Open letter: Response to chain email about senators supposedly voting against English as the official language

I have thought for a while about publically posting my responses to these kinds of emails that come my way and are often filled with lots of misinformation, vitriol, and seriously lacking in facts or any sense of a cogent argument or position.

Occasionally, one comes along that I just can't sit by and let idly fly by.  They are usually forwarded along without any additional comments and the presumption is I guess that the one forwarding believes the general sentiments.  But I think it's more interesting to know which parts people believe in or not, and why.  Certainly they tend to pack in a lot of crap in one email that I find it hard to believe everyone believes everything about them.

Also, when I go look up information about these to fact-check them, I often find credulous people posting them (from the "me too" crowd) and nobody other than snopes and some other sites seem to come back with any commentary or dissection. 

So, here is the first in a series of open letter responses to these emails that I have already forwarded back to the few family/friends who have been subjected to these already.  Enjoy.  Oh, and if you came here from Google, welcome.

-Jason

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I would love to actually hear which parts of the below email people actually believe in.  I'll try to summarize them into yes/no questions for easy replying to see where people stand:

1. English should be the official language of the United States (yes/no)?
2. Those in our country whether citizens or not who don't know how to speak English should be put on boats and (fill in your banishment ideas here:  _______) (yes/no)?
3. Only "illegal aliens" do not speak English.  The "legal ones" are fine whether they speak English or not (yes/no)?
4. You agree with these sentiments and punishments from below for voting against a piece of legislation:  "Your vote reflects betrayal, political surrender, violates your pledge of allegiance, dishonors historical principle, rejects patriotism, borders on traitorous action and, in my opinion, makes you unfit to serve as a United States Senator... impeachment, recall, or other appropriate action is warranted. " (yes/no)?
5. Anyone who has a disagreement with _your_ political opinion is "unfit to serve" and is not "patriotic" or "traitorous" (yes/no)?
6. You agree with the implied sentiments and suggested punishments for casting a vote from below, "willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale, and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged." (yes/no)?

By the way, the text below is a retread from a year prior it seems:  http://www.snopes.com/politics/immigration/englishvote.asp  And it is not even correct in stating that it was voting against "English as the official language".  It had to do with whether the government would provide access to services in languages other than English.  http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/e/english-official.htm

Some extra credit questions:

1. What is the worst fear that you have if English is not declared the official US language?
2. What would change (or would you hope would change) if we were to have English as the official US language?
3. If you agree about those who don't vote on a language bill as being "unpatriotic", etc., then what is your basis/rationale for believing this?  i.e. what about the vote or belief is unpatriotic (where patriotism means:  " Love of and devotion to one's country.") or worse "traitorous"? 

Cheers,

-Jason

Neil wrote:

Note: forwarded message attached.

 ...Neil

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Subject: Fwd: Is your senator listed here?

From:[email protected]

Date: Sat, 08 Dec 2007 21:28:07 +0000

To:[email protected] ,

-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------

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!DSPAM:4,475ee5da32571006577316!

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Subject: Fwd: Is your senator listed here?

From:[email protected]

Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 03:52:33 +0000

To:

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Subject: Is your senator listed here?

From:[email protected]

Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2007 18:06:58 EST

To:

To:

 I agree, and don't care what religion, political choice or anything else anyone has, this is really a disgrace!  Illegal is Illegal and I don't understand why we as Americans can tolerate this stuff.  Just how do these people get where they are?  Must be us not caring or doing the right thing.  Please let everyone see this.

 33 Senators Voted Against English as America 's Official Language June 6, 2007
   
On Wed, 6 Jun 2007 23:35:23 -0500, "Colonel Harry Riley USA ret" wrote:

Senators,

    Your vote against an amendment to the Immigration Bill 1348, to make English  America 's official language is astounding.. On D-Day no less when we honor those that sacrificed in order to secure the bedrock character and principles of America .

    I can only surmise your vote reflects a loyalty to illegal aliens. 

    I don't much care where you come from, what your religion is, whether you're black, white or some other color, male or female, democrat, republican or independent, but I do care when you're a United States Senator, representing citizens of America and vote against English as the official language of the United States 

        Your vote reflects betrayal, political surrender, violates your pledge of allegiance, dishonors historical principle, rejects patriotism, borders on traitorous action and, in my opinion, makes you unfit to serve as a United States Senator... impeachment, recall, or other
appropriate action is warranted. 

   

    Worse, 4 of you voting against English as America 's official language are presidential candidates: Senator Biden, Senator Clinton, Senator Dodd, and Senator Obama. 

    Those 4 Senators vying to lead America but won't or don't have the courage to cast a vote in favor of English as America's official language when 91% of American citizens want English officially designated as our language.  

    This is the second time in the last several months this list of Senators have disgraced themselves as political hacks... unworthy as Senators and certainly unqualifed to serve as President of the United States. 

    If America is as angry as I am, you will realize a back-lash so stunning it will literally rock you out of your panties... and preferably, totally out of the United States Senate.

    The entire immigration bill is a farce... your action only confirms this really isn't about America ; it's aboutself-serving politics...despicable at best.

    "Never argue with an idiot; they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience." ~ anonymous

    The following senators voted against making English the official language of  America : 

Akaka (D-HI) 
Bayh (D-IN) 
Biden (D-DE) Wants to be President?
Bingaman (D-NM) 
Boxer (D-CA) 
Cantwell (D-WA) 
Clinton (D-NY) Wants to be President?
Dayton (D-MN) 
Dodd (D-CT) Wants to be President?
Domenici (R-NM) Coward, protecting his Senate seat...
Durbin (D-IL) 
Feingold (D-WI) Not unusual for him
Feinstein (D-CA) 
Harkin (D-IA) 
Inouye (D-HI) 
Jeffords (I-VT) 
Kennedy (D-MA) 
Kerry (D-MA) Wanted to be President
Kohl (D-WI) 
Lautenberg (D-NJ) 
Leahy (D-VT) 
Levin (D-MI) 
Lieberman (D-CT) Disappointment here....
Menendez (D-NJ) 
Mikulski (D-MD) 
Murray (D-WA) 
Obama (D-IL) Wants to be President?
Reed (D-RI ) 
Reid (D-NV) Senate Majority Leader
Salazar (D-CO) 
Sarbanes (D-MD) 
Schumer (D-NY) 
Stabenow (D-M)

"Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale, and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged." 
    ~ President Abraham Lincoln  "   Amen  "
  
Please forward to as many people as you know. WE NEED THIS INFORMATION PASSED ON TO EVERY RED-BLOODED AMERICAN!!!!!!

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