Newt Gingrich leads the surrender of English as a national language!

[AtlasShrieked]

Firma la petición!!!

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Firma la petición


Nosotros, en consecuencia, los ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos abajo firmantes, pedimos al Congreso de los Estados Unidos que actúe inmediatamente para reducir los precios de la gasolina mediante la autorización de la exploración de probadas reservas de energía y a fin de reducir nuestra dependencia de fuentes energéticas extranjeras en países inestables.

 

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Seeking: people to translate Spanish into English for Americans

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en Español

We, therefore, the undersigned citizens of the United States, petition the U.S. Congress to act immediately to lower gasoline prices (and diesel and other fuel prices)* by authorizing the exploration of proven energy reserves to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources from unstable countries.

 

[AtlasShrieked]

poor Newt, still the GOP's leading hypocrite. Like that other paragon of American values (Reagan) Newt is on his second (or more) marriage. So much for the sanctity of marriage vows, eh?

and here is our rightie of the week taking the people for the boobs he thinks they are:

The way forward on patriotic integration starts with English as the official language of government

By Newt Gingrich
January 24, 2007
(For ProEnglish's accompanying press release, click here)

Our country has a rich history of immigration. It has been a primary source of our creativity and our prosperity. We should continue to strongly encourage those immigrants who want to become citizens, but it is important that we accept only those who want to embrace American values and culture.

There is no such thing as a genetic American. To become an American citizen means becoming an American in values, culture, and historic understanding.

English is the language of American success and provides the basis for American cultural unity.

Therefore, as a part of any comprehensive immigration reform we must renew our commitment to citizenship reform focused on the English language, education about American citizenship based on American history, and an understanding of the Founding Fathers and the core values of American civilization. We should continue to strongly encourage those who want to become citizens, but it is important that we accept only those who want to embrace American values and culture.

English is not and never has been the only language in America. We have a long tradition of people speaking many languages in their local community and with other immigrants. But English has been and should remain our primary language and should be the only language used to express the people's will through their government.

Specific Citizenship Reform measures should include:

Returning to English language ballots, to a focus on English language literacy as a prerequisite of citizenship, to an insistence that U.S. dual citizens vote only in the United States and give up voting in their birth nations; These were principles widely understood and accepted for most of American history and they enabled us to absorb millions of immigrants and assimilate them and their children into an American civilization;
Rescinding Executive Order 13166 requiring multilingualism in federal documents;
Require a written test in English on American history for any legal immigrant who wishes to become a citizen and meets all qualification criteria;
Enforcing the Oath of Allegiance (and making its understanding and affirmation part of the citizenship test, including specific programs to study for the citizenship test emphasizing American heroes, including military heroes);
Focusing federal funds on teaching American history and the principles of American civilization;
National Program for English Instruction. There should be a National Program for English Instruction that is modeled after the highly successful "Ulpan Studies" program in Israel. This would provide highly intensive English and American history and civics training for new immigrants so that they can have the practical skills to participate in every day American life and become employed. To encourage participation, immigrants would be incentivized with a reasonable stipend. Other benefits could include a shortening of the naturalization period for successful completion of the course.
Chris Cox of California described the program in a bill that he once developed:

Like the United States, Israel has a polyglot immigrant mix, including Eastern Europeans, Central Asians and Ethiopians, most of whom speak little or no English. Every new immigrant to Israel is entitled to 500 hours of intensive Hebrew language training, which is designed to give them the language and practical skills to participate in everyday Israeli life. Although the program is not compulsory, participants receive a small stipend to defray expenses and receive a certificate upon successful completion of the program. This certificate has real value, since many employers require an "Ulpan certificate" for a job and many schools require one for admission.

Chris Cox's 2004 proposal is the kind of innovative solution that is a "win-win" for new immigrants and the future of America. Like the Israeli program, it would provide highly intensive English, American history and civics training for immigrants so they can acquire the practical skills to fully participate in their communities and workplaces. To encourage participation, immigrants could be given a stipend. In addition, the time required for naturalization could be shortened for those who successfully complete the program.

WE CAN DO IT

We can be dramatically more successful in helping those who want to embrace American values and culture, and become citizens, to assimilate far more effectively.

As we work to reform our immigration policies, especially citizenship reform measures, we must never lose sight of the self evident truths affirmed at our founding. That we are all created equal - citizen and non-citizen alike, and that we are all endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

If these truths are to have any meaning, then we must recognize that every person has an inherent human dignity that must be respected, including those in the U.S. illegally. And that these truths morally bind us to create a workable immigration solution -- founded upon English as the official language of government and patriotic integration as the fundamental model of citizenship for new Americans.