Bush Kicks Off National Foreign Language Initiative

American Forces Press Service ^ | Jan 5, 2005 | Gerry Gilmore

[Kokojmudd]

Any Korlings out there?

[B4Ranch]

"There are many FReepers here that will attack you for stating the facts about Bush's real agenda."

I've been posting the true agenda since almost day one that I registered here. The written opinion of a few blind Bushbots isn't enough to upset my day but the seeing the truth in print certainly does ruin theirs.

[elfman2]

"What we need is a new national program designed to increase the number of Arabs, Chinese, Russians, Indians, Pakistanis and Mexican who are fluent in English."

My sister's husband has been involved with one for about 10 years. http://www.amideast.org/#

[BlackbirdSST]

Saw it on a bumper sticker a couple of days ago, in Billings MT.

I first heard the phrase or something similar, probably 15 or so years ago, from a John Birch member at a Gun Show. It's popular. Blackbird.

[Free Baptist]

"no room for Jesus in this country."

Room for Jesus is limited even here on Free Republic.

[Free Baptist]

When we address young people in churches, we encourage them to develop the discipline of learning languages. Most of the time our suggestion is met with a shrug. My eldest son holds certificates and degrees in linguistics and is working with Bible translators in Mongolia. His Mandarin Chinese is fluent and quite native (he learned inside China from age 12 -- he's 28 now). He also studied Russian with a native Russian family who lived in NE China near us. When he tries to encourage church young people to study languages, he gets little better response.

Of course, our purpose is singular, that of learning to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. We are not training diplomats. But could tell you a very interesting story about an American man who was raised in Taiwan from age 8 to 19 by his mother after his missionary father was martyred for his faith (1950s), who returned to the USA and earned degrees in international relations and diplomacy in top notch universities. And now, he's back in the Gospel missions field, not regretting any of his education--It gives him a good edge when dealing with people. But he has seen the greatest need of men to know Jesus Christ. Diplomacy always works much better when the participants are under Holy Spirit influence. It is important for young people to study foreign languages, but I believe that President Bush's objectives are much too much from the philosophy of the One-Worlders. And the One-Worlders want that One-World without God or His Christ (Psalm 2).

[dsc]

"With all the Japanese-owned corporations out there, I would think that knowing passable Japanese would get you into the affirmative action program."

If you can stomach being a token. Besides, I want to get back to the States.

[sonofagun]

Now that's what I'm talking about.

[sonofagun]

Although I agree with you that speaking several languages is of value, I think a national program to teach me Spanish or Chinese is misplaced when we have many, many Mexican and Chinese workers in this country who speak no English.

It seems like our national priority would be to meld these folks into our culture rather than making me fluent in several different cultures that exist in our country, although I do see value in that as a personal learning experience.

[T'wit]

I believe this policy is called the "Curse of Babel."

[dsc]

The point is that you need translators who can qualify for a TS/CI or higher security clearance, and interpreters who are entirely trustworthy.

[conservativeharleyguy]

WOW, I'm astonished.

Not one person in this thread mentioned the intelligence value of foreign language fluency.

That's why the military has one of the premier language schools in the world: the Defense Language Institute in Monterey Ca. I learned Russian there over 20 years ago (for all sorts of nefarious, but delightful government purposes), and it has ever since opened a lot of doors in my line of work (Security), and given me opportunities that I never would have had as a "monoglot".

I wholeheartedly agree that English should always be the "Mother Tongue" in America and the business world.

However, it's absolutely imperative that we attain and maintain a culture of linguistic competence (along with engineering and science of course)

Or don't you folks think it might be a good idea for our kids and grandkids to be able to tell the difference between "good morning" and "I want to cut of your head, you filthy infidel" in as many languages as possible?

[Wristpin]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but it sounds to me that he is trying to get the country prepared for the future by having the right flavor of spooks.

Before 9/11 we had zero HUMINT capability in the Middle East and the Intelligence Agencies had several months back log in translating intercepts. The old way of teaching Spanish, French, Latin and German ain't cuttin it in the new world.

I'm sure the libs will scream that Bush is turning our children into little NSA Eichmanns.

[george wythe]

Is there a list of the priority languages?

Bush said he would request $114 million in the next budget year to help teach U.S. students Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Hindi, Farsi and other languages that are rarely studied.

[snip]

The money would:

–go to primary and secondary schools through grants that support foreign language programs.

–help pay for "feeder" programs to train students at all levels.

–pay for 300 foreigners to come to the U.S. to teach understudied languages in the 2006-2007 school year.

–pay to send 100 U.S. teachers overseas to study those languages.

–provide scholarships for up to 3,000 high school students to study abroad by summer 2009.

[dsc]

Hey, I have an idea: let's just overlook the pool of citizens who are eligible for security clearances and already speak a foreign language. They'd just get in the way.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the ping.

The Bush haters haven't a clue to why this is being done.

[Grampa Dave]

The rabid Bush haters haven't a clue do they?!

[eyespysomething]

That's the first thing I thought. Then I get on the thread and see people are stuck on the one-track globalization.

I've already talked to my oldest son about learning foreign languages. He wants to join the military, so...why not give him every advantage we can?

I'm going to look into it. I mean, on our own, not with government help.

[ASA Vet]

let's just overlook the pool of citizens who are eligible for security clearances and already speak a foreign language. They'd just get in the way

No they wouldn't be in the way. They would be a valued asset.
Advise them to enlist in the military or seek employment with one of the alphabet agencies.

I had lots of linguists working for me who came in already having the language skill.
Once they'd gone to school to learn what to do with it they became excellent in the MOS.

[linda_22003]

Jesus didn't speak English, either. What does that have to do with the fact that Americans are woefully unable to handle themselves in more than one language?