Robert Gates has one last, crucial mission before he leaves office, and it’s not in Afghanistan or Iraq. It’s in Washington—within the hallowed halls of the Pentagon.

Last May, Defense Secretary Robert Gates traveled to the Eisenhower library in Abilene, Kans., and praised the 34th president for keeping the lid on defense spending during the 1950s. Eisenhower himself, Gates noted, “was a low-maintenance leader of simple tastes, modest demands, and small entourages—in stark contrast to what often happens at the upper levels of power in Washington and in other elite settings.”

Abilene is a long way from America’s centers of power, and Gates’s speeches shun headline-grabbing rhetoric, so what the defense secretary said did not get a lot of notice. But back in Washington, and at military commands around the world, four-star generals and admirals should have been paying attention. The word going around the Pentagon was that Gates was targeting the pampered lifestyles of the top brass. Asked about this by NEWSWEEK, Gates laughed. “As an old Soviet analyst, I read the speeches of their leaders very, very carefully,” he said. “And people should read my speeches very carefully.” He pointed to another speech, delivered in early August. “There is something in there about examining the rank structure and the phrase ‘and the accouterments that go with it.’ ”

(continue reading…)

Fascinating discussion today, albeit primary day in Florida, with a longtime friend and professor of philosophy and anthropology at Boston College. He asked to remain anonymous and I shall respect his wish.

Discussing the issue of why I support making English our official language, we began to discuss the notion that those who wish to oppose making English the official language to conduct official government business and those who wish to continue to provide translations and translated documents are actually supporting separatism.

Merriam-Webster defines “a separatist” as – A person who advocates or seeks the splitting of one country or territory into two politically independent countries or territories; Advocating or seeking the separation of one country or territory into two politically independent countries or territories.

So let’s replace territory or country with a group of people (non-English speaking). When Democrats and some Republicans, not-for-profit groups, chambers of commerce and the religious institutions support to keep translations alive are they really acting in good faith for those non-English speakers.

(continue reading…)

This is amazing.

A dear friend from college days works on a new TV show, Breakthrough with Tony Robbins.

The show shares the plight of hundreds of “what” I believe are Americans who are homeless. Without going into the details why these people are homeless, I have to consider that these hundreds of people are sleeping on mats and in the outdoors at the Los Angeles facility Midnight Mission under a flowing flag of the United States of America while millions of illegal immigrants continue to pilfer, to deplete and to rape our country’s resources.

It is unacceptable and absurd that our very own government fights for, defends, provides for and placates millions of illegal immigrants while it turns its eye, face and body to hundreds of Americans who are hurting because their companies closed, their companies let them go or God only knows the reason.

I am not on Earth to judge the “whys” but feel that as an American I am on God’s Earth and blessed and humbled to be an American citizen to protect and defend my country. Although I speak two other languages, I must do what I do in English for the good of the majority and for our country.

(continue reading…)

http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/07/26/is-illegal-immigration-bad-for-americas-health/

In my opinion, the same argument can be said about the linguistic health of our country.

When immigrants are not encouraged to learn and use English when conducting official government business, the dangers and ramifications are too great a risk.

Allowing translations and translated documents to permeate in city halls, government agencies poses a threat to the ability of government to function in an effective and cohesive manner.

Although the immediate perception of offering translations “appear” to be good-intentioned, the long-term effect is that the incentive to learn English is diminished, eroded, essentially delayed and the reliance by an immigrant on government’s help and interaction becomes life-threatening.

Congress, states and local government bodies must enact English as the official language to preserve the health of our country. (continue reading…)

The topic of immigration and therefore assimilation doesn’t end in political circles or coffee table gatherings.

While performing a few days ago outside of St. Louis, MO., I had the chance to speak with fewer than a dozen folks who came to the show. One congregant noticed that I was Hispanic and with Garcia as a surname it was a give-away.

Her comment was, “As a Latino you sure speak English quite well.”

I couldn’t help but respond.

After a 75 minute show and talking in between songs, I guess she noticed my English. Not every immigrant can learn English as a young child, like I did. Well enough that for some reason immersion was able to eliminate any ounce of an accent, except for my Boston accent, every once in a while.

I told her that as a small child I learned English while watching a black and white TV set my parents saved up to buy. As they each worked two jobs, the purchase wasn’t for them to watch TV, but for me to learn English by watching Sesame Street, the Electric Company, Zoom and other PBS funded shows for children.

(continue reading…)