Press 2 For Spanish

May 4, 2007 by Jeremy.

I recently read an article that I would like to share with you. It is entitled Is the U.S. Government Out to Undermine English? and it takes a very common sense look at the issue of English as our National Language.

Now ask yourself two things: Why is the government undermining the efforts of charities to encourage people to learn English? And doesn’t it have better things to do with our tax dollars?

I think these two questions are great! Why should we penalize an organization for trying to help someone better themselves and why would the government be against such a good thing?

Here’s another great point on foreign-language ballots. I have argued this point many times with people before and you really can’t take a more common sense perspective on something. I’ve but the comment in bold that is a total common sense and coherent thought.

But as I’ve argued before in “Winning the Future,” the Voting Rights Act has been misapplied in recent years. One section, for example, requires something I have long advocated be repealed: the printing of foreign-language ballots. And the reason I advocate this is simple: If U.S. citizenship is a precondition for voting, and knowing English is a precondition for citizenship, then why would any citizen exercising his or her right to vote need a foreign-language ballot?

I don’t see how anyone could possible argue with that logic, but I hope some of you will try!

He really ends the letter well and brings the whole issue into perspective.

No legitimate American voter should be denied access to the polls. And no person should be discriminated against on the basis of his race or national origin at his place of work.

But don’t we want a federal government that reinforces English — not one that searches for lawsuits against learning and using English?

A far better — and more humane — use of our tax dollars would be for Congress to first make it clear that employers are permitted to require that English be spoken for legitimate business purposes while on the job, as long as the policy is clearly posted and known to employees before they are hired. Congress should also require that the DOJ receive a complaint before filing a lawsuit for alleged voter discrimination.

And then Congress should create a voucher program for adult immigrants to receive intensive English instruction. Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee has proposed such a program, which would allow immigrants who want to become citizens to meet their residency requirements in less time, thus giving them an incentive to learn English.

Allowing employers to require English on the job and insisting that English be the official language of government does not reject or undermine the importance of our heritage as a nation of immigrants. In Benjamin Franklin’s day, German was very widely spoken in Pennsylvania. In the 19th Century, Italian, Yiddish and Polish became common languages in many neighborhoods. Today, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese and dozens more foreign languages are spoken by Americans who are proud of their heritage. Every American should be encouraged to learn a foreign language in order to better understand the world. Promoting English as the official language of government is part of supporting everyone’s having an equal opportunity to pursue happiness and prosperity.

As you have heard me say many times before, English is the language of American success and cultural unity. Americans, new and old, deserve nothing less than a government that seeks to protect and preserve English, to defend the need for employers to require English on the job and to help those who want assistance in learning English.

So why should I have to press 1 for English?

Posted in Immigration, Jeremy, Coherent Thoughts, Current Events | Print | 4 Comments »