History has blessed us with all the freedom and advantages of multiculturalism. But it has also blessed us, because of the accident of our origins, with the linguistic unity that brings a critically needed cohesion to a nation as diverse, multiracial and multiethnic as America. Why gratuitously throw away that priceless asset? How mindless to call the desire to retain it 'racist.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the importance of linguistic unity in a multicultural society and critiques the view that prioritizing language retention is racist.
In this quote, Charles Krauthammer emphasizes the value of linguistic unity as a crucial element for cohesion in a diverse nation like America. He argues that while multiculturalism offers numerous freedoms and advantages, the shared language serves as a vital asset that should be cherished and preserved, rather than dismissed as a form of racism. This reflection on the intersection of culture and language prompts a reevaluation of how society approaches the preservation of its linguistic heritage amidst increasing diversity.
In practice
In a debate about immigration policy, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of preserving the English language.
If you get a call to go to a certain place in the middle of the night to pick up stolen goods, and it turns out the stolen goods don't show up but the cops show up, I think you're going to have a very weak story saying, 'Well, I got swindled here.'
I believe that the pursuit of truth and right ideas through honest debate and rigorous argument is a noble undertaking.
The joy of losing consists in this: Where there are no expectations, there is no disappointment.
You're betraying your whole life if you don't say what you think - and you don't say it honestly and bluntly.
When a party is in opposition, it opposes. That's its job. But when it comes to power, it must govern. Easy rhetoric is over, the press of reality becomes irresistible. By necessity, it adopts some of the policies it had once denounced. And a new national consensus is born.
Sometimes it's easy to go where the wind blows, but those that stand firmly planted are forces to be reckoned with.
Anyone who can appease a man's conscience can take his freedom away from him.
Death and resurrection are what the story is about and had we but eyes to see it, this has been hinted on every page, met us, in some disguise, at every turn, and even been muttered in conversations between such minor characters (if they are minor characters) as the vegetables.
There never did, there never will, and there never can exist a parliament, or any description of men, or any generation of men, in any country, possessed of the right or the power of binding and controlling posterity to the 'end of time,' or of commanding for ever how the world shall be governed, or who shall govern it. Every age and generation must be as free to act for itself, in all cases, as the ages and generations which preceded it.
Who would you be without your story?
Everyone is born into a certain era. I wouldn't want to see anyone faced with the circumstances that prevailed at the time, when there were few or no alternatives.
And every human being is precious.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.