"Please support H.R. 6783!"

August 1, 2008

Dear Mr. Alesch:

Please co-sponsor H.R.6783, the Pledge Language is English Declaration and Government Endorsement Act of 2008 introduced by Georgia Rep. Paul Broun.

H.R. 6783 would deny federal funds to educational institutions that allow our National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance to be sung or recited in languages other than English.

These declarations of patriotism and national unity were composed in English and were meant to be sung and recited exclusively in English.

I don't need to tell you how the American people in this country feel, because I'm sure you already know that. This is America, and our language is English. Let's keep it that way. Please support this bill.

Sincerely,

Cynthia
Lisle

RESPONSE:

Cynthia,

Thank you for writing. While English is the primary language spoken in this country, like all languages, it is a means of communicating, not a value in itself.

The value in our Pledge and National Anthem is not in their language of origin, it is in their content. They are a statement of American values for our citizens and those of other nations to look to for inspiration, and these values transcend language.

I hope you will join me in ensuring that the message of liberty is spread to the speakers of all tongues, so that we may have a more free and just world.

Steve Alesch
Green Party candidate for Congress, 13th district

FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE:

Joyce of Hinsdale writes:

Does all that mean that you don't believe we should have English as our language? Speak it out loud and clear.

STEVE RESPONDS:

Joyce,

I prefer that English remain our common national language. But, I also prefer that that United States remain a country that respects our Constitution and the Bill of Rights -- this is essential to our future success as a nation.

I am against this plan. It is xenophobic. It is unconstitutional, as it's clearly a violation of Freedom of Speech. It is immoral, and it threatens to destabilize education in this country. It is a plan to punish people -- specifically children -- for merely using a language they might have learned at home.

Imagine a kindergartner coming to school and reciting the pledge in Spanish, for instance. Under the plan that you advocate, a parent could file a complaint, which could lead to the whole school getting closed down. I think this is an overreaching and dangerous public policy.

That is an extreme example, however. The most probable effect of this plan is that schools everywhere would simply ban the practice of reciting the Pledge and National Anthem all together. After all, the more rules you impose on a practice, the more risky that practice becomes. We have to remember that nanny legislation such as this can often have these kinds of unintended consequences.

It should also be pointed out that this plan supposes that the pledge is being recited in multiple languages and is causing some kind of a problem -- which I do not believe to be the case.

If that is indeed the case, however, I would be interested in investigating how this issue truly effects the lives of residents of the 13th Congressional District. Could you please help me regarding this matter? If you could please give me the name of at least one school in the 13th district where the pledge is recited in multiple languages, I will attempt to follow up with that school's administrators, teachers, parents and students by also listening to their opinions concerning the effects of multilingualism on their school and their students.

Thanks in advance,

Steve Alesch
Green Party candidate for Congress, 13th district