This page is a spin-off from the Immigration
Issues Page and is a discussion of the idea of making English the
official language of the United States. It may already be too late for the
implementation of this idea to be politically feasible. However, many people
contend that the establishment of English as the official language of the United States
would do a great deal to promote national unity and put the brakes on multiculturalism.
As long as I have the floor, I would like to make the assertion that Spanish language
broadcasting in this country impedes the assimilation of immigrants and makes illegal
aliens feel right at home. In fact the radio and TV stations in this country
are probably a lot better than the stations south of the border. With radio,
television and newspapers widely available in Spanish, there's no incentive to learn
English, and a permanent separation exists between one "community" and another. If
English was made the official language of the United States, our country would be
more unified and everyday interaction would be much easier.
The federal government isn't helping this situation. The State Department
actively accommodates people who can't speak English. "Language for [limited
English proficiency] individuals can be a barrier to accessing important benefits
or services, understanding and exercising important rights, complying with applicable
responsibilities, or understanding other information provided by federally funded
programs and activities."*.
Recent immigrants don't learn to speak English because they don't have to. The
government is bending over backwards to make it unnecessary to learn English to get
a federal job, get a welfare check, vote, drive, or work for any federally-funded
organization. And naturally, businesses accommodate as many customers as they can,
which often means doing business in two languages.
It is important that we all speak a common language because translation leads to
misunderstanding. Words have definite meanings, even if some English words have
multiple definitions. That's because words also have context. Words are important
and should be chosen carefully because things happen when words are spoken or
published. (Redefining words – like "marriage", for example – weakens
the foundation on which civil conversations take place.) The defense and
preservation of the English language is an important part of the maintenance of
our traditional American culture.
First, a little discussion of English per se:
The Origin and History of the English
Language: English is the second most spoken language in the world. It is estimated
that there are 300 million native speakers and 300 million who use English as a second language
and a further 100 million use it as a foreign language. It is the language of science, aviation,
computing, diplomacy, and tourism. It is listed as the official or co-official language of over
45 countries and is spoken extensively in other countries where it has no official status.
English: The
English language originated in England and is now widely spoken on six continents. It is
the primary language of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland,
New Zealand, and various small island nations in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It
is also an official language of India, the Philippines, and many countries in sub-Saharan
Africa, including South Africa. English is a member of the western group of the Germanic
languages (itself part of the Indo-European language family) and is closely related to
Frisian, German, and Netherlandic (Dutch and Flemish).
English approaches the
one million-word mark. Some time soon the English language, according to at least one
reasonably authoritative source, will create its one-millionth word. ... At the current rate of
progress, the one-million mark will be reached this summer.
Language and wealth:
If you look at the list of wealthiest countries on a per capita income basis, you will notice almost all the
top 20 are English-speaking, or use some other Germanic language, with the exception of France, Japan, and
Finland. English is only the primary language for about 5 percent (340 million) of the world's
people. Another 200 million, or 3 percent, are reasonably fluent in English, and perhaps
up to another 500 million know some English.
English will
fragment into 'global dialects'. Traditional English is set to fragment into a multitude of
dialects as it spreads around the world, a language expert claims. Professor David Crystal, one of the
world's foremost experts on English, said people will effectively have to learn two varieties of the
language — one spoken in their home country, and a new kind of Standard English which can
be internationally understood.
English's Enduring Value.
Multilingualism has increased illiteracy and balkanized communities, but that hasn't stopped proponents from
trying to make it mandatory. What part of "this doesn't work" don't they understand? ... Many academics
who promote multiculturalism seem to be antipathetic to our own American culture, which has been responsible
for making us the most powerful nation on earth.
Watch Your Language:
The top five books on the history and use of English.
This map shows where
people speak English in the U.S. ... and where they don't.
This map shows
the preferred non-English languages spoken at home in the U.S.
This map shows where
Spanish-speaking people are in the majority.
See also Language Use and English-Speaking
Ability.
Object of a proposition:
English as a national language. English is already universal. It's not only spoken by an
overwhelming number of Americans, it's also understood by hundreds of millions worldwide. It's the
language of aviation, and thus international commerce, as well as the default language of the Internet.
Everyone, from stock traders in New York to software designers in Mumbai, uses English to conduct business.
But instead of using the power of our native tongue to unite the country, our official policy has been to
balkanize the United States.
The Next Conservatism: What sort
of specifics might the next conservative agenda include? Clearly some elements carry over from the current
conservative agenda. … It wants a strong national defense, including missile defense. It demands
effective control of our borders, elimination of illegal immigration, a reduction in legal immigration,
and effective acculturation of recent immigrants. English should become America's official language, the
only language in which any government business may be conducted.
