English – For All That Ails Us

 

By  Rose Pedenko 

My father passed away in December of 2007 at the ripe old age of 104, just two months shy of his 105^th birthday.  To the last year of his life, he swore that Vick’s VapoRub was a cure-all for everything that ailed him.  Who am I to argue, after all, he died of old age. 

It got me to thinking that the English language was very much like Vick’s VapoRub in our family and that it is likely the answer to much of what ails America today. 

A host of problems stem from an inability or lack of will by immigrants to grasp the basics of our national language.  “English-Only” legislation is perpetually thwarted by liberals, educators, and politicians to advance their respective misguided agendas—and we see the impact of the dismal results on our children.  Bi-lingual education in our schools has been an unmitigated failure.  In less than 50 years, it also has become not only absurd but politically incorrect to be an English-Only adherent or proponent. 

The English language is the fundamental tool we use to read and thus understand the world around us.  It allows us to thrive and succeed in this country -- unhampered by the limitations imposed by tyrannical governments or radical religions on its citizens around the world.  In America, thus far, we have been free to choose our own paths to self-actualization. 

Before any members of the PC crowd get huffy, my parents were legal non-English speaking immigrants from Mexico.  Total immersion into this English speaking culture was a necessity prior to the late 1960s, not an option.  There were no crutches to impede our progress like “Press 1 for Spanish.”  It was a sink or swim assimilation.  Becoming an American occurred almost effortlessly, not because we had no other choice, but, more importantly, because we wanted to be Americans. 

We spoke Spanish at home to be understood by our parents, and in turn, guided them through the initial language hurdles.  It was both a privilege and a test of their own determination to become American citizens, particularly at a time when citizenship classes and exams were not offered in their native language.  And I never once heard them complain about an unfair cultural challenge, or that the government should make it easier for them. 

Fluency in both cultures became seamless, and apple-pie-laden patriotism was our dessert. 

Today, many on the left laugh derisively over that little understood and antiquated fervor to become an integral part of the American fabric which was so inextricably woven into our flag 232 years ago. 

I’m not embarrassed nor hindered in this fervor for all things American by the likes of Bill Maher or David Letterman.  It is neither pedestrian nor witless to believe in the principles that made this country great. 

My parents’ children grew up knowing they are honest to goodness red-blooded Americans.  There was no “Mexican-American” moniker to identify or categorize us -- we knew who we were and are, and wear it with pride.  Our unaccented English paved the way into a society where the only person to blame for holding you back was yourself.  You choose success over failure, and it is not guaranteed or handed to you.  And that is the precious freedom held most dear by legal immigrants. 

This then begs the question, do we, by and large, create the prejudices that feed on themselves as a way to cope -- now that diversity has been shoved down our throats?  When we reject what it means to be an American, it creates baggage that should have been left at the border.  Today, immigrants have been taught they can have the best of both worlds.  They can retain their culture (which is the excess baggage) while taking advantage of U.S. freedoms and benefits without paying for it.  What remains are cross-cultural expectations that will never be realized because they no longer fully identify with either country. 

So many of the cultural problems we face can be traced to this forced acceptance of diversity, and a lack of language skills which impedes progress.  PC guilt, inculcated by do-gooder academics, has led to anger arising from lawbreakers earning rewards they would not otherwise be entitled to.  It made this week’s Supreme Court reversal of Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s prior ruling very sweet indeed. 

One language is the glue that produces unity, and unity in a people breeds strength.  Right now, unity and strength are sadly lacking in this country.  Our political parties are divided and our nation has been rendered weak by appeasement.  America is turning into a Tower of Babel by the left’s efforts to reach their Utopian ideal. 

The day we can all celebrate American holidays and traditions together, and bring those exotic ancestral spices to the table for the purpose of conversation, will be the day divisiveness takes a back seat to what drives this country forward--English. 

Happy Independence Day.

The Story of the Cro-Magnons and the Neanderthals

By Richard Boren

Once upon a time, tens of thousands of years ago, there lived in Europe two classes of primates. Although we don’t know what they called themselves, today we refer to them as the Cro-Magnons and the Neanderthals.

Although the two groups didn’t live together, their members would occasionally encounter one another in the forest. One day a young Neanderthal named Fil (pronounced “feel”) ran into an older Cro-Magnon named Thnk (pronounced “think”). Fil and Thnk had seen each other for years, and over time they developed the habit of taking a break from hunting by sitting down and having a chat beside the creek.

