Dumb Editorial du Jour: George Will jumps the shark ("A Vote for English")

[Sparkly]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/24/AR2006052402433.html

Today, George Will twists himself into contortions to support the "political bravery" of "pruning" the Voting Rights Act to disallow ballots in languages other than English.

First he says there's a law requiring citizens to understand English, so allowing ballots in other languages "makes a mockery of the rule of law."

Then he decries the "liberal's reflex" to see racism "everywhere" (italics his), because people who speak Spanish are not of one race. (Interesting, though, that he assumed the debate is only about Spanish!)

But the really amazing argument he makes is this:
"But what public good is advanced by encouraging the participation of people who, by saying they require bilingual assistance, are saying they cannot understand the nation's political conversation?"

Apparently, he considered this so brilliant he repeated it.
"The idea of citizenship becomes absurd when sundered from the ability to understand the nation's civic conversation."

And then again:
"...America has a few expectations of you. One is that you can read the nation's founding documents and laws and can comprehend the political discourse that precedes the casting of ballots."

So, according to Will, if English isn't your first language, you have NO idea what's going on! After all, it's not like there are news sources in other languages. And further, people who have no idea what's going on shouldn't be allowed to vote!! Hmm, wouldn't that leave out much of the GOP "base" -- the people who were polled as saying Saddam caused 9/11??

Unbelievable.

[BOSSHOG]

1. The only way many "conservatives"

comprehend political discourse is by tuning into limbaugh every day and are told they are independent thinkers; then are instructed what to think and who to hate. That wacky george will.

[Sparkly]

5. Supposedly THEY understand the "political discourse."

If George Will would like to give a basic test on current events to voters before they're allowed to vote, fine, George! There goes a whole lot of your "base," though...

[babylonsister]

2. He'd really hate it around here. Our ballots are

presented in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Ditto with the signs in the library. Mr. Will needs to get out of DC or wherever he is, and check out the rest of the country.

[NWHarkness]

3. Why do we see racism everywhere?

Because racism is everywhere, as Will proves with his inane assumptions.

What a fucktard.

[yellowcanine]

4. George Will talks about being able to read the founding documents - as

if they couldn't be translated into Spanish. What a dork. What's important George, is that they understand the ideals of America (which you don't appear to be so good at yourself), not the language.

[Beacho]

6. Replace "Racism" with "Bigotry"

Problem solved. I don't use the term 'racism', since I believe there is only one race, and the fact that not all bigotry is based on skin color.