Hispanic Leaders Blast Schwarzenegger's Advice
to Turn Off Spanish TV. Some Hispanic leaders lashed out Friday at California Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger's advice that immigrants should "turn off the Spanish television set" to better learn how to
speak English. … Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., agrees with Schwarzenegger that there should be English
language standards. "Congressman Hunter believes there should be English language standards in place,
especially through this citizenship process," said Joe Kasper, a spokesman for Hunter.
Report: LPGA will suspend memberships
if players don't learn English. Players were told by LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens that by
the end of 2009, all players who have been on the tour for two years must pass an oral evaluation of their
English skills or face a membership suspension. A written explanation of the policy was not given to
players, according to the report.
Feminism and the English
Language: Our language used to belong to all its speakers and readers and writers. But in the 1970s and
'80s, arrogant ideologues began recasting English into heavy artillery to defend the borders of the New Feminist state.
In consequence we have all got used to sentences where puffed-up words like "chairperson" and "humankind" strut and preen,
where he-or-she's keep bashing into surrounding phrases like bumper cars and related deformities blossom like
blisters; they are all markers of an epoch-making victory of propaganda over common sense.
Speak English,
Get Ahead. It's no secret that in America knowing how to speak the English language is the basic
requirement for success — if you can't speak the language everybody else speaks, you
are back at the Tower of Babel wondering what everybody around you is trying to say.
The
PC end of the English-speaking peoples? As Tony Blair prepares to leave 10 Downing St., "Muhammad"
is the second-most popular name in Britain. As George W. Bush is finally deserted by his
long-suffering conservative base, "Jose" is not the second-most popular name in the United States. But
Spanish, as yet unofficially, is America's second language.
The Salvation Army or the Hispanic Caucus?
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's 2007 lawsuit against the Salvation Army's requirement that its
employees must speak English has once again split Congress between those who believe immigrants should adapt
to American ways and those who don't. Just before Congress left for its Thanksgiving break, a vote to
rein in the EEOC triggered a revolt by the House of Representatives' Hispanic Caucus. Senator Lamar
Alexander — during committee consideration of the EEOC's appropriation — added a provision that would
deny the EEOC any funds to continue its lawsuit against the Salvation Army's English-only policy.
Make English Official. One of the most unreported
stories of the past month is Democrats in Congress refusing to protect the Salvation Army and other similar
organizations from lawsuits for requiring their employees to be able to speak English on the job. This
policy issue is also important politically, and Republicans will benefit politically by doing the right thing.
How
Do You Say, "I Gave At the Office," In Spanish? The Salvation Army (SA) has an English-only policy,
which is permitted for businesses where employees interact heavily with the public. That policy applies
across the board to all employees, including Hispanics. Unfortunately, certain Hispanic employees in
Framingham, Mass refused to learn English, although they had been advised to do so by SA more than a year
ago. As a result, the employees were fired, as well they should have been.
McCain should pledge to Make English our Official
Language. At a recent Pennsylvania town hall meeting, a woman pointedly asked Republican presidential
candidate John McCain: "Why as an American do I have to push a button to speak English?" The crowd
roared with applause. "I think you struck a nerve," McCain replied, adding, "English must be learned by
everybody." That common-sense sentiment is shared by a huge majority of Americans.
Obama:
Kids Should Learn Spanish. Obama has consistently opposed making English the official language.
As an Illinois senator, Obama voted against a measure to make English the official language of the United States
in June 2007. He was one of 34 senators who voted against the measure.
Lost In Translation.
No matter how humiliating Obama finds our monolingual ways, there's good reason why Americans don't have to
speak foreign languages while others must speak English: The U.S. has unprecedented influence in
international affairs, an indispensable role in global markets and economic superiority. Simply put,
we are the world's dominant nation.
What's Spanish For Hypocrite?
[Obama says] Americans must learn Spanish! Here's the thing, though: Barack Obama, who holds several
impressive first-tier degrees, "doesn't speak Spanish."
English language legislation
gathers steam across the USA. English as an official language has gained momentum as proponents
keep going to the ballot box with measures that discourage bilingual ballots, notices and documents.
Thirty states now have laws specifying that official government communications be in English, says U.S. English,
a group that promotes the laws. This year such bills are under consideration in 19 legislatures.
Rookie congressman pushes English as
official language. A conservative congressman from Georgia says making English the official
language of the United States government will help unify the country and save taxpayers money. Rookie
Congressman Paul Broun (R-Georgia) has introduced the "English the Official Language Act of 2008," which states
that "no person has a right" to receive federal documents or services in languages other than English.
