LANGUAGE IS A CHIEF CHARACTERISTIC OF NATIONHOOD
The other day, as I was trying to call a company to find an answer to a problem, I encountered an automated phone system that began by communicating with me in two languages. This message went on seemingly forever. This is something we encounter every day with a sickenly regularity. I would like to quote, Eamon de Valera, speaking in 1956.
"Language is a chief characteristic of nationhood." "In the realization of all this our national language has a vital role. Language is a chief characteristic of nationhood - the embodiment, as it were, of the nation's personality and the closest bond between its people. No nation with a language of its own would willingly abandon it."
We should not allow the Spanish language to take over our society. For years immigrants have come to our our country and learned the English language. This is one of the steps to becoming a citizen of our country. It is one of the things that made us united and strong whenever our country has been threatened. Today, in perhaps the time of the greatest peril to our country, we should not let another language weaken our resolve to stand up for our country. New immigrants will not learn our language if it is not forced on them by the use of English in our everyday society. They will not be assimulated into society.
I was just reading the names of the men who were in my USMC OCS class 55 years age. There must be 15 countries from which their parents came to this country. They all worked and sacrificed to come to this country and learn English and become citizens. We should expect no less of the current immigrants.
"Language is a chief characteristic of nationhood." "In the realization of all this our national language has a vital role. Language is a chief characteristic of nationhood - the embodiment, as it were, of the nation's personality and the closest bond between its people. No nation with a language of its own would willingly abandon it."
We should not allow the Spanish language to take over our society. For years immigrants have come to our our country and learned the English language. This is one of the steps to becoming a citizen of our country. It is one of the things that made us united and strong whenever our country has been threatened. Today, in perhaps the time of the greatest peril to our country, we should not let another language weaken our resolve to stand up for our country. New immigrants will not learn our language if it is not forced on them by the use of English in our everyday society. They will not be assimulated into society.
I was just reading the names of the men who were in my USMC OCS class 55 years age. There must be 15 countries from which their parents came to this country. They all worked and sacrificed to come to this country and learn English and become citizens. We should expect no less of the current immigrants.
posted by Joe and Eileen at 12:55 PM
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