ENGLISH AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: YES OR NO?

ebrown_p wrote:

Illegal Immigrants don't vote. )

Heh. Tell that to Francine Busby, who told a crowd of immigrants, "You don't need papers to vote".

Spanish and English are the official languages, but Spanish is without a doubt the dominant language. English is spoken for about 1/4 of the population-with limited capabilities. English is required in all federal matters. English is spoken in all major tourist areas (%80 Spanish, %20 other).

Okay. Zogby put the number at around 79%, I think, of Americans who favor making English the official language.

That better?

To what does that refer, Walter, Puerto Rico?

Republicans hate Latinos (or anyone who doesn't fit their "majority" view of what an American should be like).

The question is not which is more "stupid"... the question is which will be more effective at winning the next couple of elections.

It should not surprise you that the people who are working hard setting up voter registration drives for Hispanic Americans are Democrats. The Republicans are still counting on the pews of white churches by pandering to their vote with anti-gay drives.

I know that you will never accept or understand the phrase. You think that by protecting the "values" of white protestant America, you are somehow helping people?

But Latinos (other than the 20 some people on the Wikipedia page) understand. Many of my friends voted Republican for years because of the abortion issue (being devout Catholics). They are now vowing to never vote Republican again. They know who their enemies are.

Just wait...

Not to worry Foxfyre. I am not trying to persuade you. I gave up on saving your soul long ago.

The Republicans have been very effective at using what you are calling "ad hominems" to rile up their base for years. Even on this thread are words like "invasion" being thrown around.

A similar tactic for progressive democrats to rile up the people who Republicans are alienating enough to mobilize and vote seems very appropriate.

I also don't think I am being backhanded at all. I think your point of view is immoral, hateful and harmful to the true values of America. How can I be more direct and avoid the charge of being backhanded.

I choose however to look for solutions instead of playing the blame game. I think most honorable people, both Left and Right, are wanting to find the best policy for the good of the country. Why don't you join us?

Not that I think many on the Left are capable of articulating an argument without ad hominems

Not that I think many on the Left are capable of articulating an argument without ad hominems,

Foxfyre wrote:

I choose however to look for solutions instead of playing the blame game. I think most honorable people, both Left and Right, are wanting to find the best policy for the good of the country. Why don't you join us?

Do you really imagine that the majority of honorable people (both Left and Right) think your ideas have anything to do with the good of the country?

I don't want to join you and I think your policies are greatly harming the country. I want to defeat you politically.

It's your cultural war. Your side started it. A,nd now you want to be all lovey dovey?

Hah. I will see you in the voting booth.

Brandon9000 wrote:

ebrown_p wrote:

Just more evidence that Republicans hate Latinos.

In the future, conservatives will whistfully look back on there time in power.

How does your argument work if we like Latinos and Latin culture very much, but don't want to be invaded by millions of people of any nationality, who come into the country illegally, refuse to assimilate, and demand that we make their home tongue a national language?

No one is invading the US. Coming into our country to pick our vegetables, clean our houses and take care of our children doesn't count as an invasion. What we did in Iraq was an invasion.

No one is refusing to assimilate. The recipients of the 1986 amnesty assimilated just fine.

No one is demanding that Spanish be made a national language. Some are demanding that English be made a national language.

It is funny that all of your points have to do with immigrants when this thread is about Spanish Speakers. This "English is the National Language" is pissing off plenty of American citizens who don't have your bias.

There are plenty of Spanish speakers who are American citizens (although nearly all of them are bilingual). Some of these are from families that have been in the US for over a hundred years.

The fact that you link Spanish speaking American citizens with illegal invaders who (I assume by respecting their own culture) "refuse to assimilate"...

Try to look at this from the viewpoint of a Spanish speaking American citizen. To them this argument is what is means to be an American. Are those of us who speak Spanish in the home, go to Mass on Sunday and don't eat a meal without tortillas and salsa on the table equals to the white Protestants.

You, like many conservatives are making the mistake of confusing "American" with "white, straight, English speaking protestant".