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Audio files (.mp3) of Former U.S. Speaker Newt Gringrich
explaining Pro-English issues:
Official
English is not "English Only"
Immigrants
want English, it's the elites who oppose official English
Mayor
of Nashville, TN vetoes official English because of fear
Is
America really divided over the issues of God, taxes and official English
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.
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