Lou Dobbs makes a good point

[Tollwutig]

Editor's Note: Lou Dobbs' commentary appears weekly on CNN.com.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- American society is increasingly polarized, our politics ever more fractious, and I believe most of us are figuring out that we spend far too much time and energy dwelling on our differences rather than embracing the similarities and commonalities that unite us as Americans.

We are divided on many issues: abortion, gun control, gay rights, the separation of church and state, religion and politics. We are increasingly divided by disparities in educational and economic opportunities, political labels, ideological and partisan allegiances, race, cultural heritage and age.

America's diversity has always been a source of national strength, except when political leaders exploit our differences to serve special interests and deny the common good and national interest.

President George W. Bush, seeking support for his so-called "comprehensive immigration reform" proposal, declared that "America should not fear diversity." Those are neither the words of a leader, nor a uniter.

But the president isn't the only one lacking in leadership: Congress is hardly doing better. Even though 84 percent of Americans say English should be the official language of government operations, and while 71 percent of Hispanics agree, the Senate Majority Leader called an amendment to make English the official language an act of prejudice. Sen. Harry Reid declared bluntly "This amendment is racist." Such rhetoric from national leaders is unworthy of their offices and fails to elevate the American spirit.

Divisiveness begins in Washington, not in the hearts of Americans. The dominance of corporate, parochial and special interests over the House of Representatives and the Senate did not begin with this Congress. But that dominance has become both a structural and chronic source of disunity. Not only is corporate America spending more than $2 billion a year to lobby in Washington, but Congress in recent decades has organized itself around the special interests they seek to serve.

Almost five decades ago, there were only four Congressional caucuses. Today there are about 200, most of which are dedicated solely to particular countries, regions, races, ethnicities, specific issues and special interests.

Group and interest politics have overwhelmed not only our public dialogue but also our legislative process. When our elected officials spend more time and effort legislating on behalf of specific interest groups, the common good and national interest are subordinated by the very people we elect to serve all citizens and the nation. It should be no surprise that approval ratings of the president and Congress are so low or that so many of us believe this country is headed in the wrong direction.

Are we as a nation well-served by a Congress that created the Albanian Issues Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Organic Caucus, the Caucus on Indonesia, the Caucus on Swaziland, the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus or the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans?

What about the 280 million working men and women and their families? We would be better served if we rid Congress of these spurious and divisive caucuses that serve narrowly focused special interest groups and instead create the We the People Caucus.

Abraham Lincoln astutely noted that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Our House of Representatives could hardly be any more divided. And it is time that our elected officials commit themselves to the representation of all Americans and the founding ideals that will assure a prosperous and secure future for this great nation.

I just read this on CNN, and he makes a very blatant point, too bad the majority of voters will neither see this nor read it. Although maybe the Media should start pulling stuff like this up to the forefront.

[KN]

Lou Dobbs? Good point?


I need to adjust to this new reality I've phased into.

[Tollwutig]

Lou Dobbs? Good point?


I need to adjust to this new reality I've phased into.

Adjust as necessary, and read it because it is true.

[KN]

Good points, mister Dobbs.


I have one question about the immigration bill:


If they finally realized it sucked so much, why do they let the same guy who wrote the last one write it? (Ted Kennedy)

[Theory?]

Good points, mister Dobbs.


I have one question about the immigration bill:


If they finally realized it sucked so much, why do they let the same guy who wrote the last one write it? (Ted Kennedy)

Because Ted Kennedy knows how to party.

And how to get away with murder.

[Jabrwock]

Lou Dobbs? Good point?


I need to adjust to this new reality I've phased into.
Yes, seriously. WTF was in Dobbs' coffee this morning? Where did this dose of Common Sense™ come from, and who accidentally administered it to him?

I'm scared. :(

Although I will make this observation. Usually the only time complaints are made about divisiveness, are when "your" side isn't getting it's way, and so the "other" side isn't being cooperative. That's when "why can't we all get along" is trotted out of the archives.

[Tollwutig]

And how to get away with murder.

Seriously this is how he gets to write legislation. Any person who can pull off that BS is obviously quite capable of deluding the American people on a whole different level.


