Representative Muhlenberg

April 18, 2023

Representative Fredrick Muhlenberg

Dear Honorable Muhlenberg,

I first learned about you while, believe it or not, reading a novel by Steven Berry. Although you may not have been considered one of the Founding Fathers you did hold the honor of being one of the first in our country. In 1789 you were elected to the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania and became the first Speaker of the House.

Mr. Speaker it was during your tenure that the House voted against a proposal to translate some of our laws into German and your comment at the time was:

“The faster the Germans become Americans, the better it will be.”

Although you abstained from the vote and not having voted against the bill the “Muhlenberg Legend” came to be and that legend was that you were responsible for prohibiting German from becoming an official language of the United States. But Mr. Speaker I think I can see your real motive.

This vote came at a time when the country was still trying to unite behind a common cause and become that melting pot of English, Dutch, French and others. Thirteen different states and entities becoming united for this cause that “E Pluribus Unam.” The funny thing, Mr. Speaker is that your simple statement does in no way suggest that anyone abandon who they are or where they came from as well as their traditions. What it does request is that we all assimilate and accept the laws and ways upon which this country was founded, such as freedom of speech, and equal rights for all to name a few.

Well Mr. Speaker, things are quite different today. Attempts to divide have shown their faces in all aspects of our lives even in the halls of higher education.

Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is set to host five different graduation ceremonies segregated by ethnic background, race, and sexual orientation “Graduation Celebrations” would be held for Asian, Black, “Latino/a/x,” Native Americans, and “Lavender” or “LGBTQIA+” students. It makes me wonder what ever happened to school spirit when they cannot even get together to celebrate their accomplishments. Even esteemed institutions like Harvard have in the past have had additional commencements for minority students.

 I am sure you would agree Mr. Speaker that we as a nation worked hard and long to overcome these segregations and create that melting pot so we could create a common American identity out of the many and now we are taking steps backward. Once again, we should pay attention to our Founders and early ground breakers such as yourself and follow your advice. The sooner we all become Americans the sooner we can recreate that beautiful rainbow that the melting pot was intended to be.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Andrew DeMarco

Somers, NY