The Pledge Language in English Declaration and Government Endorsement
Act of 2008 (H.R. 6783) bars federal funds for educational institutions
that allow the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem to be
recited in languages other than English. They were composed in English
and were meant to be recited or sung exclusively in our national
language.
The problem is that the clock has run out of time for action on English.
That suits the advocates of "diversity." They know that the longer they
stall action on H.R. 6783 the less likely it is to pass. They have
succeeded with this strategy for years. Those who favor English as the
official language in the USA have managed from time to time to get a
measure passed by one House of Congress or the other. But the bill
always was dropped when the House-Senate Conference tried to reconcile
both bills.
The same strategy is being employed in Massachusetts on the same-sex
marriage issue. The State Supreme Court imposed same-sex marriage upon
the State. The Massachusetts electorate responded with a referendum to
overturn what the Court tried to do. It must be approved during two
sessions of the Legislature, which is why it failed the first time. Now
it must face the voters for the second time. Meanwhile opposition to
same-sex marriage has waned. It is doubtful that the amendment to the
State Constitution will pass.
We can look for advocates of English immediately to promote various
approaches in the next Congress. But unless we have a President or a
Congress sympathetic to this idea it will be stonewalled, as it has been
in this Congress. If we have a President who is sympathetic he can make
English he would need to push hard to get it through Congress. Should
the Congress be sympathetic it would be obliged to make it part of "must
pass" legislation. Yet it is important that all of us who believe in the
concept continue to push for it regardless of the outcome. If we don't,
the practice of "diversity" will be everywhere. If we do, we likely will
stave off the worst of it.