Yes, seriously. WTF was in Dobbs' coffee this morning? Where did this dose of Common Sense™ come from, and who accidentally administered it to him?

I'm scared. :(

Although I will make this observation. Usually the only time complaints are made about divisiveness, are when "your" side isn't getting it's way, and so the "other" side isn't being cooperative. That's when "why can't we all get along" is trotted out of the archives.

I don't know and I was surprised myself. Also the fact that Lou Dobbs actually attacked the Democrats for once, I was wondering when I entered the Twilight Zone.

Of course the "why can't we all get along" is always trotted out when by the Party that is currently out of power.
Democrats yelled this since 2000 when they lost the White house & Congress. Republicans of course said they were bi-partisan.

Now Democrats yell it when Bush vetoes something. Republicans yell it every time a piece of Legislation passes through one of the Houses.

[MachShot]

Because Ted Kennedy knows how to party.

And how to get away with murder.

OJ Simpson should become a polititian then. He already has a famous book out that he wrote, "If I Did It".

[KN]

OJ Simpson should become a polititian then. He already has a famous book out that he wrote, "If I Did It".

Too bad he wasn't already. I can imagine " If I voted for the war in Iraq, here's why I did it"

[MachShot]

He could have also been a great advisor to the Clinton Administration.

"IF I had Sexual Relations with that Woman"

But I'm straying from the topic here. Lou Dobbs does make a great point here, although that doesn't change the fact that some parts of his Immigration ideas are a bit paranoid.

Leprosy, LOL.

[Grahamr]

Wahhhh!!! I don't like you, you Gay/Strait/Liberal/Conservative! Get away from me you Jewish/Muslim/Hindu/Christian/Wiccan/Atheist!!! Your just another Idiot/Traitor/Coward/Hypocrite/ enslaved by the Hispanic/Black/White/Asian/Racist Agenda!!! *sniff* *sniff*

Get over yourselves, people! and Play nicely. K?:D

____________________

But yea, this is Eldritch...like the time Bill O RLY talked with Marilyn Manson and managed to avoid screaming at him. Good job Bill...:)

[ZippyDSMlee]

0_o

I guess I am the only one to watch his show on a simi regularly basis ,Lou holds both their feet to the fire he leans left but he dislikes them as much as the reps.


If anything Lou wants some fcking balance put back into government he'd even take amnesty for the Mexican horde if the goverment would secure the border first and fix immigration 2nd ,of coarse neither will happen because both sides are to busy screwing over the US populace.

[CharliesNickel]

I dont' understand what the point of making an "official" language. The marketplace of ideas has decided that english the the lingua franca, not only of the US but the world. And someday it'll probably be a mix of english and mandarin chinese. (at which i'm sure Dobbs' intellectual successor will scream anti chineses bigotry to the masses) I highly doubt spanish will "take over" america - theres no market driven reason for it.

The much worse idea is trying to legislate language. It's tantamount to trying to legislate thought, and that's far far worse than any good (and exactly what good actually comes of making english "official" is mysteriously undescribed) that could come of it.

Dobbs is a reactionist bigot idiot with a few good points snuck in there, and he's a decent rhetoritician. nothing more or less.

[bayushisan]

I dont' understand what the point of making an "official" language. The marketplace of ideas has decided that english the the lingua franca, not only of the US but the world. And someday it'll probably be a mix of english and mandarin chinese. (at which i'm sure Dobbs' intellectual successor will scream anti chineses bigotry to the masses) I highly doubt spanish will "take over" america - theres no market driven reason for it.

The much worse idea is trying to legislate language. It's tantamount to trying to legislate thought, and that's far far worse than any good (and exactly what good actually comes of making english "official" is mysteriously undescribed) that could come of it.

Dobbs is a reactionist bigot idiot with a few good points snuck in there, and he's a decent rhetoritician. nothing more or less.

With all due respect I have to disagree. Trying to make english the official language of the United States is not bigoted at all. No one's saying that people can't speak their native language, just that if you're going to live in our country and use our services you should learn our language. The PC thought police have us catering to pracitcly every language without any give on their part. For example, here in Michigan at the state human resources building in my area there are signs in three different languages, one of which is Arabic. Why not make people learn the language? It hardly seems like its too much to ask if you're going to use state or federal services.

