Shared Values

"Success of this country has depended and will depend upon helping newcomers assimilate into our society, and help folks embrace our common identity as Americans."

"Americans are bound together by our shared ideals, an appreciation of our history, respect for the flag we fly, and an ability to speak and write the English language. As business owners and community leaders, you know that English is the key to unlocking the opportunity of America."

"English allows a newcomer to go from picking crops to opening a grocery store. English allows a newcomer from sweeping an office floor to running that office. English allows someone to go from a low- paying job to a diploma, a career, and home ownership."

"When immigrants assimilate and advance in our society, they realize their dreams. And as they do, they renew our spirit and they add to the unity of our country."

President George W. Bush
June 1, 2006 LINK: CLICK HERE

Well, this speech by President Bush to the United States Chamber of Commerce really set off the left wing bloggers, commentators and press over the edge. Heck, they don't even want to share President Bush's values, let along force new immigrants to share those values.

Liberals have spent years adding bilingual education to our school curriculum, adding bilingual forms and instructions to all government regulations, and adding bilingual ballots to each election.

Now President Bush, in an effort to appeal to his right wing supporters, makes a speech getting tough on immigrants. Learn English. Share our values.

The Liberals cry out, "Share Our Values? Why, that's almost un-American!

And Liberals do have a point. America is the great melting pot. Many of our values actually come from the past waves of immigrants.

However.... it's really easy for Liberals to protest imposing values when the immigrants in question are Catholic Christian Hispanics. These folks already share 90% of our values and heritage. Their brothers and sisters already represent a substantial minority of U.S. citizens.

Let's compare our situation with the one being faced in Europe and Canada. There, the massive wave of immigrants are Muslim Arabs. And they are pretty much refusing to share the values of their host countries.

Consider this report from National Public Radio this morning. Do yourself a giant favor and listen to this report by Brian Mann. LINK: CLICK HERE

In Canada language is not an issue. In many parts of Canada, English is aready a second language.

However... among the issues raised by the above linked report is equality of women and women's rights. The Muslim immigrants refuse to change their views on the status and position and rights of women. In fact they see the freedoms Canadians offer to women as barbaric and sinful.

As one Imam quoted in the NPR report said, "Many basic Canadian values are sinful, including the notion that women should be free to make choices independent of their fathers and husbands."

Are there, in fact, values that must be shared? Are their values that must be respected? What about individual human rights?

We need to be very careful in thinking these issues through. President Bush may be a lot more right than he is wrong.