Parents protest test in
English. Angry Chicago Latino parents threatened Tuesday [2/12/2008] to keep their kids home on
test day next month if state education officials insist on giving students who are still learning English an
achievement test in English. Facing threats of federal sanctions, state officials were ordered last
October to give the same state tests native English speakers take to some 60,000 Illinois public school kids
who haven't yet mastered English.
English-only bill moves ahead in S.C.
immigration debate. The S.C. Senate jumped on immigration legislation Thursday when
a subcommittee approved a bill to make English the state's official language. Legislators'
positions were drawn along party lines during the debate with Republicans taking hard lines against
illegal immigration and the lone Democrat present urging caution.
Some bosses don't want to hear Spanish.
When the captain heard three crew members on his container ship chatting in Spanish during breaks, he became
enraged. He then brandished a knife to enforce his standing orders: Speak only English on board.
The incident, settled for $31,000 after a discrimination suit was filed in a Houston federal court, is an extreme
example of cases fueling a growing debate over English-only policies in the workplace, experts say.
They're Cleaning Up — in
English. Down in Gatorland, there's a gent named George Koleszarik who might become to the
residential cleaning business what [Joey] Vento is to the cheesesteak industry. … In the spring,
Koleszarik partnered [sic] with a Filipina woman named Cecille Drake to open Cecille's Residential Services.
They offer a full complement of housekeeping and house-sitting services. No problem there. But
three words on their Web site, brochures and business cards have caused a bit of a dust-up in and around
Naples: "We Speak English."
Editor's note:
Partner is not a verb! If we are going to mandate the use of English, let us also
require its correct use.
The Cliché Community:
But let's turn the page! Paul[ McCartney]'s right that the times are ever-changing, but I wish they'd change a little more
quickly, so we could get a new set of insta-clichés and cant phrases for everybody to start using all at once —
or better, so we could all return to using the perfectly fine words we were using before we popped these new verbal pacifiers
into our mouths.
Bill
aims to protect English on the job. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
would be blocked from filing lawsuits against businesses that require workers to speak English
on the job as part of legislation introduced recently in the Senate. "In America,
requiring English in the workplace is not discrimination, it's common sense," said Sen. Lamar
Alexander, Tennessee Republican and sponsor of the Protecting English in the Workplace Act of
2007.
Gingrich Decries Bilingual
Education. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich equated bilingual education Saturday with "the
language of living in a ghetto" and mocked requirements that ballots be printed in multiple languages.
Newt, bilingual ed and the PC police:
Last week my former boss, Newt Gingrich, … argued that bilingual education only encourages students to be linguistically
"living in a ghetto: "The government should quit mandating that various documents be printed in any one of 700
languages depending on who randomly show up to vote … The American people believe English should be the official language
of the government … Citizenship requires passing a test on American history in English. If that's true, then we do
not have to create ballots in any language except English."
Press '1' For English.
He might have put it better, but Newt Gingrich was right in stressing the importance of a common language for
our democracy and the advancement of our citizens. It's especially true for those new to our shores.
Language scofflaws:
In an action that can only be construed as pandering to Hispanics, Sen. John McCain unveiled a Spanish version
of his campaign Web site -- and he did it on Cinco de Mayo day (May 5), the Mexican holiday. Such
obvious attempts by politicians to ingratiate with non-English-speaking ethnic groups have made many Americans
wonder why such pandering is necessary since a person needs to be a U.S. citizen before he can vote….
The Vast Majority of Americans Support Official
English. 85% of Americans, including 92% of Republicans, 79% of Democrats, and 86% of those not
affiliated with either party, favor making English the official language of the United States of America.
Support grows to make English
official. The push to make English the nation's official language is building momentum, with a
congressional bill on the horizon and seven states pushing legislation to make English the official language
or to strengthen laws already in place. "There's been such strong support," said Rep. Steve King, Iowa
Republican. "And it's gaining momentum." Mr. King is expected next month to reintroduce the
English Language Unity Act, which seeks to make English the nation's official language.
Landslide Victory for Official English in
Arizona. By a stunning 3-1 landslide vote, 74-26 percent, Arizona's voters overwhelmingly
passed an amendment to their state constitution declaring English the state's official language and
making Arizona the 28th state with English as its official language.
Map: State
Language Laws and Demographic Data.
Fight over English-only bill rages in
Nashville. The "Friendliest City in America" finds itself in a nasty fight and the national
glare because of a language issue tied to illegal immigration. A recent City Council bill requiring
Nashville to conduct business solely in English was quickly trumped by the mayor's veto.
