Oh, look, I've found my outrage again.

[athelind]

Despite all the politically-active and highly-vocal individuals whose journals I read regularly, nobody's commented on this.

US Senate declares English the "national language"

It's a blatant attempt to distract the country from the Administration's continued assaults on the Constitution, human rights, and the 99.9% of Americans making under a million dollars by tapping into bigotry and jingoism to boost their sagging poll ratings.

Even the Administration itself is trying to backpedal.

Comments

[shdragon.livejournal.com]

Umm... So?

If you moved to Germany, would you expect them to cater their government to you so you wouldn't have to learn German?

Also: I'm not the only one who thinks so

[athelind.livejournal.com]

You know, when you're talking about California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, a more appropriate question would be, "If Germany conquered your country, shouldn't you, your children, and your grandchildren have to learn German?"

And I'm not the only one who thinks so, either.

[hitchkitty.livejournal.com]

That reminds me -- when are we going to see government signs in Cherokee, Choctaw, or Creek?

[athelind.livejournal.com]

Hm. I guess it covers all fifty states, doesn't it?

'Scuse my momentary Eurocentric lapse.

[hitchkitty.livejournal.com]

Well, my examples specifically covered the American southeast -- and parts of the mid-south west, after a rather infamous relocation -- but yeah, all fifty states.

[shdragon.livejournal.com]

Here's my feeling on it: If it doesn't piss off the Spanish speakers of the area, then why should it piss off me. (referring to the article I linked)

Also, just to exaggerate my point: Ok, so every government agency has to be fluent in English and Spanish.. But then, to quote the article you linked: "Non-English-speaking Americans could find themselves unable to communicate with hospital officials, unable to read a host of critical documents, confronted with insuperable obstacles in their attempts to carry out the elementary functions of daily life. Their attempts to exercise such basic democratic rights as registering to vote could be frustrated."

Ok. That's a somewhat valid point.. But wait.. What about Non-English, Non-Spanish speaking Americans? OH NOEZ! We're being insensitive to them by not bending over backwards to help them live in our society without them putting forth any effort whatsoever! Quick! Someone pass a law that requires every government agency to have, on hand, a translator for Spanish, German, French, Danish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Hindi (all 22 official dialects!), Polish, Swahili, Zulu, Ancient Egyptian, Greek, Pig Latin and Klingon! And why stop there? What about ALL 7300 live languages currently known!! (Not counting the more than 34,000 dialects of course.. That would just be crazy. I mean, come on.)

...

Where do you stop?