[ZippyDSMlee]

CharliesNickel;41422]I dont' understand what the point of making an "official" language. The marketplace of ideas has decided that english the the lingua franca, not only of the US but the world. And someday it'll probably be a mix of english and mandarin chinese. (at which i'm sure Dobbs' intellectual successor will scream anti chineses bigotry to the masses) I highly doubt spanish will "take over" america - theres no market driven reason for it.

Its a mixed bag nothing wrong with patriotism but is havign a "official" language goign to help only a bit if were in place now it would only start showing effect in the next few decades, it would better to revamp the immigration system and have "Americanization" at its core learning english is big a part of it but not mandatory,whats mandatory is processing and the time it takes for processing but the goverment wont even admit theres a problem so nothing gets done and in order to put fire to the presses sometimes you have to say inflammatory things.


The much worse idea is trying to legislate language. It's tantamount to trying to legislate thought, and that's far far worse than any good (and exactly what good actually comes of making english "official" is mysteriously undescribed) that could come of it.

Well for one it would help with the language barrier and force anyone coming here to at least know some of it, to say you must learn the language of the country you are staying in is racist then everythign must be racist to you.

Dobbs is a reactionist bigot idiot with a few good points snuck in there, and he's a decent rhetoritician. nothing more or less.

Do not believe the hype,he so racist he is a for rule of law and whats best for the country before bringing them in he wants them to do it where they are listed and processed nothing more nothing less,every one in favor of amnesty just wants to give them a pass like in 85 its pure BS why not fix the system and let them in but they wont fix the system thus why let them into a broken system?

[Jabrwock]

With all due respect I have to disagree. Trying to make english the official language of the United States is not bigoted at all. No one's saying that people can't speak their native language, just that if you're going to live in our country and use our services you should learn our language.So what do you do when the majority of the population becomes Hispanic, as is happening in the southern US? They'll just vote to change it over to Spanish as the official language, because they'll have the numbers. What then? Will YOU learn Spanish to conform? Or will you demand they serve you in YOUR first language?

Governments serve the people. If a good chunk of the population speaks french, or spanish, or german, or arabic, or english, or manderin, or whatever, it's in the government's best interest to provide those services. Otherwise it's not really a government OF the people, FOR the people, is it?

[ZippyDSMlee]

With all due respect I have to disagree. Trying to make english the official language of the United States is not bigoted at all. No one's saying that people can't speak their native language, just that if you're going to live in our country and use our services you should learn our language. The PC thought police have us catering to pracitcly every language without any give on their part. For example, here in Michigan at the state human resources building in my area there are signs in three different languages, one of which is Arabic. Why not make people learn the language? It hardly seems like its too much to ask if you're going to use state or federal services.

Exactly, I have qualms about making it mandatory for entry and the goverment could refine the system to where they give more focused help in gettign people to learning programs and such.

However the system is broken on many levels and adding a few billion people into the mix wont help things they are causing problems in health care systems threw out the US altho they(health care systems)is partially to blame for mismanagement and the the "4 horsemen" of the insurance system is adding to the problem,before we can move ahead with anythign we need to fix whats before us so keep all the xenophobic,learning language is racist,blank amnesty BS in the gutter where it belongs we have a problem lets do something abotu it instead of give it a pass to give it another pass in 20 more years... .

[ZippyDSMlee]

So what do you do when the majority of the population becomes Hispanic, as is happening in the southern US? They'll just vote to change it over to Spanish as the official language, because they'll have the numbers. What then? Will YOU learn Spanish to conform? Or will you demand they serve you in YOUR first language?

Governments serve the people. If a good chunk of the population speaks french, or spanish, or german, or arabic, or english, or manderin, or whatever, it's in the government's best interest to provide those services. Otherwise it's not really a government OF the people, FOR the people, is it?

What other countries have official language laws?
I dont think it should be mandatory but rather a big part of gettign people into the melting pot which the US is about not like Europe where each "group" has its own nation.

