I think EOL may be my most read post now. It’s definitely the one that’s getting traffic every day. Today, I got a comment that must have been from a supporter of Colonel Harry Riley (ret.), who is one of the main subjects of the blog entry. She posted another message from the Colonel — apparently in addition to favoring English as the official language of the U.S., he’s against any “rabble” who supposedly don’t support our troops.
Sigh. I almost deleted it. But I thought maybe people would like to know more about the Colonel. So there it sits.
UPDATE: See also my new Associated Content article about English as an official language.
I read that. People are morons. Good for you for not deleting the comment!
Interesting. I find it interesting that the “Colonel” doesn’t write his own comments. I’m of the opinion that this is rather cowardly for a colonel.
I agree with Pan. Then again, maybe he doesn’t write English!
Ah, I just love being told how to support my country in someone else’s way. How very American of “him.”
The Colonel was back again this morning — this time under his own name.
Somebody forwarded me Col. Riley’s letter and here is how I responded:
Thanks. That was hilarious. Treason? Are you kidding me, Colonel Riley? The sad thing is there are probably a lot of people out there gullible enough to believe nonsense like this.
What I’m curious about though is the response to mailings like this by people who actually pick up newspapers now and then. I mean, anybody slightly attuned to the political process knows that 1348; i.e., the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 is a vastly complicated bill that involved a wide range of issues such as work visas, amnesty, border security, and punitive measures aimed at employers who hire illegal aliens. I venture to guess that NOBODY, Republican or Democrat, voted for or against the bill because of the tag-on provision about English as the official national language.
For what it’s worth, over 75% of Hispanics and 90% of caucasians agree that English should be our official language. Among those politicians who think that immigrants should assimilate and learn English are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. If you don’t believe me, check out their websites or listen to their speeches. Here is what Senator Clinton’s website says about her stance on immigration reform:
“A comprehensive solution to our immigration crisis must include strengthening our borders, greater cooperation with our neighbors, strict but fair enforcement of our laws, federal assistance to state and local governments, strict penalties for those who exploit undocumented workers, and a path to earned legal status for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes, respecting the law, and willing to meet a high bar, including learning English.” http://clinton.senate.gov/issues/immigration/
Although Barack Obama didn’t think an official language provision should have been included in 1348, his reason wasn’t that immigrants shouldn’t learn English. Rather, he correctly points out that, historically, states have always had the right to decide that issue individually and that the federal government should not take that right away from state governments. Federal legislation would, in fact, present a direct, unnecessary conflict with the constitutions of states such as New Mexico.
Incidentally, Obama, Clinton, and most Democrats believe that if you want to solve the problem of illegal immigration you must actually punish employers who exploit illegal aliens and ignore the law. If business-friendly Republicans would actually crack down on employers, there would be no need to spend billions of dollars on a stupid fence. Does anyone believe a fence will keep people out if the supply-demand balance isn’t altered? Obama correctly pointed out recently that employers literally have a greater chance of being struck by lightning than being fined or otherwise punished for hiring illegal aliens. That is why he voted against 1348.
I know the old wedge-issue saw works great for the extreme right (I’m sure we will be getting mailers about gay rights and flag burning this election year), but I wish thinking people–Republicans and Democrats–could somehow let the Col. Rileys of the world know that it is offensive to lie, mislead, slander, and insult people’s intelligence. It’s equally offensive, given the real problems our nation is confronting, that he doesn’t have better things to worry about. Do you wonder why he isn’t trying to engage anyone in a conversation about the economy, health care, the national debt, energy dependence, environmental responsibility, or our $4,000 per second war?
I guess treason means different things to different people.
Brian — that is one terrific response! Thanks for sharing.
We should all be ashamed… when we can not get a “common sense” issue like our official language approved by our halls of government. Seems like common sense and government just do not mix anymore.
Colonel Riley is just doing his job as an good American and pointing out injustice, just as you are pointing out other injustices… employers, lobbyist etc…
If most Americans (greater than 70% – Hispanic & Caucasian) feel that English should be the official language of “our” country… then that is how our representatives should vote… regardless, of their political aspirations. Their job is to vote as a representative, not a leader.
We are the leaders… it’s our Country not theirs. Colonel Riley is right… when our representatives are not representing us… it’s not right!! It’s certainly not American.
This issue is huge because it goes the core of our problems as a nation. If you do not have a solid foundation, your plans and goals will wither. Do not minimize an issue by saying “what we really need”… while ignoring common sense.
Let’s get back to basics here folks and firm-up our borders. Good boundaries are a excellent thing… it’s therapeutic people!! You know… we have all been there.
D — I just looked up a few polls on this, and you are correct, support ranges from 73% to 89% of those polled, with a margin of error around +/- 3 points.
At 73%, if 34 senators out of 100 voted against it, that’s pretty close to representing the people’s opinion.
However, it’s not necessarily the job of our representatives to vote exactly as the people would. Civil rights legislation, anyone? Sometimes the people are WRONG.
Anyway, my main points: Opposing English as the official language is NOT treasonous and does NOT make someone un-American. Look up treason.
Making English the official language is NOT the most important issue facing our country at this time (and while I’m at it, neither is baseball).
Bet this doesn’t make the post.
Your commentators lack something. Common Sense.
