Douglas Alexander said "in the 1990s, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., a prominent Democrat, a great friend of the Senator from Massachusetts, wrote a book about the ``Disuniting of America.'' He deplored the balkanization of our country. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is balkanizing our country when it sues the Salvation Army, as it did, for requiring its employees to speak our common language on the job. Any employer may require any employee to speak whatever language, but that is our national language. Only a few things unite us--our common history, the principles in our founding documents, and our common language. We should be valuing rather than devaluing our common language. A vote yes is for uniting America, a vote no on this amendment is for disuniting America, in the words of Arthur Schlesinger." @ PoliticalQuotes.com

On the recordMarch 13, 2008

in the 1990s, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., a prominent Democrat, a great friend of the Senator from Massachusetts, wrote a book about the ``Disuniting of America.'' He deplored the balkanization of our country. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is balkanizing our country when it sues the Salvation Army, as it did, for requiring its employees to speak our common language on the job. Any employer may require any employee to speak whatever language, but that is our national language. Only a few things unite us--our common history, the principles in our founding documents, and our common language. We should be valuing rather than devaluing our common language. A vote yes is for uniting America, a vote no on this amendment is for disuniting America, in the words of Arthur Schlesinger.

Said by

Douglas Alexander

Labour Party

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Discussing the importance of a common language in America during a debate.

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