posted April 30, 2006 02:11 PM              

Besides all this, Bush's statements once again show the stupidity of this administration and the hypocrisy. He states that a Spanish version of the National Anthem and protests by immigarants "You know, I think it's very important for people, when they do express themselves, they continue to do so in a peaceful way, in a respectful way -- respectful of . . . how highly charged this debate can become,"

Okay, so the debate can become highly charged. So why then did Bush himself throw fuel on the fire by his stance of "pushing for a middle-ground deal that would allow illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship, but only if they pay a stiff penalty, learn English and go to 'the back of the line,' as he put it at yesterday's appearance."

Bush should follow his own advice.

Saying that mexican immigrants should, " go to the back of the line" isn't exactly expressing himself in a "respectful way," being "respectful of how highly charged this debate can become" now is it? Duh!!!!! Isn't that what they said about African Americans in the past?

President Wants Anthem Sung in English

By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, April 29, 2006; Page A06

President Bush yesterday said "The Star-Spangled Banner" should be sung in English, not Spanish, and condemned plans by some immigrant groups to stage a work protest on Monday to sway the debate over the nation's immigration laws.

With passions running high over the release of "Nuestro Himno," a Spanish-language version of the national anthem, Bush told reporters that people who want to be citizens of the United States should learn English and "ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."

He called on immigrants and activist groups to rethink plans to walk out of work on Monday in protest of congressional efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. "You know, I think it's very important for people, when they do express themselves, they continue to do so in a peaceful way, in a respectful way -- respectful of . . . how highly charged this debate can become," he said, in a Rose Garden news conference he called to tout new figures showing robust economic growth in the first quarter of this year....

But it was immigration -- an issue that has sharply divided his party on Capitol Hill and in many regions of the country -- on which Bush had to tread most delicately.

The president renewed his call for changes in the immigration system that would provide tighter border security and better enforcement of current laws, and provide the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States with a pathway to citizenship.

To prevail on what Republicans consider the biggest domestic issue of the year, Bush is trying to appeal both to conservative activists who oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants and to the fast-growing Hispanic population, which is demanding comprehensive changes with a citizenship option. With Congress locked in heated debate over the issue, Bush is pushing for a middle-ground deal that would allow illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship, but only if they pay a stiff penalty, learn English and go to "the back of the line," as he put it at yesterday's appearance.

On the national anthem controversy, Bush, who speaks Spanish, was pulled into the debate after British music producer Adam Kidron released the Spanish version yesterday. Kidron said he wanted to honor U.S. immigrants.

In a statement released after Bush spoke, Kidron said: "The intention of recording 'Nuestro Himno' (Our Anthem) has never been to discourage immigrants from learning English and embracing American culture."

If Bush and his administration want the immigrants to learn English why have they cut the funding to literacy programs throughout the country that teach ESL ( English as a Second Language) to immigrants on a volunteer basis? The programs are free for those who want to learn English and for Americans who are illiterate. Bush also cut the funding for Americorps which is heavily involved in community literacy programs. When I served for a year with Americorps my sponsor was a literacy program in my area. I taught ESL to Mexican immigrants and Polish immigrants. These people do want to learn to speak English, they do want to fit into their new home. They make a lot of effort to do so. English is not easy to learn. It is a very difficult language for immigrants to grasp right away. You cannot expect them to learn it overnight. Bush is a good example of that himself. He could use help from a literacy program

Regarding the protest tomorrow this is what my friend told me in her email today. She is married to a mexican immigrant:

We will stay home tomorrow(gerardo's day off) in support of the boycott for immigration reform.We will not shop or spend money. His boss is not sure if he will have to close his restaurant because all but one of his employees are Mexican. He says he is not going to fire everyone and he surely cant do all the work himself. so he says he will just see how it goes.Gerardo was able to become a citizen through the amnesty law about 20 years ago. But he still feels the pain and empathizes with the millions of illegal people in this country . He says that what is really needed is education in Mexico. If he was able to get an education there and work he would never have left his country. there would have been no reason to. But his country is still developing, they are still impoverished, uneducated and there is still a lot of corruption in the government.Until the government can be cleaned up and the people can get an education people will still flee from their homeland. It is very sad.

posted April 30, 2006 02:26 PM            

We have a national anthem and it's written and sang....in English...get it?

Further Mirandee, the word is some of the words are being changed as well...get it.

English spoken here...if you want to be an American. Otherwise go home to where ever you came from.

posted April 30, 2006 02:34 PM            

The anthem...supposedly written for illegal immigrants is titled...well, it's not the Star Spangled Banner.

posted April 30, 2006 06:14 PM              

If that is the way you feel regarding English, Jwhop why don't you get a more productive life and go volunteer your time in a literacy program and teach them English?