Alabama citizens ask court to enforce state
official English law. Five Alabama citizens and members of ProEnglish, an Arlington, Va.-based
national organization that advocates for official English, asked a state court today to order state officials
to reinstate Alabama's policy of giving driver's license exams exclusively in the State's official language,
English. … In 1990 the people of Alabama voted by an overwhelming 9 to 1 margin to amend
their state constitution and make English their official language.
Want
to pursue happiness? Learn English. Mastering the language of a country opens doors of
opportunity, plain and simple. In the United States, English is by no means our only language, but it is
the language of economic success and upward mobility. More important, it is the language of our national
unity and political discourse.
Nashville adopts 'English
First' policy. Nashville's city council has voted to adopt English as its official language,
following similar moves by several smaller cities around the country. After months of debate, the city's
Metro Council voted 23-14 on Tuesday [2/6/2007] to approve the measure requiring all government communications
to be in English, except when multilingual communications are required by federal rules or are needed "to
protect or promote public health, safety or welfare."
Gingrich pushes for English as official
language. American civilization eventually will collapse if government doesn't do a better job
assimilating immigrants into society, possible GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said Wednesday as he
urged Congress to enshrine English as the nation's official language.
Tancredo irked about Dems' Spanish-language preview
speech. Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo … scoffed Thursday [1/18/2007] when told that Sen.
Ken Salazar of Colorado would make a Spanish-language version of the Democrats' annual State of the
Union preview speech. "I must admit to you, the first thing that comes to mind is this is the
kind of thing that would happen in a bilingual country — for instance, Canada," Tancredo said in
an interview. "I've been saying for a long time, we're fast approaching that status: a
bilingual country. I don't think that's a good idea. I think it's something that
brings us apart, not together."
Texas Town OKs Anti-Immigration
Measures. Leaders of this Dallas suburb unanimously approved tough new anti-immigration measures
Monday evening [11/13/2006], including one that makes English the official language.
More information about
the situation in Farmers Branch, TX.
Gonzales
says Bush opposes English as national language. President George W. Bush has long opposed
making English the country's national language, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said on
Friday [5/19/2006], the day after the Senate voted to do so.
This is called "playing on both sides of the fence".
US Attorney
General in 'linguistic snare' over English. President George W. Bush has long opposed
making English the country's national language, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said on
Friday [5/19/2006], a day after the Senate voted to do so, but the White House said later
Gonzales had got caught in a "linguistic snare."
[The Attorney General isn't much of an attorney if he can be caught in a "linguistic snare" of his
own making.]
Senate
declares English 'national language'. English would be recognized as the national language of the
United States under an amendment the Senate attached to an immigration reform bill Thursday [5/19/2006].
Forty-Two Percent of Californians Don't Speak English at Home
Will English Survive Immigrant
Flood? The Census Bureau's data confirmed that the U.S. continues to be inundated
by a flood of immigrants both legal and illegal (a distinction the bureau does not even make).
Senate
Approves English as 'National' Language. An amendment to the Senate immigration bill would make
English the "national language of the United States." The Senate voted 63-34 to adopt the amendment,
which was offered by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.).
Villaraigosa Opposes English as National
Language. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has come out against the idea of making English
the official national language of the U.S. The proposal has been attached as an amendment to the federal
immigration bill. Villagrigosa says if the measure is strictly enforced, it could result in creating
communications problems between people who provide emergency services and those receiving them.
Truckers in trouble if they can't
speak English. Interstate truck and bus drivers across America may find themselves pulled off
the highway if state troopers or vehicle inspectors find they can't speak English. The requirement has
been on the books for decades, but enforcement has begun before Mexican trucks are allowed in the U.S.
interior as of Sept. 6.
Ban
doctors who can't speak English. European doctors who speak poor English should be banned from
practising in Britain, a coroner said yesterday [12/21/2006]. Dr Paul Knapman called for new laws after
an inquest heard that a man died as his French private doctor struggled to make himself understood in a
10-minute call to the ambulance service.
A
Diverse Opinion About Diversity. For a couple of hundred years, foreigners have been flocking to
the shores of this most welcoming of nations. They would bring along their art and music along with
their cuisine, but they adapted their ways in order that their children and their children's children would
acclimate and be full-fledged Americans. There was a reason, after all, that America was nicknamed the
Great Melting Pot. But somewhere along the way, there was a sea change. Now we have that oddest
of strange creatures known as the dual citizen and we have millions of people living here who apparently have no
particular loyalty to this country and are being encouraged to retain their own language and their old ways.