Thnk began the conversation. “So, what’s up?”

“Glad you asked,” said Fil, “we’re making big changes that will save Urth (pronounced “earth”). Urth was their name for the land in which everyone lived.

“I didn’t know that Urth was in danger,” said Thnk. “What are you talking about?”

“Our Witch Doctor studied the signs, and he told us that unless we stop using fire we will destroy Urth and us with it.”

Thnk couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What??? Stop using fire? How will you cook your food? How will you light your caves at night? How will you keep from freezing to death in the winter?”

Fil answered, “That hasn’t been completely worked out, but our Tribal Chief has convinced us we are in a crisis. Both he and our Witch Doctor say that they are working on some promising alternatives. For example, they say that if we leave a bunch of rocks out in the sun all day they’ll get hot. Then we can bring them into the cave at night to keep warm. I don’t know how that would work on cloudy days, but they say that we’ll figure it out. They are putting our best wood gatherers and fire builders to work on the problem.”

“We took a look at this issue ourselves,” said Thnk. Our Witch Doctor has been using a new kind of sign called Evdnc (pronounced “evidence”) and he doesn’t see a problem. In fact, our fire builders have discovered ways to make better fires with less wood. Now we have extra wood. I’m sure that we’ll come up with some uses for it.“ Thnk paused for a moment and added, “We just want to be warm and have plenty of food. Aren’t you afraid that giving up fire is big gamble? What if your Witch Doctor is wrong?”

“I wondered about that,” said Fil, “but if I say anything, all of the others will say that I don’t care about Urth, and our Tribal Chief will make fun of me and will call me a denyr (pronounced “denier”). And they say that soon anyone who burns wood will be punished. I’ve been getting pretty cold at night lately, but I have to admit that I feel great about saving Urth so I guess it’s worth it. Besides, even if it doesn’t work out as planned we’ll still end up with soot-free caves.”

A few months later Thnk saw Fil across a meadow. Fil looked thin and not well. Thnk thought about calling out to him, but it had started to snow so he headed for home where he knew that a nice warm fire was waiting for him.

Much time passed. The Cro-Magnons evolved into modern man. The Neanderthals became extinct. All we know of them comes from the discovery of bone fragments found in remarkably soot-free caves.

Madam Senator

by Lance Thompson

An Open Letter to California Senator Barbara Boxer:

Dear Senator Boxer,

There has been much public discussion about your comments to General Michael Walsh of the Army Corps of Engineers when he testified before your Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works last week. You interrupted General Walsh while he was answering–by all accounts courteously–your question to him about repairing levees damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Senator, you interrupted the general to scold him for referring to you as “ma’am,” and asked him to address you as “Senator,” since by your own explanation you had worked hard to attain that title.

Ma’am, may I point out that “ma’am” is a term of respect to any married woman, as “sir” is to any man. Military culture requires people in uniform to address superiors by one of these terms, and no possible disrespect could be interpreted from this.

Ma’am, may I further point out that in your remonstrance of General Walsh, you did not reciprocate the respect you demanded from him, referring to him neither as “General” (which would be correct), “Brigadier” (which the Brits prefer when addressing a one-star), or “Sir” (which would at least indicate common courtesy).

In fact, Mrs. Boxer, you demanded respect and deference from some one who not only deserves the same courtesy, but you managed also to show none in return.

Barbara, you must know that the Army Corps of Engineers is a branch which devotes a tremendous amount of its time and effort here in the United States, building dams and levees and engineering waterways and other important public works.General Walsh spent several years in your home state of California as the Corps of Engineers built, modernized and maintained the vital systems that keep the water flowing to all residents of the Golden State.

Babs, surely you must recognize that the work of General Walsh as an army engineer in the service of Americans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is at least equal to whatever campaigning and politicking you did to become a Senator. This is not to mention the vital humanitarian work General Walsh did in Iraq to build hospitals, schools, roads and other infrastructure in the war-torn country. Further, it does not take into account General Walsh’s service to his country in the United States, Europe and the Persian Gulf, nor does it credit the general’s master’s degree in construction management from the University of Florida, nor his studies at the Army Command and General Staff College.

