Speak English Please

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Posted: 7:52 PM Aug 8, 2007 Speak English Please CULPEPER, Va. (AP) The Culpeper County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a resolution declaring English the county's official language.

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The Culpeper County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a resolution declaring English the county's official language.

The board also voted Tuesday to join other localities in seeking the General Assembly's help dealing with issues stemming from undocumented immigrants, including the costs of providing services.

It marked the first action taken by the county's governing board on the issue. Loudoun and Prince William counties have passed similar resolutions in the last several months.

Steve Walker, the rules committee's chairman, says counties have limited authority to make significant changes regarding illegal immigration. But he says the coalition might be able to suggest legislation to the General Assembly that would authorize specific actions once the localities determine what they need to do.

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Posted by: Henry Location: Staunton on Aug 9, 2007 at 04:42 PM

Love thy neighbor is well and good. But I have no love for any neighbor that comes on my property demands that I give him something of mine when he has no intention of respecting me or my property. The illegal invader has no respect for the United States or our laws. Public radio had an interview with a Mexican given amnesty in 1986. They had to use an interpreter. The man did not speak English, not because of a lack of English classes, but because he had no respect for America.

Posted by: Olivia Location: Broadway on Aug 9, 2007 at 11:44 AM

If we would like immigrants to speak English, we need to make teaching English a priority. Don't forget to 'Love thy neighbor' whatever language they speak.

Posted by: Brian Location: Lake Ridge, VA on Aug 9, 2007 at 10:50 AM

Regardless of where your family may come from, your ethnic background, or your political ilk, the United States has only two things that keep it together as a Nation and Country. Common ideology and a common language. Without these two critical social bindings, we loose our integrity as a cohesive society. Our language in particular is the only means we have to share common ideas and express our individual viewpoints. When you take away the ability of neighbors to communicate, fear, resentment, anxiety, and finally anger take hold. We have long been proud of our ability to adapt and flex with change, but we could only do this because we had the ability to communicate with one another with respect.
English is our National language. All immigrant groups need to respect this. While English is the international language of business and is common in other countries, if we went to live in their country, they would not speak English to us.

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