English spoken
here. Question: Why would the U.S. Department of Education insist that a kid who has little
or no English take his year-end tests in English? There are some 4,000 such students here in Arkansas
alone. Everybody knows they're going to flunk the test. Why make them take it? Answer:
So we'll know who these kids are, where they are, and just how far behind in English they are. That way,
we can concentrate on helping them pass the test in the future. Why bother? Because it's important
that these youngsters become fluent in the language of their adopted country.
Failure to
communicate. An Arizona sheriff known for his tough jail policies is offering basic English
classes to inmates who don't speak the language. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the language
barrier has caused problems for his jail officers and even prompted complaints from English-speaking prisoners.
Bush on English Assimilation:
Hipocrasia. From ballot boxes to hospitals, workplaces, and even the Internet, President Bush's
words and deeds are perpendicular to each other. The Bush Administration aggressively promotes
multilingual voting. … President Bush reaffirmed President Clinton's executive order that medical centers
that accept federal money must provide free translators to foreign-language speakers. … Bush's hypocrisy is
most vivid on his own website, WhiteHouse.gov. Click the Español button and read what he did
today … in Spanish.
Senate wants to make English
official. The Senate on Thursday [5/18/2006] voted to make English the national language of the
United States, a historic move that arose out of its debate of comprehensive immigration reform. The
lopsided 63-34 vote came after an impassioned debate in which the word "racist" was used on the Senate
floor to describe the effort.
Try
this quiz — English only. People wanting to become Australian citizens will have to
pass an English test and another 45-minute quiz of up to 30 questions testing knowledge on everything from
the judiciary to indigenous people.
Empowerment through
English: This is not a column about affirmative action. It is a column about … the
moral and intellectual bankruptcy of leftist elites like Senate minority leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who
last week denounced as "racist" a bill declaring English the national language of the United States.
"This amendment is racist," Reid said. "I think it's directed basically to people who speak
Spanish." Racist! As if Americans who speak Spanish aren't as capable of learning
English as any other linguistic minority.
For English, please press
'1'. Two politicians in Maryland are now in trouble for stating the obvious: People who
work in customer service should speak English. And out-of-control multiculturalism is to blame for the
failure to preserve America's common language. The professional victims are up in arms as
usual — demanding apologies, whining to the press and clamoring for government subsidies to nurse
their hurt feelings.
Why Official English? A
century ago such immigrant ghettos were marked by extreme poverty, 80-hour workweeks and child labor.
As the industrial revolution matured, immigrants discovered that language skills were the key to entering
the emerging "middle class." This, coupled with mandatory public education and reduced immigration,
resulted in the successful assimilation of ethnic communities into American society.
The Destructive Tolerance of Babel:
English is excellently suited for the role of connecting people. This is true within countries (USA,
India) and globally too, because rudimentary English is, regardless of its odd spelling rules, easy to
learn. This, and not the global political-economic-science dominance of the Anglo-Saxons alone explains
the language's success. Every kid in the country with four languages where I reside loves to learn
English — and hates compulsory German and French.
Enforcing
the law in two languages. The killing exemplified a growing problem as Baltimore's Latino
community swells, with an increasing number of perpetrators, victims and witnesses to crimes who speak
Spanish and little else. And the city's criminal justice system has been struggling to cope.
Companies scramble to cope with
multiple languages in the workplace. As companies hire from an ever more diverse labor pool, they
reap the benefits of bilingualism, but they're also running into a Babel of problems. Already, a fifth of
the nation's population speaks something other than English as their primary language (in some areas, it's
two-fifths). Many of them have limited English proficiency that can lead to costly mistakes or low
productivity. Managers worry about compromised safety or the quality of customer service. And if
some workers use a foreign language to mock others, morale can break down.
English Language Unity Act
co-sponsor list climbs past 125 members. Official English measures have long been popular with
the public and those elected to serve in Congress. For nearly a generation, polls have found support for
making English the official language among four-fifths of the population, including a 2005 Zogby poll which
pegged the rate at 79 percent.
English spoken
here. Para espanol, oprima el dos. … Even though I speak and love Spanish, I
find myself increasingly annoyed by this unsubtle notice that the U.S. is gradually becoming a bilingual
nation. And therein lies the source of much aggravation American citizens feel as Congress weighs
in on illegal immigration.
EEOC:
An Out-of-Control Taxpayer-Financed Agency. You need not be an American citizen to use a federal
agency to file a lawsuit on your behalf. In what other country is there an agency that would help you sue
yet another government agency or a private company if you weren't a citizen? And provide you with an
interpreter to do so? Not one that I can think of. This case would be entirely moot if we had an
"English First" rule in our schools and required everyone to learn English for employment. I have given
up on the idea that such common sense will again prevail in our society.
