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Making Business Signs Mostly in 'English' Demonstrates NY Politicians' Common Sense!

By Michael Cutler

Here is an important news report that aired on the local CBS radio station in New York this weekend and deals with one of many components of the immigration issue that is rarely discussed- the "Balkanization" of the United States.

A nation does not require that its inhabitants practice a common religion or come from the same part of the world- indeed, one of the things that makes major metropolitan cities such as New York such a vibrant and exciting place in which to live, work or visit is the great diversity to be found in the various neighborhoods and among the restaurants and stores. New York is arguably the most diverse city in the United States and, perhaps, the world.

Language, however, is the mortar that holds a society together and creates a sense of cohesion that is vital to enable the members of that society to interact, conduct business and ultimately develop an understanding of one another and hopefully a sense of mutual respect.

The political leaders in New York City who have come forward to effect the necessary changes demonstrated some real leadership and common sense!

My mom legally immigrated to the United States in the years ahead of the Holocaust. When she arrived in the United States she was only able to speak, read and write Polish and Yiddish. My dad was born in the United States but his parents and most of his siblings legally immigrated to the United States shortly after the turn of the last century from Russia. His family could only read, write or speak Russian and Yiddish. For all of my ancestors, the first order of business upon arriving in the United States was to learn to become fluent in the English language.

We often hear much talk about the need to accept new immigrants- the issue here is if the immigrants are willing to accept America!

This quote from the article is particularly disconcerting:

"People must respect that this is a special area and please respect the Asian culture," said Peter Tu, executive director of the Flushing Chinese Business Association. "They have their own life in this area. When you walk in the street, you don't feel like you are in America."

The issue of fluency in the English language and the posting of signs on business establishments that have at least some English language is not about a failure to respect the "Asian culture" but about safety and commonsense!

Perhaps the Flushing Chinese Business Association needs to show some respect for the fact that they are living and working in the United States.

Police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians need to be able to quickly identify business establishments so that they can readily identify those establishments that require emergency assistance.

It is startling that at a time that many people are frustrated by the bi-lingual nature of our society that there are, apparently, immigrants who oppose bi-lingual signs be posted on their establishments and are demanding that they be permitted to eschew the English language altogether!

What those business owners may not realize or, perhaps realize but somehow don't care, is that by only posting signs in Asian languages, potential non-Asian customers may decide to not patronize those stores and restaurants.

We are certainly fortunate that immigrants from Great Britain would not take a similar approach and demand to continue their practice of driving on the "wrong side" of the street! Imagine what chaos that would cause!

While we are on the topic of motorists, it is also crazy that in New York the written road test for a driver's license can be taken in nearly a dozen different languages! How can a motorist safely drive a vehicle safely if he (she) is unable to read road signs? I would love to know how many car accidents have been caused, at least in part, because a driver could not understand road signs.

It is extremely important that we all respect each other, but that respect must flow both ways!

As my parents taught me when I was a young boy, "Before you can get respect, you must first give Respect. Respect must be a two way street!"

The practice of good citizenship does not end in the voting booth, it only begins there.

The large scale apathy demonstrated by citizens of this nation has emboldened elected representatives to all but ignore the needs of the average American citizen in a quest for massive campaign funds and the promises of votes to be ostensibly delivered by special interest groups. There is much that we cannot do but there is one thing that We the People absolutely must do- we must stop sitting on the sidelines!

The collective failure of We the People to get involved in make our concerns known to our politicians have nearly made the concerns of the great majority of the citizens of this nation all but irrelevant to the politicians. I implore you to get involved!

I believe our nation's is greatly benefited by the rich diversity of our people which is why I could never imagine living anywhere except New York City, arguably the most diverse city in our nation if not, in fact, the world. However, my idea of diversity most certainly does not include members of MS-13, the Mexican drug cartels or members of other transnational gangs or members of al-Qaeda!

If our government's failures to secure our nation's borders and effectively enforce our immigration laws concerns you or especially if it angers you, I ask you to call your Senators and Congressional "Representative. This is not only your right- it is your obligation!

All I ask is that you make it clear to our politicians that we are not as dumb as they hope we are!

We live in a perilous world and in a perilous era. The survival of our nation and the lives of our citizens hang in the balance.
This is neither a Conservative issue, nor is it a Liberal issue- simply stated, this is most certainly an AMERICAN issue!
You are either part of the solution or you are a part of the problem!

Democracy is not a spectator sport!
Lead, follow or get out of the way!

Additionally- this summer, on Friday afternoons from 4:00 PM until 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time, I will be filling in for Tom Garcia as the host on The USA Talk Radio Network's excellent radio show, "The American Hour."

I hope you will be joining my cohost, Paula Lauzon Ostman and me, on Fridays this summer!

Here is the link for this program:
www.USARadioNetwork.com/tom.htm

NY Pols Seek To Make Business Signs Mostly English

Please check out my website:
michaelcutler.net

Click on the links below to RePatriot Radio and listen to the internet radio show I host on Friday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time:

Bordering on Insanity! Listen Live! www.repatriotradio.com or www.libertyandfreedomradio.net

Audience email questions/comments repatriotradio@comcast.net

Michael Cutler is an American Patriot concerned that elected representatives are serving themselves and not the people.