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Posted on 06/05/2005 12:07:11 AM PDT by snippy_about_it
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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 Speaking English preserves our national heritage Nathan Tabor December 1, 2004 "Breathes there the man with soul so dead, who never to himself hath said: 'This is my own, my native land'?" Most of us have heard those famous lines. But exactly why do they resonate across the years? I believe it's because they capture the essence of patriotism and national identity. Today we have a large and rapidly growing population of immigrants, both legal and illegal, surging into the United States, many of them Hispanic. As a result, some well-meaning folks are advancing the idea that our schools should teach classes in Spanish to accommodate those who don't know English. America, the modern politically correct theory goes, should become a multilingual culture to reflect the multicultural backgrounds of the various ethnic groups who now live here. Thus our election ballots, laws, public records, court proceedings, etc., should all be conducted in at least two languages and possibly more. This misguided idea represents the epitome of enlightened liberalism. I believe that such a move would be a cultural disaster because it would result in the Balkanization of American society. After all, there are currently more than 300 different languages spoken by various groups within America. It is true that we are a "nation of immigrants," and that the proverbial American "melting pot" contains individuals from a variety of different cultural backgrounds. It is also legitimate for people to remember and preserve many of their ancient traditions and their ethnic heritage. However, the essence of immigration has always been assimilation into the larger American society. People flocked to our shores en masse because America alone promised them freedom and the opportunity for a better life than they had elsewhere. While they might speak their native languages at home, in public they did business in English so that they could flourish and prosper in this new land. To become naturalized American citizens, these newcomers had to learn our language and our history, and then take a solemn oath to obey our laws and defend our way of life. In other words, they had to change and adapt to the new common culture they desired to join. They might retain their own personal cultural distinctive, but their new national identity made them all uniquely Americans. "There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americans," pronounced President Theodore Roosevelt a century ago. "The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities. We have but one flag. We must also learn one language and that language is English," TR shrewdly observed. Roosevelt's authoritative proclamation came at a high tide of American immigration, when literally hordes of immigrants from Eastern as well as Western Europe were flooding America's shores and filling her cities and factories with the raw human resources of the Industrial Revolution. He saw the dangers as well as the blessings of this massive influx of humanity. Today there is an effort afoot to pass legislation declaring English to be the official language of the United States. This was not done by the Founding Fathers, because back then there was no reason to pass a law mandating what was already true in fact. The overwhelming majority of settlers in colonial America came from what Winston Churchill later famously called "the English-speaking peoples." Thanks to the navies of the British Empire, the English language has encircled and dominated the globe. Declaring English to be the official language of America today would mean that official government business at all levels must be conducted solely in English. This includes all public documents, records, legislation and regulations, as well as hearings, official ceremonies, public meetings and election ballots. Today twenty-seven states have some form of "Official English" law, and there is an ongoing effort in Congress to pass national legislation. Of course, the ACLU opposes this idea, despite the fact that 82 percent of adult Americans favor it, according to the latest Zogby poll. An Official English laws will not only preserve our cultural heritage, historical documents, and uniquely American way of life, it will also enable immigrants to fit in and flourish here. At a bare minimum, Official English legislation would: Promote unity within the society; Empower immigrants to prosper in the community; Produce efficient, common-sense government. "I believe we are being dishonest with language minority groups if we tell them they can take full part in American life without learning the English language," said S.I. Hayakawa, the founder of U.S. English, Inc., the leader in promoting Official English. Hayakawa's sentiments thus agree with those of President Ronald Reagan, without question the most respected and beloved American leader of the 20th Century. "By emphasizing the importance of a common language, we safeguard a proud legacy and help to ensure that America's future will be as great as her past," Reagan said. For both our great nation and her diverse people, Official English makes good sense.      |
As always at the Foxhole, feel free to discuss as long as the discussion remains civil. ;-)
To all our military men and women past and present, military family members, and to our allies who stand beside us
Thank You!
Stormy Nite Shift Bump for the Freeper Foxhole.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
I believe those days, the "melting pot", are over, Snip. For better or for worse.
"One nation under God" is no longer true in the last part, and the first part will follow.
Raising my kids from this point of view.
The "Blue States" are already not America.
I remember New York City. Had seen some of Asia by then, and Asia was no more foreign than New York City.
Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Foxhole.
Good morning I have to work today. 3 of the higher ups were in yesterday...they said my salads were picture perfect.
Present.
Death frightens many of us and makes us feel awkward in the presence of a terminally ill person. But our greatest opportunities to help someone in Jesus' name may come during a person's final days on earth. The Bible speaks of a friendship that knows no limits. "A friend loves at all times," said the wise man (Proverbs 17:17). And "there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (18:24). Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13). Jesus is both our Great Physician and our Friend, and He promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He calls us to stand with our friends and family in His name as their earthly journey nears its end. That's what a true friend would do. -David McCasland
When the cold wind of trouble blows, Who comes in dark and stormy night With friendship's glowing lamp alight. -Mason A true friend stays true to the end.
What Is Real Love? |
Back when I had a real job, I handled all the foreign accounts. By law, everything printed in Canada had to be printed in English and French. This is why we had so much Canadian business. They could print stuff here at almost half the price.
Good morning, Aeronaut.
Morning Feather..
On This Day In History
Birthdates which occurred on June 05:
470/469BC Socrates (d.399BC) was born in Athens
1718 Thomas Chippendale England, furniture maker (baptized)
1723 Adam Smith Kirkcaldy Scot, economist (Wealth of Nations) (baptized)
1819 John Couch Adams co-discover (Neptune)
1823 George Thorndike Angell Mass, lawyer (ASPCA)
1825 Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry Georgia, educator (Rep-Ala, 1857-61)
1878 Francisco (Pancho) Villa Mexico, revolutionary/guerrilla leader
1883 John Maynard Keynes Cambridge England, economist/math/journalist
1887 Ruth Benedict US, anthropologist (Patterns of Culture)
1895 William Boyd Ohio, cowboy (Hopalong Cassidy)
1900 Dennis Gabor inventor (holography (3D laser photography))
1905 Art Donovan NFL defensive tackle (Balt, NY Yanks, Dallas)
1928 Robert Lansing SD Calif, actor (12 O'Clock High, Equalizer, Automan)
1934 Bill D Moyers Hugo Okla, news commentator (Bill Moyers' Journal, NOW)
1937 Waylon Jennings Littlefield Tx, country singer (Dukes of Hazzard)
1938 Marion Chapman smallest known premature baby to survive (280 g)
1939 Ken Follett spy author (Eye of the the Needle)
1946 Stefania Sandrelli Viareggio Italy, actress (The Key)
1959 Michael Winans gospel singer (The Winans)
Hey all! I'm only gonna have a second of Lazy Sunday to enjoy ya'll. :-) The moving truck is an hour and a half away so I've already been busy for a couple of hours. But, joinin' all you fine folks for a sip of morning caffeine. :-)
[sip]
Actually we had a Canadian store owner chime in, french was also going to be included. This store is in BC and the fella said the Canadians were alreadys sick and tired of their government craming french down their throat. He didn't want the space wasted on the products either. It wasn't necessary where he was. He had the same arguments.
Have a safe trip.
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Traditionally, medical schools have trained their students to help patients live, while offering little instruction in helping them face death. But that is changing with the addition of courses in end-of-life care. Physicians are now taught that when they have used all their medical expertise without achieving a cure, they should seize the opportunity to stand compassionately beside their dying patients and be a friend. 