Dear Circuit City:
After visiting one of your stores recently — the one on Market Street in Wilmington, North
Carolina — I'm afraid I will have to add you to my list of businesses I'm boycotting in 2006. The
boycott stems from your misguided decision to provide customers with a better selection of "Musica
Latina" than Country music CDs. In America, this is simply unacceptable.
For Immigrants, the Future Becomes Clearer when the
Focus is on English. While some in Congress are promoting amnesty to bring more immigrants into
seasonal farm jobs, the Kemtah Group in Las Cruces, N.M. is helping first-generation Americans achieve their
true potential. This week, the organization graduated twelve adult immigrants from its 10-week English
immersion course, giving foreign-born workers the opportunity to participate fully in American society.
"Speak
English" sign ruling appealed. A tavern owner is asking a state agency to reconsider
a controversial ruling that declared as discriminatory a sign that says, "For Service Speak
English." … If the ruling stands, tavern owner Tom Ullum could be ordered to remove the sign,
undergo diversity training and pay for anti-discrimination advertising.
When bilingual means
doublespeak: When English-immersion activist Ron Unz put Proposition 227 on the ballot in
1998, most Democrats opposed the measure, and many educators did, too. They had their reasons. They
feared non-English speakers would not learn subject matter. They believed English immersion would be
especially harmful to older students. But a funny thing happened. Proposition 227
worked. Within five years, the number of limited-English students who could speak English proficiently
tripled.
Burr,
Others Want English as Official Language: U.S. Rep. Richard Burr (R-NC), who
is running for the Senate seat being vacated by John Edwards, is a co-sponsor of a bill
that does not propose amending the Constitution. Instead it would codify into
federal law that all federal publications — including tax forms — must be
in English only. It also would recognize English as the sole official language
of the United States.
Students kicked off school bus in St. Paul
for speaking English. Imagine sending your kids off to school, but when they get to the bus they
are told they can't get on because they speak English. That's right, English. It happened to a few
children in St. Paul and now the school district is apologizing. … [The kids] were told by the bus
driver the route is for non-English speaking students only.
CBS4 Investigates 'English Speaking' Sign
Flap. Arapahoe County is threatening to fire a veteran Public Works employee for promoting the
fact that he is an English speaking American.
Crane Operator Sues California,
Demanding Safety Test in Spanish. The worker failed an English exam last month even after working
more than 24 years in the U.S.
One Reporter's
Opinion — Press '1' for English. It is this reporter's opinion that to be eligible for
naturalization, an applicant must be required to read, write and speak basic English. This requirement has
more or less fallen by the wayside, yet every poll I have seen reveals that between 80 percent and 90 percent of
those polled vote for that requirement.
Headline writers have it easy these days.
For
English, Press "1". I thought I heard it all, but the other day, when making a call to the Social
Security Administration, I heard the usual prompt about pressing one for English. However, to my
amazement, the recording at the other end of the phone line began spouting out a healthy flow of uninterrupted
Spanish. … Here I was, an English-speaking American citizen, who was being forced to do something
extra, in order to receive a message from my own government in English.
English Is the
Common Bond. When one travels throughout the southwestern U.S., you often feel
as though you're in a foreign land. Here in Los Angeles more than half of our working age
population cannot read a simple bus schedule and cannot fill out a job application. A truly
shocking statistic shows that in the LA region, 53 percent of workers aged 16 and older are
deemed to be functionally illiterate.
Education Study
Finds 11 Million U.S. Adults Lack Simple English Skills. English literacy levels
for Spanish speakers have decreased over last 10 years.
New Hampshire
Legislature Tells Congress, "Pass Official English". The English Language Unity
Act would require the United States government to conduct official business in
English. Specifically, H.R. 997 would make it so that "all laws, public proceedings,
regulations, publications, orders, actions, programs and policies" are conducted in the
English language. Numerous common sense exceptions are included in the legislation to
protect the well-being of all Americans, including public safety, national security, and
commerce. More than half of the U.S. states have adopted English as their official
language, including New Hampshire in 1995.
Non-English Speakers Want Their
Say in Court. Maria Falcon believes she lost title to a Los Angeles house in a recent court
dispute for one simple reason: She cannot speak English. "I felt frustrated because I didn't have
any assistance," said Falcon, 52, who speaks Spanish. Falcon said an English-speaking friend accompanied
her to court but wasn't allowed to translate because she wasn't a court-certified interpreter.
