The Great Languge Wall of Missouri

The good election news is the drama over Obama is no longga. He won.

The bad news is Missouri has taken a giant step backward, with Amendment 1. I am not a lawyer but there seems like there could be a lot of confusion putting this law into effect in a global economy.

What exactly does this amendment mean. I would assume that if a foreign delegation came to talk with a government agency that everyone will have to speak English, no translators would be allow, since the translators could only speak English. What are the penalties if someone inadvertently says ""gesundheit" after some sneezed in an governmental meeting (gesundheit is used very often in St Louis)? Will the state have to hire "language police" to monitor elected officials?

What does this say about Missouri's willingness to engage with the rest of the world. I have been deeply troubled with the United States growing isolation from other nations. Do we really think we can just wall ourselves in and dictate to other countries. The history of barriers and walls is not good. Just ask France, China, North Korea and the former Soviet Union. Did their walls and barriers help them.

One of the darkest times in Europe was during feudal times when anyone with any kind of resources hid behind castle and estate walls. Those walls may have stopped people from coming in, but is also kept ideas and knowledge from being exchanged. Civilization actually regressed.

In a time of economic hardship and accelerating globalization anyone who turns their back on their neighboring nations will be left behind. Missouri is not really doing that well on many economic and social indicators, discouraging people who may have fresh energy and new ideas is counter productive.

The most rapidly growing economy in the world, right now, is China. China is actively encouraging and enabling its citizens to learn new languages, especially English, so they can compete on the world stage. People here have made me feel welcome and are genuinely interested in listening to me talk about he USA. In my efforts to learn Chinese I have discovered a whole new world of history, culture and friendship.

Missouri you don't know what you are missing.

From Temple of Heaven