. That is complete bullshit.
Cwalker, come on admit it.... you love ordering fast food and saying "yo quiero ______"
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The Spanish use to rule the South West, and Mexico has a treaty with the U.S. that Mexican people shall be able to speak Spanish in the South West, or what was Mexico. Also, Los Angeles is the second largest Spanish speaking city. Also, LA is were much of the world meets the U.S., translation, many countries trade to the U.S. using L.A. ports, and they ship their goods through there.
Does the country of Mexico provide government services in hundreds of different langauges?
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The Spanish use to rule the South West, and Mexico has a treaty with the U.S. that Mexican people shall be able to speak Spanish in the South West, or what was Mexico. Also, Los Angeles is the second largest Spanish speaking city. Also, LA is were much of the world meets the U.S., translation, many countries trade to the U.S. using L.A. ports, and they ship their goods through there.
Does the country of Mexico provide government services in hundreds of different langauges?
First, in LA, it's not hundreds, and second the Mexican gov't gives services to a few languages, mainly Spanish and Native language. Though it's not Japanese people are knocking down the door to get into the US.