[Would you expect to win in a Mexico City courtroom if you spoke no Spanish?]
Not Guilty By Reason of Limited
English Proficiency: In a terrifying blow to the future of law enforcement and criminal
proceedings, Pennsylvania prosecutors were forced to drop drug charges against a man after a Pennsylvania
Superior Court declared a search void due to the accused's inability to understand English.
Judge Orders Parents to Learn
English. A Tennessee judge is under fire from some civil libertarians, and now a higher court
must decide whether a parental language requirement is an issue of civil rights or child welfare.
Many Languages, One
America. Over the history of the United States, many languages have risen to
the rank of "most important foreign language to know." A century ago, this title was
bestowed on German. In subsequent years, the spotlight moved to French, then Japanese,
and today is cast on Spanish. Tomorrow, Arabic or Chinese might take center stage. What
can be said for sure is that the United States has never been a land of just two languages. We
have revolved around one central language — English — with many more languages
making up the distinctly American accent. The amount of linguistic diversity varies between
states, and even within states. Speakers of non-English languages, 321 at last count, are not
evenly distributed within the United States, leaving each state, county, and metropolitan area
with its own unique linguistic composition.
Group Complains About "English-Only"
Meeting — in Massachusetts! Members of a Latino group are furious at a state
representative who they claim demanded that a planned meeting be English-only, a published report said Monday
[2/7/2005]. Spanish speakers from the group Neighbor to Neighbor complained that Rep. John Binienda's
request is a slap in the face to his Latino constituents, who make up one-tenth of his district.
Colorado Kills Plan To Make English
Official Language. A Colorado House committee has killed a ballot proposal that would
make English the official state language. … The committee killed the referred measure on a 6-to-5 vote
after opponents said they didn't need to learn English to be an American.
Bilingual Education Disaster in New York
City: A recent report on English Language Learners found that [only] 3.7 percent of [New
York] City's 134,000 students in bilingual education programs were able to transition into mainstream
classes. Some of these students had been in bilingual education as long as 10 years.
Companies scramble to cope with
multiple languages in the workplace. As companies hire from an ever more diverse labor pool, they
reap the benefits of bilingualism, but they're also running into a Babel of problems. Already, a fifth of
the nation's population speaks something other than English as their primary language (in some areas, it's
two-fifths). Many of them have limited English proficiency that can lead to costly mistakes or low
productivity. Managers worry about compromised safety or the quality of customer service. And if
some workers use a foreign language to mock others, morale can break down.
What "Diversity" Really
Means: the Open Borders Lobby told us this wouldn't happen. They said all the immigrants from
Third World countries would assimilate, learn English, become computer geniuses, start software companies, and
work harder and be more moral than decadent old white Americans, and there wouldn't be any racial, ethnic or
social conflict as mass immigration started bumping into the native population.
Foreign Language Ballots Are A Bad
Idea. Printing ballots in foreign languages is fundamentally antidemocratic, because fair
elections depend on public debate on the issues and candidates. People who don't understand the public
debate are subject to manipulation by political-action groups that can mislead them in language translations
and then tell them how to vote.
Time to Terminate Foreign-Language
Ballots. Led by U.S. Reps. Peter King, R-N.Y. and Steve King, R-Iowa, 56 members of the
House of Representatives are urging House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., to
oppose the renewal of the section of the Voting Rights Act that mandates foreign-language ballots.
Students say English-only test is
unfair. Many of the protesting students call the test unfair because it is given in English.
Roughly 88 percent of the student body are English-as-a-second-language students.
Are we creating an American
Quebec? Why Congress should pass the English Language Unity Act of 2003.
Bilingual
Ballots Are "Loco", Say Conservatives: America's recent influx of
immigrants who speak "limited" English will cost taxpayers millions of dollars to
produce bilingual ballots for upcoming elections, says a taxpayer watchdog group.
The
disunited states: As more information from the 2000 Census is released,
it's increasingly clear that this is not our parents' country. Ethically, it stopped
being their country in the 1960s. Ethnically, it now resembles not a united nation,
but a United Nations, with divisions along class, racial, religious, language and
ideological lines. Our national motto, E pluribus unum ("out of
many, one,") no longer applies.
Discriminating Against American
Culture: On Aug. 11, 2000, President Clinton signed Executive Order 13166, which requires federal
agencies and any other entities that receive federal funds to make their programs and activities "accessible"
to non-English speaking persons. The order provides that entities that do not comply are guilty of
discriminating on the basis of national origin in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Are you
outraged yet? You probably assume that President Bush will just revoke this ill-conceived fiat and be
done with it. But no. The order remains in full force and effect.