[Jabrwock]

For example, here in Michigan at the state human resources building in my area there are signs in three different languages, one of which is Arabic. Why not make people learn the language? It hardly seems like its too much to ask if you're going to use state or federal services.You DO realize that in order to take advantage of government-run ESL courses, first you need to be able to contact them in the language you CAN understand? ;)

Perhaps Michigan is trying to encourage Arabic workers. In Alberta, they have signs in Spanish, because they are trying to import a lot of workers from Mexico and South America to do menial labour. And while they take their ESL classes, major government facilities have bi or tri-lingual signs to assist them while they integrate.

In Shilo, Manitoba, signs were tri-lingual (English, French, German), because it was a federal facility, so english/french was required, but the German Army rented the land for artillery practice, so signs were in German too. Many local businesses learned basic German so they could serve the troops in training better, and many store signs were in German as well.

Is that PC BS? Or just good business?

[ZippyDSMlee]

You DO realize that in order to take advantage of government-run ESL courses, first you need to be able to contact them in the language you CAN understand? ;)

Perhaps Michigan is trying to encourage Arabic workers. In Alberta, they have signs in Spanish, because they are trying to import a lot of workers from Mexico and South America to do menial labour. And while they take their ESL classes, major government facilities have bi or tri-lingual signs to assist them while they integrate.

In Shilo, Manitoba, signs were tri-lingual (English, French, German), because it was a federal facility, so english/french was required, but the German Army rented the land for artillery practice, so signs were in German too. Many local businesses learned basic German so they could serve the troops in training better, and many store signs were in German as well.

Is that PC BS? Or just good business?

ah yes but they have functioning immigration programs :P

we really need to revamp the system,badly need to revamp it.

[Jabrwock]

What other countries have official language laws?
I dont think it should be mandatory but rather a big part of gettign people into the melting pot which the US is about not like Europe where each "group" has its own nation.
Canada specifies English and French as it's "Official" languages, but they have federal government facilities in the north that serve in 3 (english, french and Inuktitut (Inuit) aka ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ), because the majority of the population there use ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ as their first language.

Certain small towns in Manitoba were settled mainly by germans, so the civic facilities are bilingual (english/german). Winnipeg has a french quarter (so most speak english/french)..

[ZippyDSMlee]

Canada specifies English and French as it's "Official" languages, but they have federal government facilities in the north that serve in 3 (english, french and Inuktitut (Inuit) aka ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ), because the majority of the population there use ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ as their first language.

Certain small towns in Manitoba were settled mainly by germans, so the civic facilities are bilingual (english/german). Winnipeg has a french quarter (so most speak english/french)..

ah So dose the US specify English in any way?
English should eb
specified but not alone the immigration system needs a overhaul as well I think our main trouble is not language but the mismash of a immigration system that cant even keep track of people.

[bayushisan]

My point was that if you imigrate to another country the proper thing to do, at leat as far as I'm concerned, is to learn the native or majority language. Take China for example; if I were to move there then it would be incumbent upon me to learn the Mandarin dialect as that's the accepted norm out of 30+ dialecets. If you were to move to Russia then you'd have to learn the language to get by. Why is it wrong to expect those who imigrate to the US to do the same?

[Jabrwock]

ah So dose the US specify English in any way?Not currently, no. The immigration bill passing back and forth would declare English the "official" language of the US, although I'm not sure what that would accomplish. It wouldn't affect language classes that offer Spanish in most southern US states, and it wouldn't change the fact that 1/5 of Americans have Spanish as their first or second language...

In 2006 two bills were passed that declared that english was the only language the federal government would operate with and provide services under, but it was never signed into law.

