Ok, I'm a centrist in a lot of ways. I lean Conservatively on some issues, and Liberal on others. I'm not some Redneck wearing a "My Elephant or Die" T-Shirt.
So, we have this thing with illegal immigration– I'm actually all for making it a bit easier (and maybe even less expensive) for people to come to America and become citizens. Personally, I have roots in both Native Americans and immigrants to this continent, and I can at least imagine the perspective. So I'm actually for the amnesty. I'm for letting people come here. I've worked alongside folks from many, many walks of life and ethnicities, and think I've treated them all fairly.
Now, I'm pretty pissed. I mean really friggin worked up. And its all about the National Anthem. Bastards like Wyclef Jean and others have decided it would be really cool to do the National Anthem in Spanish. Put it on an album– use it to find raise to help with the whole immigration issue. If WJ was here right now, he'd take one look at my face and start running.
Some of my ancestors came here from Germany. Though I don't know all the details, I do know that they were in a bad way in the "Fatherland" during WW I, and had to be smuggled out. The Glenn's came here, and then they learned English and became citizens. English wasn't their first language…. but they did it to assimilate and become American. Not "German-American" but American.
Some of my fathers side of the family came here from Italy. Again, they came here, learned English, and became American. Became citizens.
I'm tired, really, tired, of the doublespeak that comes from the bilinguals. "We're doing the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish to help people learn English." No. You're doing it to assert your little Nitchdom. You want to have the privleges of being an American without everyone putting in their dues.
Citizenship and freedom are not free. We all know this, but this time I am not talking about the blood shed on the battlefields. I am not talking about only having "One life to lay down for my country." I'm talking about making a cultural shift and deciding that you are an American. Americans speak English, we have a variety of colors and religeons, accents and affectations, but we speak Americanese English. We have different philosophies, but we speak them in English. Our road signs are in English. Immigrants who learn English earn more, and assimilate easier into our society. (So we should offer more free classes in English for those who want to come here.)
It is time to integrate, no segregate. It is time to bring down walls, not build more up. Sing the national anthem as it was written, in English. Sign Neil Diamonds "America" in English. Teach American English to anyone who wants to come here, and live here, and work here. Help them join a nation that is a melting pot of different ways of life yet unified in our freedom, and our language.