Lotus, English IS the language of Canada. French is only the language of the Province of Quebec.
Quote from lotus:
we need a miracle of Goodwill..goodness..respect and love for all..our thoughts and actions..must change immediately..on a grand scale..to re-verse this..or what you have feared..will be upon you..becuase..your toughts and actions..will manifest them..see..plain simple. ...

posted April 30, 2006 06:25 PM              

One fine day as I was a-walkin' down the street
Spied a beggar man with rags upon his feet
Took a penny from my pocket
In his tin cup I did drop it
I heard him say as I made my retreat

"May the bird of paradise fly up your nose"
"May an elephant caress you with his toes"
"May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose"
"May the bird of paradise fly up your nose"

The laundry man is really on his toes
Found a hundred-dollar bill among my clothes
When he called me I came a-runnin'
Gave him back his dime for phonin'
I heard him sayin' as I turned to go

"May the bird of paradise fly up your nose"
"May an elephant caress you with his toes"
"May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose"
"May the bird of paradise fly up your nose"

I was way behind one day to catch the train
Taxi driver said "We'll make it just the same"
The speed cop made it with us
And as he wrote out the ticket
I stood by politely a-waitin' for my change

"May the bird of paradise fly up your nose"
"May an elephant caress you with his toes"
"May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose"
"May the bird of paradise fly up your nose"

posted April 30, 2006 08:04 PM              

I remember that song....

I can just hear Little Jimmy Dickens singing it now....

posted April 30, 2006 11:30 PM            

Instead, you joined Saddam and his terrorist friends and declared jihad against the President.

posted May 01, 2006 12:17 AM              

Didn't see you mention those.

Aren't you just once again being a judgmental ass and assuming I have no compassion for the people that Hussein killed?

There are also over 400,000 people who have been slaughtered by the government in Darfur, Jwhop. There were even more murdered in Rwanda and I don't see Bush rushing to save those people and topple that government in Darfur and I didn't see Reagan rush into Rwanda or do anything about Hussein's genocide against the Kurds using the helicopters Reagan supplied him with.

posted May 01, 2006 12:23 AM              

simple and plain..
and the only way to change that..is to go within..come full circle..and Forgive..and all we be balanced..

posted May 01, 2006 01:09 AM            

All the leftist terrorist sympathizers fail to mention it's terrorists who are deliberately targeting and killing Iraqi civilians.

Your lack of compassion for Iraqi civilians began before the war started Mirandee, before a single casualty...except those deliberately killed, raped and tortured by Saddam himself.

It is entirely disgusting to see people siding with mass murderers like Saddam and terrorists.

posted May 01, 2006 01:17 AM              

My church..it's ceiling is the sky..the cresant Moon tonight..as I prayed with MOther Earth..and Father Sky..
my seat a fallen log..that is my church with God Trinity..and The Universal Laws. ...

posted May 01, 2006 02:17 AM              

You certainly gave ME the impression of 'being a Christian' and I'm sure that's why Mirandee thought so...

posted May 01, 2006 03:01 AM            

quote:

---

Take your phony show of compassion and stuff it.

---

Yeah, didn't you know that Jwhop was marching in the streets with the rest of the compassionate conservatives calling for the freedom of Iraqis prior to the war?

No? Never heard anything about that?

posted May 01, 2006 05:51 AM              

I agree that the Star Spangled Banner should be sung in English. When I heard of the Spanish version, I had to roll my eyes and shake my head. To me, this is up the same alley as waving the flag of Mexico. My view is that immigrants should at least attempt to assimilate to be taken seriously. It appears that some of these people are coming across as rather aggressive... as if this country owes them something. I am tired of hearing about how the United States "stole" land from Mexico which translates into immigrants having a "right" to be here illegally.

posted May 01, 2006 08:50 AM              

The difficulty here is that the legal population of the Hispanic minority is itself beyond the critical mass.
11 million illegal immigrants in addition?

Definitely there will be resentment amongst the segment of the Anglo Saxon populace that is affected. I was told today by an America returnee that skilled Mexican immigrants work for 4-5$ cash per hour for more than 12 hrs every day! This makes them the darling of the employers.

This whole thing can get very ugly. Some cool heads are needed, some common sense is needed.

Immediate Best Solution:
Allow a proper and precise rendition of the Star Spangled Banner to be recited in spanish till the immigrants learn english.

Long Term Solution:
Increased taxation instead of tax cuts to the super rich can give the US government enough funds to invest in creating enough jobs in Mexico to discourage the whole illegal moves.

American employers pay minimum 2$ an hr to Indians in India. Applying Purchasing Power Parity, this is worth 14$ an hr for an Indian IT worker in USA. He will happily stay put in India.

Mexico and India are very similar economies and no mexican who makes 2-3$ an hr will ever leave Mexico. Many would actually head back if they get this opportunity.

To pay 20 million Mexicans [11 million illegal and say 9 million more potential legal and illegal immigrants] 3$ an hr, the capital is 60 million$ an hr or half a billion$ per working day or 125 billion dollars per year. This is not dole, the output will be profitable for the American government and cost to cost in the worst case.

The initial amount is less than the current War on Iraq costs and certainly less than the tax cuts for the rich.

A compassionate yet finaicially viable move that benefits America an Mexico in multidimensional ways.

Will anyone take this up to the higher echelons who still have some common sense left to prevent large scale trouble in the coming years?

Learn from the Hindu-Muslim conflict in India. Trust me, you dont need conflict with minorities ever. Everyone loses in that scenario.