Several states/territories of the US are either de facto or officially bi or tri-lingual:

- Hawaii (English and Hawaiian)
- Louisiana (English and French legally recognized)
- New Mexico (English and Spanish de facto through an 1848 Treaty)
- American Samoa (Samoan and English)
- Guam (Chamorro and English)
- Northern Mariana Islands (English, Chamorro, and Carolinian)
- Puerto Rico (Spanish and English)

And until 1920, New York state government documents were bilingual (english and dutch).
specified but not alone the immigration system needs a overhaul as well I think our main trouble is not language but the mismash of a immigration system that cant even keep track of people.Agreed. Your immigration laws are a mess, and I find it ironic that the US keeps pointing to Canada a having "lax" immigration policies. ;)

[Pelor]

So what do you do when the majority of the population becomes Hispanic, as is happening in the southern US? They'll just vote to change it over to Spanish as the official language, because they'll have the numbers. What then? Will YOU learn Spanish to conform? Or will you demand they serve you in YOUR first language?
One small town did. It got picked up by the news and there was a bunch of hooplah, and they quietly got rid of the ordinance.

I don't think that "Official Language" laws do jack.

[ZippyDSMlee]

My point was that if you imigrate to another country the proper thing to do, at leat as far as I'm concerned, is to learn the native or majority language. Take China for example; if I were to move there then it would be incumbent upon me to learn the Mandarin dialect as that's the accepted norm out of 30+ dialecets. If you were to move to Russia then you'd have to learn the language to get by. Why is it wrong to expect those who imigrate to the US to do the same?

A lot of people fail to see a need for it,I see a need for it but only after fixing the immigration system dealing with the boarder because if Mexico runs a tight southern border we need to as well.


Pelor
Canada might have a lax system but its more stable than ours is.

One small town did. It got picked up by the news and there was a bunch of hooplah, and they quietly got rid of the ordinance.

I don't think that "Official Language" laws do jack.
I see it as a item on the cart before the horse its a issue but not badly needed as putting wheels on the cart and finding a live horse....the cart beign the border the horse begin immigration revamping.

[Jabrwock]

My point was that if you imigrate to another country the proper thing to do, at leat as far as I'm concerned, is to learn the native or majority language. Take China for example; if I were to move there then it would be incumbent upon me to learn the Mandarin dialect as that's the accepted norm out of 30+ dialecets. If you were to move to Russia then you'd have to learn the language to get by. Why is it wrong to expect those who imigrate to the US to do the same?Actually in Russia, they're learning English to compete on the global markets. Just like many businesses are learning Mandarin to compete in the new Asian markets.

Languages change. Trying to force newcomers to learn the local language will only drive them to establish little ghettos where they can serve their own.

At what point will Spanish be spoken by "enough" people in the US that it will be "proper" to require locals and newcomers to learn Spanish? Will you support a bill to add Spanish to the "official" language laws at that point?

I mean, why even bother? It's just going to get repealed every time a new language gets popular, and all it does in the meantime is allow government agents to treat people differently...

[ZippyDSMlee]

Actually in Russia, they're learning English to compete on the global markets. Just like many businesses are learning Mandarin to compete in the new Asian markets.

Languages change. Trying to force newcomers to learn the local language will only drive them to establish little ghettos where they can serve their own.

At what point will Spanish be spoken by "enough" people in the US that it will be "proper" to require locals and newcomers to learn Spanish? Will you support a bill to add Spanish to the "official" language laws at that point?

I mean, why even bother? It's just going to get repealed every time a new language gets popular, and all it does in the meantime is allow government agents to treat people differently...
So when is Canadas official language changing? :P

[Jabrwock]

So when is Canadas official language changing? :P
Actually the Official Languages act only specifies English and French as official languages to recognize the historical foundation of the country. It actually doesn't say you HAVE to provide government services in ONLY those languages (hence why the Territories are tri-lingual). It does state that federal communications and services must be provided in AT LEAST one of those two, and more as dictated by local demographics. And since most federal stuff is country-wide, they are printed in both. But it allows, say a federal facility in Alberta to not necessarily provide services in French as long as very few in the region actually speak it.

Our Official Languages Act is actually pretty flexible. :)

[ZippyDSMlee]

Actually the Official Languages act only specifies English and French as official languages to recognize the historical foundation of the country. It actually doesn't say you HAVE to provide government services in ONLY those languages (hence why the Territories are tri-lingual). It does state that federal communications and services must be provided in AT LEAST one of those two, and more as dictated by local demographics. And since most federal stuff is country-wide, they are printed in both. But it allows, say a federal facility in Alberta to not necessarily provide services in French as long as very few in the region actually speak it.

