A national language with disasterous consequences.

This week the Republicans have been busy in front of the cameras to propose a federal law that requires English to be the official American language. This is part of a puzzle that has exposed both political parties with the realization they have seriously erred in their caculation of the citizenry's attitude towards illegal immigrants and immigration reform. Your author commented that the only viable, albeit radical, solution is to build a wall on the southern border with several gates that allow a set number of immigrants to pass through. Additionally current laws on books to hiring illegals should be enforced. However both parties played such games as employment tracks and cards that validated the illegal's indentification instead of listening to their constituency.

Senate minority leader Harry Reid, Democrat from Nevada, has describes the idea of a national language as being 'racist'. I don't think the idea is racist. It may be practical but not racists. The idea of a national language could come to bite America if Democrats are able to get back control of the Congress. Here is why...

Since 1969 with the passage of the Officials Language Act, Canada has had two official languages-French and English. Originally the national language was English. However Quebec and their influence over Ottawa allowed them to legalize French as the second national language. Now mind you only 23% of Canada's population speaks French. This legitimized and stoked the idea that French speaking province of Quebec should be independent. Thankfully, after decades of intense debate, the issue of independence for the province ended in 1995 when a referendum was voted down.

However despite winning the battle to secure Canada's national sovereignty, French and English languages were across the country. Because it was federal law everything from product labeling and signage were changed to incorporate both languages. All this did was guarantee an additional inflationary cost that was passed to the consumer. A cost that was not necessary and only coddled 23% of the population. It then took 25 years later to end the Quebec debate. If Quebec had been granted independence the end results would have been potentially disasterous-a new currency, a geographically divided country, a new government, etc.

Now back to the United States-if English is required as a national language and the Democrats do get a majority back in Congress; how quickly will Latino voters pursue the someone in the party to propose to institute a second national language? How many businesses and signs will be impacted? How much of a cost will be absorb by our wallets? How many states with a strong Spanish influence-primarily Florida, California and Texas will propose for independence after pushing Congress to pass a second national language? This may sound extreme or radical but so was the idea of an independent Quebec.

Thanks for reading.