8 albums for a desert island

In no particular order…

1. U2 Boy

2. Robbie Robertson Storyville

3. Peter Gabriel Secret World Live

4. Peter Gabriel Passion

5. U2 Joshua Tree

6. Dave Matthews Band The Central Park Concert

7. Waldo de Los Rios Sinfonias

8. Dave Matthews Under the Table and Dreaming

4th of July

Today is a national holiday. Time to barbecue, visit with friends & family, and watch fireworks. But it also the time to remember what this nation stands for. We are the land of the free and are a melting pot. I saw something on the news yesterday about a push to make English the official language. I don’t think that fits what the nation stands for.

The US is open to everyone from anywhere regardless of language. Forcing a language on someone will not make them a better person, will not make them work harder, be more lawful, be kinder to their fellow man, become more American. The stereotype is that people come here to collect welfare and other benefits. But there are many areas of poor, non-working born-in-the-USA Americans. People come here to experience the freedoms we have that they may not have had in their country – the freedom to practice their religion, speak their language, pursue their dreams.

I do believe that our country should not extend the benefits of government assistance, health care, and education to those who are in the country illegally with no intention of becoming citizens. I also believe that our country has a need for illegal aliens because they will take the jobs many of us will not, as this represents an opportunity they may not have in their native country.

As most of the country speaks English and business is conducted internationally in English, non-English speakers will probably be forced by circumstances to learn English to participate in the greater community. Making English the national language will only add an additional hurdle to an immigrant’s potential success.