The Bush administration should be applauded for recognizing the importance of foreign language fluency. President Bush has finally recognized the vital role of international education in the security of the nation, something the higher education community has known for years. It’s no secret that we blundered terribly by neglecting the value of linguistic and cultural understanding before sending troops into Afghanistan and Iraq. Our forces found themselves unable to communicate with the civilian population and were unfamiliar with their cultural values and expectations, leading to miscommunication, misunderstanding and animosity.
However, I urge the higher education community to be wary of being used by the government to further its military actions abroad. Supporting foreign language education solely for national security purposes is not the best way to develop a population that is engaged with its neighbors around the world. International education should instead be integral to policies that ensure all students have equal access to a quality education. In today’s world, the definition of a
well-educated student must include fluency in a foreign language.
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