Our Official Languages Act is actually pretty flexible. :)

Is there anything reason why we can't doing the same?

altho gettign anything passed in the US is "fun".

[Tollwutig]

Not currently, no. The immigration bill passing back and forth would declare English the "official" language of the US, although I'm not sure what that would accomplish. It wouldn't affect language classes that offer Spanish in most southern US states, and it wouldn't change the fact that 1/5 of Americans have Spanish as their first or second language...


The whole declare English as the "official" language of the U.S. is just stuck in there to allow the Republicans who vote for this bill to pander to their constituents that they "did" something.

As you mentioned it actually has no real power, as it doesn't change anything. Besides language and its education should be a State right, as it's not laid out in the constitution as a Federal right. The only way I could see Congress having the authority of declaring a language would be under the commerce clause, but a single language isn't needed to regulate commerce, it just makes it easier.

Now Congress could declare that any interstate commerce must be conducted in English. Which would have a similar effect, and be constitutional.

[ZippyDSMlee]

The whole declare English as the "official" language of the U.S. is just stuck in there to allow the Republicans who vote for this bill to pander to their constituents that they "did" something.

As you mentioned it actually has no real power, as it doesn't change anything. Besides language and its education should be a State right, as it's not laid out in the constitution as a Federal right. The only way I could see Congress having the authority of declaring a language would be under the commerce clause, but a single language isn't needed to regulate commerce, it just makes it easier.

Now Congress could declare that any interstate commerce must be conducted in English. Which would have a similar effect, and be constitutional.

and that about the only thing that has a chance of passing revamping immigration and other things will be bickered over till the US implodes or a strong concise White house sets it mind to fix it which is abotu as likely as the US being hit by a nuke.

[Tollwutig]

and that about the only thing that has a chance of passing revamping immigration and other things will be bickered over till the US implodes or a strong concise White house sets it mind to fix it which is abotu as likely as the US being hit by a nuke.

Obviously you are under the delusion that the White House has the power to change law. The White House can convince a member of Congress to introduce law, and has the option of vetoing a bill before it becomes law, but that veto can be over ridden.

Congress makes law, the only chance of changing our immigration law that makes sense would be to un-elect the two political parties which have a strangle hold over our political system.

[Jabrwock]

Is there anything reason why we can't doing the same?Well, it's just the way it's worded currently. Our Officials Languages Act promotes and encourages use of English and French, but allows for the support of other languages. Recent US bills required the service to be provided in English, and English-only. I don't know if the current Immigration bill does this.

So where here the use of English (or French) is required to be provided as a minimum, in past proposed US bills, you couldn't use those services unless you spoke English, and no accommodation was made (or allowed) for service in other languages.

[ZippyDSMlee]

Obviously you are under the delusion that the White House has the power to change law. The White House can convince a member of Congress to introduce law, and has the option of vetoing a bill before it becomes law, but that veto can be over ridden.

Congress makes law, the only chance of changing our immigration law that makes sense would be to un-elect the two political parties which have a strangle hold over our political system.

Strong leadership can theres nothing delusional about that however thinking anyone would be strong enough to heard the elite sheeple anytime soon is delusional.

[CharliesNickel]

With all due respect I have to disagree.
Before you disagree with me you should understand what I said to begin with.


Trying to make english the official language of the United States is not bigoted at all.
For example I didn't say that. I said Dobb's is a bigot. it was an ad hominem attack, sure, but you've got the man confused with the idea.

No one's saying that people can't speak their native language, just that if you're going to live in our country and use our services you should learn our language. The PC thought police have us catering to pracitcly every language without any give on their part.

Right, no one is saying people can't speak their native language. especially me! or any PC thought police - does such a thing exist? no but the first step towards that would be legislating language! what i'm against if you would excerise some type of comprehension. my point - and you point it out rather bluntly for me - is that the market has already determined that the language do jour is english (like how i did that? used a little french? it's funny, you'll get it someday). in other words, as you state, if you don't know english you'll have a lot harder time of it in this country than if you don't. it's not personal it's just true. no one needs to legislate what's already apparant! i thought conservatives liked less government?