Honey, I’m sure your advisors will tell you that Americans hold the military in much higher regard than Congress, and that your rude and abusive behavior to a senior member of that military can only reflect poorly on your judgment, manners and mental acuity. In fact, sweetie, your exchange with General Walsh will only serve to widen the esteem gap between soldiers and Senators, to the soldiers’ favor.

In sum, Barbie baby, you would be well advised to issue a sincere public apology to General Walsh and the Army Corps of Engineers, and consult a reputable etiquette book before again speaking in public. Otherwise, the respect you so crave will be ever more difficult to earn. 

From Haven to Hades in Obama’s America

By Rose Pedenko and Tanya Simon

The United States of America was once the welcoming haven for all who wished to escape persecution and oppression. But 2009 will go down in history as the beginning of the end of the “Land of the Free” and supplanted by the “Land of Indentured Government Servants” and “Home of the Brave” by “Home of an Embittered Military.”

With a proposed imposition of a “value-added tax,” or “VAT,” and deep cuts in defense spending, this Administration is on the verge of single-handedly destroying this country. It is one thing to suggest a national sales tax “in lieu of” federal income taxes, but a VAT added to all the hard-earned dollars we are forced to shell out, gives us little hope for a return to the highest overall standard of living enjoyed on God’s green earth. Who knew the answer to illegal immigration was making our economy worse than the immigrants’ country of origin?

Our veins have been nearly tapped dry, and now the federal government wants to put into effect yet another tariff. Do they want to suck the remaining initiative out of us? On the bright side, this VAT may alienate the entire electorate, which would be a blessing in the 2010 congressional elections.

The Democrat Majority has become the killjoy of the American spirit. They dismissed an opportunity for immediate relief in the form of tax holidays in favor of the new Chinese water torture: massive debt. For a party that is wholly married to the idea of no torture, they seem to take pleasure in doing so with increased tax initiatives.

Rather than levy taxpayers, why not eliminate bloated pensions and expense accounts for all “elected” officials, particularly in the House and Senate? With 435 House members and 100 Senators, the bill to taxpayers is roughly over $1 billion per year. No wonder every Tom, Schnook and Harry wants to enter politics. Their eyes are on the honeyed benefits. Snip – a billion here, a billion there, and we’re on our way.

Just how bad is bad enough when it comes to taxation?

It’s bad enough that slackers are encouraged to make a “career” out of politics or government employment—for what they can bleed from it rather than do what is right for The People. The perfect candidate is one that has achieved great success and wants to give back, not take, take, take by raising taxes. Term limits should be a primary target for voters. Inflated salaries, perquisites, pensions and bloated expenses would be dredged out for good. We could then support optimists instead of oppressors and carpetbaggers.

It’s bad enough that our employer 401(k) savings and pension plans have sunk like buckets of bolts into the briny. One form of immediate relief might be for the government to rescind income tax on retirement accounts with a ten-year sunset.  Although Americans invested their pre-tax dollars in good faith, they also (inadvertently) placed their trust in the hands of incompetent and greedy legislators who flagrantly breached their fiduciary duty to protect us from corruption in the securities trade. It was that specific government failure that wiped out what we once referred to as our golden years.

It’s bad enough that Chrysler is on the verge of bankruptcy, but on June 1, 2009 GM filed for Chapter 11, and the U.S. government became controlling shareholder. Had we allowed them to file for Chapter 11 in the first place, the taxpayers would have been spared hundreds of millions in wasted bailout dollars.

It’s bad enough that the liberal mainstream media push celebrity extravagances in our faces when more and more of us are sleepless and sweating as to how to make ends meet in this economic downturn. But the media also seem compelled to elevate Barack Obama’s wasting of taxpayer dollars to fly all over the country to that same celebrity status. Contrary to liberal pundits’ tendency to pooh pooh criticism of the Obamas fun as a petty Republican smear tactic, it’s more about enjoying themselves at taxpayer expense.

Yes, the office of president demands costly security, but there’s a difference between necessary travel and frivolous and wasteful photo ops. The President can give another one of his sudsy speeches, or sign a bill, just as easily in the Oval Office or Rose Garden.

