English Requirement In U.S. Is Unnecessary

An American Community Survey (based on U.S. Census data) shows that there are 37.6 million people in the United States that speaks the Spanish language in their home. That makes the United States fifth in the number of Spanish-speaking people in the entire world -- only Mexico, Spain, Columbia, and Argentina have more Spanish language speakers.

On the surface, that would tend to support the argument of those who want to establish English as the official language, or who would require an ability to speak English as a requirement to become a citizen. Even Congress has fallen for this argument, and the immigration reform bill passed by the Senate requires undocumented immigrants to learn English before they can become citizens. And a recent Gallup Poll (done between June 13th and July 5th of 4,373 nationwide adults -- with a margin of error of only 2 points) verifies that a huge majority of Americans consider it "essential" for immigrants to learn English.

Frankly, I am at a loss to understand why this is even an issue. Do Americans think that immigrants will refuse to learn English (in an English-speaking society) for generation after generation? If so, then they are very mistaken. As a Pew Research Center survey has shown, while only about 35% of first generation immigrants learn to speak English "very well", that is certainly not the case with the following generations. The second generation has about 91% who speak English very well, and for the third generation that rises to about 97%.

That means this is just a false, and probably anti-immigrant, attitude. Making English a legal requirement is a silly and unnecessary issue, because the problem (if it really can be considered a problem), corrects itself by the second generation. Immigrants know that English is necessary to truly integrate into American society, and even if they don't master the language themselves, they make sure their children and grandchildren do master it.

We need to stop worrying about false issues like language (that corrects itself), and start worrying about people. Besides, multiculturalism has never hurt the United States. In fact, it is one of this nation's greatest strengths. The Spanish language is not our enemy -- bigotry and xenophobia are.

Offensive

The above very true statement (found at the blog of Yellowdog Granny) shows just how screwed up the priorities of many Americans are. While they may offend you, words and gestures don't really cause any harm. However, famine and war and the destruction of our environment negatively affects people around the world -- and results in millions of deaths each year. Those are the really offensive things.

Postcard

"English Only" Is Just Bigotry

Does the above sign bother you because it gives the same information in two different languages? It does bother some people. These people want the United States to adopt an "official" language, English, and mandate that only that language be used on all signs, official paperwork, and in government offices. That would mean anyone in this country, whether visiting or living here, would just be out of luck if they could not speak fluent English.

And one of those people who want the United States to adopt an "English only" law is presidential candidate and current governor of Texas, Rick Perry (which is kind of weird since Spanish was spoken in Texas for a couple of hundred years before English was). In an Iowa campaign stop the other day, Rick Perry agreed with a teabagger who complained about other languages being used in this country.

I must admit that I have never understood this viewpoint. For one thing, even when immigrants come to this country without a knowledge of English their children and further generations are English-speakers. The inability to speak and write English never extends beyond a single generation. So even if this is a problem, it is a problem that corrects itself within a generation.

Second, how fair is it to cut off new immigrants from basic knowledge that everyone should be privy to? If a sign warns of danger or prohibits some kind of behavior (like the sign above), shouldn't as many people as possible be able to understand it? If a person has business in a government office, or must go to court, is it fair that the business be conducted in a language they don't understand? Of course not. Any American in a foreign country would expect a translator if they had to go to a government office or court, and we should do the same.

Third, just how does it hurt any English-speaking American to have signs, ballots, or other things in more than one language? The answer of course is that it doesn't hurt anyone. If English is your only language (which is sadly true of most Americans), then ignore the parts of the sign or document that aren't in English. Nobody is hurt by bi-lingual signs or documents, and some people are helped. That in itself is reason enough to continue doing it.

The only reason I can think of for wanting an English-only law is to force other people to be just like you. And trying to force others to be like you is not freedom -- it is just old-fashioned bigotry. It takes a pretty small-minded and bigoted person to think that their language or customs are better than those of other people.

Frankly, I love living in a country where a variety of languages are spoken and customs honored. And as a Texan, I believe the Spanish language, customs, and heritage (which were here long before any other) give a rich sub-text to the Texas experience -- and I wouldn't have it any other way.

We are lucky to live in the most interesting country in the world. It's time to set aside the bigotry and enjoy the rich texture of our modern America. Diversity is not a curse -- it's a treasure.

Palinisms

Throughout the short history of America its leaders have generally been fairly well educated and had a better-than-average command of the English language. We may not have always liked what they said, but they've usually said it correctly and with a certain amount of logic. George Bush broke that tradition and was famous for his mangling of the English language. He mispronounced, misused and made up words. His one saving grace was that even though he said things incorrectly a person could usually understand what he meant.

Sarah Palin takes the Bush legacy a step further. She not only makes up words that don't exist, but she is a proponent of creating word salads -- stringing together a series of words which when examined have little or no meaning (even though it started out sounding like it would have meaning). The folks over at The Huffington Post have compiled what they believe to be the 15 craziest "Palinisms". Here they are (with the date she uttered them):

“Nuclear weaponry, of course, would be the be-all, end-all of just too many people in too many parts of our planet.” 9/25/2008

"As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where – where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border." 9/25/2008

"So we discussed what was going on in Africa. And never, ever did I talk about, Well, gee, is it a country or is it a continent, I just don't know about this issue." 11/11/2008

“I don’t know if I should Buenos Aires or Bonjour, or… this is such a melting pot. This is beautiful. I love the diversity. Yeah. There were a whole bunch of guys named Tony in the photo line, I know that.” 4/15/2010

“Obviously we loved sports, and the baby was born during the spring track season.” (from her book)

“Believe it or not – this was in the 60s – we used to hustle on over the border for health care that we would receive in Whitehorse…. Isn’t that kind of ironic now. Zooming over the border, getting health care from Canada.” 3/6/2010

"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil." 8/7/2009

"When the American people elected President Obama they gave him responsibility to handle this disaster. He promised to “heal the earth, and watch the waters recede...” or something far-fetched like that." 5/27/2010

“I didn’t believe the theory that human beings – thinking, loving beings – originated from fish that sprouted legs and crawled out of the sea. Or that human beings began as single-celled organisms that developed into monkeys who eventually swung down from the trees.” (from her book)

“With the gray Talkeetna Mountains in the distance and the first light covering of snow about to descend on Pioneer Peak, I breathed in an autumn bouquet that combined everything small-town America with rugged splashes of the Last Frontier.” (from her book)

"I think it's (negative coverage) appalling and a violation of our freedom of the press." 5/21/2010

"Ground Zero Mosque supporters: doesn't it stab you in the heart, as it does ours throughout the heartland? Peaceful Muslims, pls refudiate." 7/18/2010

"'Refudiate,' 'misunderestimate,' 'wee-wee'd up.' English is a living language. Shakespeare liked to coin new words too. Got to celebrate it!" 7/18/2010

"I'm not politically correct. I am not one to be a word police." 2/7/2010

"I didn't really had a good answer, as so often -- is me." 3/5/2010