For example, here in Michigan at the state human resources building in my area there are signs in three different languages, one of which is Arabic. Why not make people learn the language? It hardly seems like its too much to ask if you're going to use state or federal services.

sadly americans need to learn some arabic as fast and as furiously as possible if we're going to continue to be embroiled in the middle east - which we will be: http://robertbryce.com/053107Cpunch-Arabic.htm

so thanks michigan!

[CharliesNickel]

Well for one it would help with the language barrier and force anyone coming here to at least know some of it, to say you must learn the language of the country you are staying in is racist then everythign must be racist to you.


oh for ****'s sake when did I say that??

[CharliesNickel]

also, Dobbs (http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/05/23/lou-dobbs-and-the-white-supremacist-source/) is a bigot (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/30/business/30leonhardt.html?ex=1338177600&en=29f50592f7548c44&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss)

[Grahamr]

Sir, you realize that you just triple-posted?:confused: :eek:

[Tollwutig]

Sir, you realize that you just triple-posted?:confused: :eek:

yes the Edit button is your friend.


Also no one is questioning that Dobbs is a bigot. Note the reactions at the beginning of the thread. What we're questioning (at least some of us) is what alternate reality have we stepped in where Dobbs makes a valid well thought out point?

[John]

With all due respect I have to disagree. Trying to make english the official language of the United States is not bigoted at all. No one's saying that people can't speak their native language, just that if you're going to live in our country and use our services you should learn our language. The PC thought police have us catering to pracitcly every language without any give on their part. For example, here in Michigan at the state human resources building in my area there are signs in three different languages, one of which is Arabic. Why not make people learn the language? It hardly seems like its too much to ask if you're going to use state or federal services.

It's all about demographics. If there's a large Arabic or a large Hispanic demographic in your area, it's no surprise that services would be offered in those languages as well as English.

Hell, in my city, there's a large south Asian demographic, so a lot of signs ans services are offered in Hindi. And in the next city over, the largest demographic there is Italian.

And Canada has two offical languages - English and French. And it doesn't stop it from happening.

It's what happens when you live in a multicultural society like Canada and the US (something which most other countries aren't).

And making English the offical language is not bigotted...it's just pandering. It's another waste of tax payers money and a diversion to any real issues. Like, say, the WAR the US is in...

[ZippyDSMlee]

also, Dobbs (http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/05/23/lou-dobbs-and-the-white-supremacist-source/) is a bigot (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/30/business/30leonhardt.html?ex=1338177600&en=29f50592f7548c44&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss)

God hes aobut as much as a bigot as any PC nazi or card carrying member of the fundie horde...which he is a member of neither...for someone to tow the line to protect the rule of law and be a bit patriotic try and get the sheeple interested in the goverment/big bissuness plots agisnt them ya hes a big fckign bigot...rriigghhttt.....and Bushy is the best prez we've ever had....god forbid we try just aliltte to protect the citizenry and workers of this nation,yes we need migrate workers but we do not need illegals of any kind thank you and have a good day!

[Thefremen]

I disagree with the idea of an official language. However, there is a dire need for America to have an official Sports Drink, candy bar, salty snack, breakfast cereal and beer.

Think of the money it could raise towards the Kurdistan defense fund we'll need in 2015!

[Anjin-San]

A good point? I'm pretty sure he's stated this position before. I'm confused when

President George W. Bush, seeking support for his so-called "comprehensive immigration reform" proposal, declared that "America should not fear diversity." Those are neither the words of a leader, nor a uniter.

is what anyone would consider a good point.

And English being the "American" language?

I mean, I'm not up on my grammar and correct word usage lately...but people frothing at the mouth to have a language that originated at the country we fought hard to disconnect ourselves from so that in the future we could deem it our national tongue...seems quite ironic.

It's even better when people who aren't from the US weigh in.

If Lou Dobbs wants Americans to unite in a such a way that honors the spirit of our great nation, and is true to said spirit we'd be all actually be speaking Hopi or something. What a jerkass.