Notwithstanding this President’s tax and spend mentality, we must give credit where credit is due: he does give good teleprompter. But deprived of that machine in Buchenwald, he referred to Angela Merkel as “cancellor.” (Perhaps that’s how it’s pronounced in Austrian.) Had it been President George W. Bush, the press would have had a field day with the latest addition to the Bush lexicon.

It’s bad enough that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is, once again, unnecessarily spending taxpayer dollars to flit around the globe, this time to China. When was she appointed Ambassador? She did this once before when Condoleeza Rice was Secretary of State. Pelosi’s self-importance only served to embarrass former President Bush, our State Department, and the American People. On the upside, she proved then that she’s a jackass and hopefully Californians will get the last hee-haw come election time.

It’s bad enough that our borders are sieves, through which endless streams of illegal aliens cross into the United States. Once they nest themselves, they waste no time producing anchor babies and drain our city and state treasuries in the hundreds of millions of dollars. They then demand blanket amnesty and citizenship. And the price to all taxpayers is long-term Democratic Party loyalty.

It’s bad — and not getting any better. Bear market rallies notwithstanding, as conservatives, we are hoping the 2010 congressional elections will serve to bring back the decency, faith, and trust that was flushed down the sewer by the relentless Obama storm. It is our unwavering belief the tax and spend Democrats will be swept from office in a wave of bi-partisan anger.

David Carradine Memories

by  Lance Thompson

The contributions of actors named Carradine to the motion picture art have been many and significant.  Thus I was sorry to learn of the death of David Carradine. 

I am a great fan of John Carradine, veteran of hundreds of films and a John Ford regular.  Two of my favorite films feature indelible performances by Carradine–the gambler Hatfield in Stagecoach and Casy the preacher in The Grapes of Wrath.  His list of credits on imdb.com scrolls on for miles, and he was just as active in the legitimate theater.  John Carradine was all pro.

David Carradine is best known for his television role in Kung Fu.  Reportedly, the idea for the series originated with Bruce Lee, but the network wouldn’t back it with an Asian lead, so David Carradine ended up in an iconic role.  He also garnered much attention more recently with Quentin Tarantino’s  Kill Bill.   But my favorite David Carradine role is that of Cole Younger in Walter Hill’s The Long Riders.  Besides the gimmick casting of brother actors playing brother outlaws (the Carradines, the Keaches, the Quaids and the Guests), it’s an immensely enjoyable Western, and David Carradine is terrific.  It also includes a sizzling performance by Pamela Reed, so if you haven’t seen it, you’re in for a treat.

A few years ago, as a writer for the magazine Cowboys & Indians, I had the opportunity to interview the Carradine brothers about an upcoming project, the TNT Western Last Stand at Saber River.  Robert Carradine was an easy interview, Keith wasn’t quite as forthcoming, but both warned me that I’d have a hard time getting anything out of David.  He just didn’t like giving interviews.

So I was quite surprised when David returned my call late one night.  I knew I might have only a few minutes, so I quickly ran through the vital questions.  He spoke openly and didn’t seem to be in a hurry to end the conversation.  I mentioned my great appreciation for The Long Riders, and that opened up a general discussion of movies.

I felt fortunate to be able to talk about one of my favorite subjects with an actor for whom film performance was obviously part of his DNA.  And eventually, the conversation got around to his father, John Carradine.

David said John was in fifty movies before anybody started keeping count, but his greatest love was the stage.  David remembered the days when he lived in New York with his father.  John Carradine was acting in the legitimate theater–Broadway, off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway–it didn’t matter, he loved to perform. 

As David warmed to the topic, he recalled with fondness those nights (actually early mornings) when his father would come home after the customary late-night celebrations with fellow thespians.  David would be waiting up, his father would come into his room, and, still not tired, would hold forth about acting, playwrights, history, philosophy, great literature and great men.  This discourse would sometimes go on for hours, and the son would sit entranced by the breadth of knowledge and interest of his father.  David said these were some of his most cherished memories, those hours he spent learning of the world from someone who had seen so much of it.

Such a personal memory had no place in my article, and I even felt that I might be betraying a confidence by repeating it.  But John and David Carradine are both gone now, and every time I see them in a movie, I think of that cherished memory.  Fortunately, the Carradines’ contributions to our film heritage are more available than ever before on all manner of media.  So I might just pull out a couple of favorite DVD’s and sit back and bask in the gifts of the Carradine family.  And remember.