English-Only Only Makes US Stupid

I about choked when I read that the LPGA is now requiring its tournament golfers to pass an oral English test or face suspension from its tournament. Now, nobody whine to me about how people in America ought to know English! Yes, even babies know that! The bigger point missed by puffy-chested patrialinguists is that we Americans are now statistically among the more stupid educated people in the world--yet we’re telling people far smarter and more disciplined (and increasingly richer) than we that they should be more like us.

A 2004 PISA comparative math study ranked the United States 24th out of 29 developed countries in real-life problem-solving ability. The top performers were students from Finland and South Korea--and ironically, it’s primarily Korean golfers whom our domestic duffer-divas are bullying to learn English. We stink less in science, but still in the bottom half, 29th out of 57 nations--behind Croatia, Liechtenstein and 26 others lining up to eat our lunch.

I’m a terrible golfer, and I don’t know a lick of any Asian language, but I do know the Bible. And there God not only says that it’s bad to be ignorant, but that it’s even worse to be arrogant, too. So, read God's word and weep. Or better yet, read it and WORK--to save our country from the coming reckoning. And from the country club dames of the LPGA.

Wisdom…cries out in the public square. “You simpletons!” she cries. “How long will you go on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools fight the facts? Come here and listen to me! I’ll pour out the spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise. I called you so often, but you didn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—when calamity overcomes you like a storm, when you are engulfed by trouble, and when anguish and distress overwhelm you.” Proverbs 1:20-27