[lg policy] U.S.English Chairman Criticizes Ben Carson's Stance on Puerto Rico Statehood

[Harold Schiffman]

 U.S.English Chairman Criticizes Ben Carson's Stance on Puerto Rico
Statehood

Published: Nov 11, 2015 9:00 a.m. ET
<http://www.marketwatch.com/story/usenglish-chairman-criticizes-ben-carsons-stance-on-puerto-rico-statehood-2015-11-11/email>
<http://www.marketwatch.com/story/usenglish-chairman-criticizes-ben-carsons-stance-on-puerto-rico-statehood-2015-11-11/email>

WASHINGTON, DC , Nov 11, 2015 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- U.S.English
Chairman Mauro E. Mujica today criticized Republican presidential candidate
Ben Carson for endorsing statehood for Puerto Rico.

At a recent political convention, Carson stated that he "would be
incredibly honored and delighted" to support Puerto Rico statehood, noting
that geographically, the commonwealth is "very strategically located" and
suggesting that given the threat of terrorism, statehood would mean added
"unity" for the United States.

Upon hearing Dr. Carson's remarks, Chairman Mujica issued the following
statement:

 -- "Contrary to Dr. Carson's suggestion, declaring Puerto Rico the
51st state in the United States would be detrimental to our sense of
national unity. An overwhelming majority of residents of Puerto Rico
speak Spanish and nearly 85 percent of residents are limited English
proficient, meaning they would struggle to carry on a basic
conversation in English. Without a common means of communication, a
nation cannot prosper and residents remain separated by linguistic
divisions. --


-- Furthermore, Puerto Rico faces $72 billion in debt and a poverty rate of
nearly 50 percent. Rather than taking on the added burden of a non- English
speaking state, Dr. Carson would be well to encourage the United States to
adopt a national language policy with English at its core as our common,
shared language. When armed with a firm grasp of English, the language of
global commerce, residents of the United States are placed on the path to
success. On this path, residents will be more likely to secure a better,
higher paying job that will contribute to a stronger economy. --
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/usenglish-chairman-criticizes-ben-carsons-stance-on-puerto-rico-statehood-2015-11-11

-- 
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