Pledge of Allegiance and Star Spangled Banner -- in English only?
Posted by Scott Summers at 8/5/2008 8:40 AM and is filed under uncategorized 
In recent days, I've received from residents of the 16th Congressional District sixteen emails asking me to support H.R. 6783. My response follows:
Thank you for writing to me about the Pledge Language is English Declaration and Government Endorsement Act of 2008.
I believe that H.R. 6783 is both insensitive and poorly conceived. For example, does it consider the needs and abilities and requirements of those who rely on American Sign Language (ASL)? Are we to deny federal funds to schools for the deaf merely because students communicate the Pledge of Allegiance or the National Anthem through ASL rather than English?
One's tongue is not dispositive of one's patriotism. Apart from the indigenous peoples -- we are a nation of immigrants. Wave upon wave of us have come to America speaking languages other than English. And wave upon wave of us have become English speakers. We always have. And we always will.
When newly-arrived immigrants recite the Pledge or sing the Star Spangled Banner in their respective native tongues, they begin their process of assimilation as future U.S. citizens in a constructive way. Recitation in English quickly follows.
If people are forced to recite the Pledge or sing the National Anthem in a language they don't understand, then they cannot possibly comprehend the content. They're merely chanting. And if they don't understand the content of the Pledge of Allegiance or the Star Spangled Banner because of the cramdown of a mindless and mean spirited law -- then what's the point? Exactly what will we have accomplished? Nothing, say I.
Thank you again for contacting me.
Scott Summers
www.SummersForCongress.com
Candidate for U.S. Congress, 16th District, Illinois
Thank you for writing to me about the Pledge Language is English Declaration and Government Endorsement Act of 2008.
I believe that H.R. 6783 is both insensitive and poorly conceived. For example, does it consider the needs and abilities and requirements of those who rely on American Sign Language (ASL)? Are we to deny federal funds to schools for the deaf merely because students communicate the Pledge of Allegiance or the National Anthem through ASL rather than English?
One's tongue is not dispositive of one's patriotism. Apart from the indigenous peoples -- we are a nation of immigrants. Wave upon wave of us have come to America speaking languages other than English. And wave upon wave of us have become English speakers. We always have. And we always will.
When newly-arrived immigrants recite the Pledge or sing the Star Spangled Banner in their respective native tongues, they begin their process of assimilation as future U.S. citizens in a constructive way. Recitation in English quickly follows.
If people are forced to recite the Pledge or sing the National Anthem in a language they don't understand, then they cannot possibly comprehend the content. They're merely chanting. And if they don't understand the content of the Pledge of Allegiance or the Star Spangled Banner because of the cramdown of a mindless and mean spirited law -- then what's the point? Exactly what will we have accomplished? Nothing, say I.
Thank you again for contacting me.
Scott Summers
www.SummersForCongress.com
Candidate for U.S. Congress, 16th District, Illinois
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