Americans should be free to recognize our religious heritage; doing that is not the same as creating a government-sponsored religion. Ernest Istook More Quotes by Ernest Istook More Quotes From Ernest Istook Education begins at home and I applaud the parents who recognize that they - not someone else - must take responsibility to assure that their children are well educated. Ernest Istook responsibility home children English should be our official language. Reading and speaking English are requirements to become a citizen. Ernest Istook citizens reading house There are a lot of Grinches out there that would like nothing better than to take any references to religion out of the holiday season. Ernest Istook holiday-season holiday christmas America has global trade with plenty of nations that provide inexpensive labor, but it's better for us when they're in our own hemisphere, rather than sending that business halfway around the world. Ernest Istook mind-your-own-business hemisphere america The birth of democracy in Iraq is one of the great positive changes of our era. Ernest Istook eras iraq democracy While even pornography is protected as free speech, the courts have consciously undermined religious speech and freedom of religion for years. Ernest Istook speech religious years Those people who want to express their religious beliefs on public property should enjoy the same rights that we provide to those protesting the war in Iraq. Ernest Istook religious rights war The courts are using the First Amendment to attack religion, when they should be using it to protect religion. Ernest Istook first-amendment should firsts Thousands of present day students, like many of our Founding Fathers, are being taught at home. Ernest Istook taught home father The American people do not want people thumbing their nose at the law. It undercuts the very fabric of our society and the system of civil justice and of criminal justice as well. Ernest Istook umpires law people Research and development needs permanent tax credits to build the technology that spurs our growth. But no government programs alone can get America's students to study more science and math parents must push and help their children to meet this goal. Ernest Istook technology math children There's a lot of exaggerated talk about CAFTA, but it's actually a fairly routine trade agreement. Although it involves fairly small nations, they're still more important trade partners than places like Australia or many other larger nations. Ernest Istook australia important agreement Out of control judicial activism threatens traditional marriage in America. Ernest Istook judicial activism america America's strength is not our diversity; our strength is our ability to unite people of different backgrounds around common principles. A common language is necessary to reach that goal. Ernest Istook diversity america people To become an American citizen, we require people to read, write and speak in English. That is to help them to assimilate in our melting pot, truly to become Americans. We mock that when the cherished right to vote does not involve English any more. Ernest Istook doe writing people Home schooled children frequently combine for many purposes - and they interact well. The growth of the home schooling movement means that more and more children are learning together, just not in a traditional classroom. Ernest Istook home mean children It's good that the first half of the speech emphasized freedom, because George W. Bush has been the global champion for freedom. As he said, if we don't fight tyranny it will not leave us alone in peace. Ernest Istook champion fighting leave-me-alone My father was the son of immigrants, and he grew up bilingual, but English is what my father taught me and what he spoke to me. America's strength is not our diversity; it is our ability to unite around common principles even when we come from different backgrounds. Ernest Istook father america son Printing ballots in multiple languages costs millions of dollars every year. It also discourages immigrants from integrating into American society and gaining the benefits that come from speaking English. Ernest Istook dollars cost years The motives of these parents vary, many parents don't like the curriculum being taught to their kids, or are wary of the threat of peer pressure or the presence of drugs or violence lurking in too many of our schools today. Ernest Istook parent kids school