National English-only group congratulates Nashville on ballot initiative, takes credit for helping
Submitted by R. Neal on Thu, 08/14/2008 - 12:28.
From a press release:
"We are confident that the citizens of Nashville will join dozens of other cities across the country that already have chosen to make English the official language of government operations. And we are pleased that ProEnglish played a key role in giving them the opportunity to make that choice," says ProEnglish Executive Director K.C. McAlpin.
McAlpin commented following today's announcement that the local committee sponsoring the initiative was submitting 12,503 registered voter petitions, 2,400 more than the 10,103 voter petitions needed by the August 15 deadline to place an official English ordinance for voter approval on the November ballot.
"The role of English as our common tongue must be protected. This means rejecting the politically-correct and divisive model of linguistic segregation," Says McAlpin.
He praised Nashville Metro Councilman Eric Crafton for his leadership and the Nashville English First citizens' group for its success in collecting far more than the required number of petitions. "ProEnglish has supported the initiative to make English the city's official language by contributing our legal expertise and providing financial support and moral support," he said. The Nashville Metro Council passed Crafton's ordinance making English the official language of government operations in February 2007 by a vote of 23-14. However, then-Mayor Bill Purcell vetoed the bill and there were not enough votes for an override.
ProEnglish is "the nation's leading advocate of official English" who works "work through the courts and in the court of public opinion to defend English's historic role as America's common, unifying language."
One of their guiding principles is: "All candidates for U.S. citizenship should be required to demonstrate knowledge of English and an understanding of our system of government, at a level sufficient to vote in the language of our country English." As far as I know, speaking English is already a requirement for citizenship.
UPDATE: When even the local Chamber of Commerce doesn't agree and instead takes the "progressive" point of view, it's a pretty good signal that you're on the wrong side of the issue.
Submitted by TennesseeValues... on Thu, 08/14/2008 - 13:51.
I've written about ProEnglish before (back in 2005 on my old blog). Here's a quick link to a breakdown of this group's history and political connections...link
Submitted by TennesseeValues... on Thu, 08/14/2008 - 20:21.
Indeed, here are a few excerpts from my old post...
Dr. John Tanton, the group's founder and primary funder, may not be a household name to you. However, he and a few of his "Astroturf" (simulated grassroots) organizations might be familiar to your neo-con friends. He is also a familiar name to environmentalists who have fought off his efforts to take control of the Sierra Club and use it to promote an anti-immigration policy. Tanton is no stranger, either, to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The SPLC published a lengthy expose of his involvement in various anti-immigration organizations in a 2002 issue of the SPLC's Intelligence Report.
...and...
U.S. English and other Tanton-fronted/founded/funded groups seem to not be embarrassed in the least to have accepted more than a million dollars in funding from the Pioneer Fund, a group so well-noted for their past support of racial segregation, eugenics, and experiments in "racial betterment" that they have earned the status of a "watched group" in the Southern Poverty Law Center's hate groups listing. Tanton doesn't seem to be embarrassed enough to stop providing funding to organizations such as Glenn Spencer's American Patrol-- a group currently "helping" to patrol the U.S. border at Arizona as part of the Minuteman Project (a project first suggested by Tanton's FAIR in the WITAN memos) and noteworthy for such statements as "The Mexican culture is based on deceit. Chicanos and Mexicanos lie as a means of survival."
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/15/2008 - 00:28.
I think the majority of the population would agree with me when I say that I could care less as to what organizations Dr. John Tanton is assocaited with, has supported in the past, or received funding from!! The main point is that we have the English-Only proposal on the ballot in November. Regardless of who supported the English-Only initiative, it should be up to the public to make the decision. I feel that America is too concerned with being political correct. The government, and some people for that matter, seem to feel that we should cater to immigrants who come to America illegally and take advantage of immigration policies. The English-Only movement is spreading accross the US and numerous cities will have similar policies on the ballot in November. So what makes Nashville any different than any other city in the country?
So you tell me...why do you care who supported or funded the proposal?? Doesn't it all come down to the choice?? Isn't this what makes America the great country that it is, democracy??
Put it on the ballot and let the majority decide....
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/15/2008 - 14:33.
First, this measure won't affect just illegal immigrants, but ALL immigrants who are learning English (which is required for citizenship, by the way).
Second, federal law says that services must be available in many languages, because government is there for ALL the people, not just English speakers. Immigrants pay taxes every time they buy something in this state, so they're taxpayers just like you and me. The proposed law for Nashville is pointless, which even Crafton has admitted. It's called showboating and demagoguery.
Third, "politically correct" is an empty term that seems to mean something like, "any idea I don't agree with."
Fourth, the majority is not always right. We could just as easily (and truthfully) say, "Racism is spreading across the US" or "Intolerance is spreading across the US," especially given the fact that the racist Tanton is astroturfing most of these efforts, and that the assumption is often made -- as you did -- that this is a strike against illegal immigrants.
When you're on the same side as people like Tanton, it's time to reassess.
I've written about ProEnglish before (back in 2005 on my old blog). Here's a quick link to a breakdown of this group's history and political connections...link
McAlpin's group is primarily funded by John Tanton, who has some pretty deep connections to racist groups.
~Russ
Indeed, here are a few excerpts from my old post...
...and...
I think the majority of the population would agree with me when I say that I could care less as to what organizations Dr. John Tanton is assocaited with, has supported in the past, or received funding from!! The main point is that we have the English-Only proposal on the ballot in November. Regardless of who supported the English-Only initiative, it should be up to the public to make the decision. I feel that America is too concerned with being political correct. The government, and some people for that matter, seem to feel that we should cater to immigrants who come to America illegally and take advantage of immigration policies. The English-Only movement is spreading accross the US and numerous cities will have similar policies on the ballot in November. So what makes Nashville any different than any other city in the country?
So you tell me...why do you care who supported or funded the proposal?? Doesn't it all come down to the choice?? Isn't this what makes America the great country that it is, democracy??
Put it on the ballot and let the majority decide....
Daryl
First, this measure won't affect just illegal immigrants, but ALL immigrants who are learning English (which is required for citizenship, by the way).
Second, federal law says that services must be available in many languages, because government is there for ALL the people, not just English speakers. Immigrants pay taxes every time they buy something in this state, so they're taxpayers just like you and me. The proposed law for Nashville is pointless, which even Crafton has admitted. It's called showboating and demagoguery.
Third, "politically correct" is an empty term that seems to mean something like, "any idea I don't agree with."
Fourth, the majority is not always right. We could just as easily (and truthfully) say, "Racism is spreading across the US" or "Intolerance is spreading across the US," especially given the fact that the racist Tanton is astroturfing most of these efforts, and that the assumption is often made -- as you did -- that this is a strike against illegal immigrants.
When you're on the same side as people like Tanton, it's time to reassess.
You have obviously taken advantage of the fact that posting in English is not a requirement for this site, Daryl.
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