All the rhetoric about how the Democratic Senators who either are running for President or have and have since dropped out saying how they believe immigrating (illegals so far) aliens should learn English doesn’t hold water.
Look up your history. What makes this country strong was
people entering had to live to the MAJORITIES principles and way of life. Now we bow down to minority wants. That kind of thinking will only spiral downward when the majority keeps being over ridden and Senators who will not act on the will of the people but actually vote against their wishes.
When will you people wake up… Oh I know, when an Al-Qaeda terrorist has a knife at you neck and begins to start cutting while you’re pleading for your life.
God, where I we going? Help us.
You don’t have to agree with me to be part of the discussion. Thanks for your comments.
Like many of you, I got the EOL letter emailed to me from an uncle, and did some checking before responding to him.
Colonel Riley certainly exists, but I can’t find any evidence he ever wrote this letter. It seems to match his political views, but also seems a little too poorly written for a man of his education and background. I suspect that means either someone ‘borrowed’ his name to lend this some credibility, or perhaps he wrote a similar letter, and it’s just suffering from a bad dose of ‘internet rot’.
As for the main point of the email, that this vote against the EOL amendment was cowardly, traitorous, and “self-serving politics” it’s worth noting that this bill had over 350 amendments, and that most of the senators who voted FOR the EOL amendment on June 6th did NOT support the bill on June 7th (when the bill was effectively killed.)
In other words, it was a purely political vote, with no real value. They put the amendment in, knowing full well that it was part of a bill that would never become law, because they wouldn’t ALLOW it to become law.
They never intended for the EOL amendment to be made into law.
{In a semi-unrelated note, the Lincoln quote included with many versions of the email isn’t a Lincoln quote. It was written by a conservative columnist named J Michael Waller about 5 years ago and published by Insight magazine. Lincoln’s written opinion on the issue of political disagreement and treason was almost exactly the OPPOSITE of what the quote claims.}
Thanks, Brent.
I also found no evidence that Riley wrote the letter — but I have seen other things he’s written, and they are fairly similar (check him out on eaglesup.us).
Thanks for the info about the Lincoln quote.
Unfortunately, Colonel Riley does actually exist, and honestly believes the fundamentalist, bile, diatribe he spews all over the internet — basically questioning the loyalty, fidelity, and patriotism of anyone different from himself (out of touch, Hannity and Rush loving, xenophobic, sad souls, with no lives).
If you would like to thank the good Colonel — personally for how he marginalizes half the country, he can be reached, DIRECTLY at hmriley@cox.net.
Maybe he would appreciate a dose of his own medicine.
…. and I am sure he would also enjoy cards and letters from his many faithfull, who appreciate his post military service to the blogs of the world wide web.
His address is Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret., 111 Overview Drive, Crestview, FL 32539
Colonel Harry Riley is a real, live, person. His sole mission in life is to disenfranchise anyone not like him (right wing, fundamentalist, xenophobic, fear strategist for the GOP).
He is the equivalent of the bully you knew in elementary school.
Someone likely not hugged enough as a child.
He hides behind his perceived security of the Internet.
If you want to share you feelings about how he treats other citizens of the country he professes to protect, and love, he can be reached at:
Harry Riley
COL, USA, Ret
111 Overview Drive
Crestview, FL 32539
hmriley@cox.net.
850-689-1818
thanks brian for your example response…i came to this site wondering just how to respond to a family member who forwarded it on to me.
Here is the real info on the vote as Enlgish as the national Language:
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/1/votes/197/
Thanks, Alex. That’s actually a different vote — its purpose is “To preserve and enhance the role of the English language.” You’ll notice that on this one, the Democrats largely voted for it, while Republicans did not. The one Riley complained about is this one, which would have actually made English the official language of the U.S.
Regarding the post by Brian on Feb. 28, 2008: Anybody slightly attuned to the political process knows that 1348; i.e., the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 DOESN’T EXIST!
Brian probably means S.1438 “Comprehensive Enforcement and Immigration Reform Act of 2005″. The correct reference would have been S.2611/S.2612 “Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006″, Section 161 “Declaration of national language”; Section 162 “Preserving and enhancing the role of the national language” and Section 767 “English as National Language”.
Incidentally, the aforementioned sections are negated by Sections 769 and 770.
The American political process is an awesome, wonderful and confusing thing.
Marty,
You might be grabbing information from conflicting sources. Brian was correct, there is S.1348 under the Immigration Act of 2007 a.k.a. the “Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007″ as it was placed on the Senate Calendar. Coincidentally, Sections 161 and 162 of Chapter 6 of the legislation are titled “Declaration of national language” and “Preserving and enhancing the role of the national language” respectively. Section 767 is titled “Declaration of English” which is similar to your evidence. Unfortunately, under this immigration bill (I’m not as fluent on past bills) the Sections 769 and 770 do NOT negate the aforementioned sections as you elegantly stated. The political process is complicated, but is made even more so by conflicting interests and ‘evidence’ that can be found on the internet.
After all that, let’s keep the discussion on “S Amdt 1151 to S Amdt 1150 to S 1348: To amend title 4, United States Code, to declare English as the national language of the Government of the United States, and for other purposes” and the Colonel’s reactions to opposing votes. Btw, I have not found evidence that the colonel actually wrote these words, as Brent previously pointed out.