Random thoughts
Why is it when you call the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System’s 800 telephone number to enter weekly withholding tax information so the government can deduct withholdings from your bank account there is no option to hear the message in Spanish? Yet, when you call the Social Security Administration the automated attendant offers Spanish interpretation as one of the first options. Go figure.
Many of you are probably already aware; the United States of America has no official language. Some citizens and groups, such as the ACLU, believe that linguistic diversity is part of our heritage and believe laws that would establish English, as the official language, would create fear and stereotypes of non-English speakers. However, the over-whelming majority of Americans feel that while our country expends approximately $1.5 - 2 billion per year on language education, English should be the official language. U.S. citizens that claim to speak English as native language is 82 percent of the population, with 96 percent claiming to speak it “well” or “very well”. Spanish comes in second at 10.7 percent of the population.
Speaking on the topic of diversity, did you notice that President Barack Obama signed a proclamation in a special ceremony on May 31 proclaiming June 2011 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month? The President stated, “I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.”
The President has also used taxpayer money to create a special page on the White House’s website especially for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (http://www.whitehouse.gov/lgbt). In addition, a Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, Virginia, decided in honor of “Pride Month” to hoist a rainbow-colored “Pride Flag” right up under the American Flag on its flag pole after the President’s declaration.
Observing how much effort the President put into “Pride Month”, I can’t wait to see how he handles next year’s National Day of Prayer. Wonder if there will be a Christian Flag flying under the American Flag at the Federal Reserve in Richmond? The LGBT community should not object since the President calls on everyone to eliminate prejudice, right?
Don’t hold your breath.
Maybe instead of focusing on “Pride Month” our government could focus a little more on reducing its gargantuan debt and should have proclaimed June as “Let’s Get Americans Back To Work Month” since unemployment figures continue to increase.
-Jamie Gardner
Speaking on the topic of diversity, did you notice that President Barack Obama signed a proclamation in a special ceremony on May 31 proclaiming June 2011 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month? The President stated, “I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.”
The President has also used taxpayer money to create a special page on the White House’s website especially for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (http://www.whitehouse.gov/lgbt). In addition, a Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, Virginia, decided in honor of “Pride Month” to hoist a rainbow-colored “Pride Flag” right up under the American Flag on its flag pole after the President’s declaration.
Observing how much effort the President put into “Pride Month”, I can’t wait to see how he handles next year’s National Day of Prayer. Wonder if there will be a Christian Flag flying under the American Flag at the Federal Reserve in Richmond? The LGBT community should not object since the President calls on everyone to eliminate prejudice, right?
Don’t hold your breath.
Maybe instead of focusing on “Pride Month” our government could focus a little more on reducing its gargantuan debt and should have proclaimed June as “Let’s Get Americans Back To Work Month” since unemployment figures continue to increase.
-Jamie Gardner
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#1
Anonymous
on
06/15/11 at 10:22 AM
[Reply]
Great editorial. Seems if our President is more intent on spreading his agenda rather than doing what is right for America. It amazes me that 1.9 percent of the population, the LGBT groug, can cause so much discord in this nation. It is time to take care of the nation not a speical interest group.
#2
JB
on
06/16/11 at 05:16 AM
[Reply]
Christians aren't the only people who pray.