Government Worker in U.S. Fired for
Speaking English: An employee of Miami-Dade County, harassed by Latino co-workers for being a
white American, says she was fired for speaking English on the job.
The Importance Of The English
Language: The Supreme Court's decision in the seatbelt/handcuff case grabbed the headlines, but
the ruling the same day about Alabama's English-only law was every bit as important. The high Court
barred a private right of action to challenge this first-to-reach-the-Court of the 25 state laws designating
English as the state's official language.
Assimilation, Not Amnesty:
Treat Hispanics like Americans. Thanks to federal and state language policies, families with
Spanish names are treated as though they were illiterate in the English language. They receive letters
from schools and government agencies in their "native" Spanish — even if their family has been in
America for generations.
Keep the US English speaking:
Whether we like it or not, the universal language of discourse in America is and should be English. I
speak from experience. My parents were immigrants and my wife is an immigrant from Argentina. I
speak six languages and have spent 15 of the past 20 years living and working abroad. Bilingual
education is bad policy for the United States and for its immigrants and should be discarded, once and for all,
as a failed and misguided idea.
Multilingual Ballots a New "Civil
Right"? Thanks to Bill Clinton, every polling place in the United States may soon be required to
provide ballots in foreign languages for those who don't speak English. Further, Capitol Hill is
considering legislation that would enable leftists to enforce that requirement.
Debate Over Bilingual Education
Rages: From Massachusetts to Colorado, and even in the Golden State, the debate over whether
public school students ought to be taught in English or their native tongues is raging as hot as ever.
"Diversity" In
India: Demographically, the United States has always been diverse, having received immigrants
from all over the world. However, until recent times, it was understood by all that they came here to
become Americans -- not to remain foreign. By the second generation, most were speaking English, and by
the third generation they were speaking only English.
In England...
Muslim mums told
to speak English at home. Muslim mothers who do not speak English at home are stunting their
children's literacy levels, one of the Government's most influential education advisers said last night
[1/13/2007]. Sir Cyril Taylor, the chairman of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, said that
the failure of parents to speak English at home was a key reason why some schools were at the bottom of
newly-published-league tables.
English
'a foreign language in London's schools'. English is a foreign language in half the primary schools
in central London, new statistics show. Those who speak English as their first language are the minority
in inner city areas of the capital. Nationally, one in five primary pupils are now from an ethnic
minority, which means that non-English speakers are in the majority in many schools.
ACLU Fails to Stop English-Only Law.
"English-only" group launches new
push: Wants Congress to pass bill adopting official language.
The ABC's of English Immersion: A Teachers' Guide
Three Cheers for Joe Vento!
Councilman asks Geno's to lose 'Speak English'
sign. At a City Council meeting Thursday [6/8/2006], Councilman Jim Kenney asked Geno's Steaks
to take down its sign that
says, "THIS IS AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING SPEAK
ENGLISH." That's just the latest example of how an English-only ordering policy has thrust
one of Philadelphia's most famous cheesesteak joints into the national immigration debate.
City
agency: Cheesesteak shop's English-only policy discriminates. An English-only
ordering policy at one of Philadelphia's most famous cheesesteak joints has prompted a city agency to pursue
a discrimination complaint, but the owner said Monday [6/12/2006] he would not back down.
Geno's hit with bias complaints. The
Commission on Human Relations said it would insist on removal of a "Speak English" sign at the cheesesteak
shop. … Owner Joey Vento has become a mini-celebrity over the issue and has steadfastly refused to
pull down the signs despite the growing legal brouhaha.
A hero at
Geno's. Joey Vento, a feisty and proud Italian guy from Philadelphia, has become an American
hero. … Joey likes to say, "If they turned the lights out at Geno's, Philadelphia would go
dark." Turning the lights out at Geno's is a circumstance that some people at City Hall
seem to think is a proper punishment for something that Joey has done. The only trouble
is that most Americans think the guy deserves a ticker tape parade for what he's done.
Pennsylvania
group supports censure of Geno's. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, silent until
yesterday [6/16/2006] on the "Speak English" signs at Geno's Steaks, says it backs its Philadelphia
counterpart's decision to file a complaint against the cheesesteak shop. … On Monday, the independent
city Human Relations Commission filed a complaint that Vento's signs violate the city's Fair Practices Act,
which prohibits public accommodations from discriminating on the basis of national origin or race.
The
cheesesteak flap: Have a chizu no yaki-niku 'wit'. Not only did the people at Geno's have an attitude that
clashed with what government authorities deemed to be correct, they engaged in a conspiracy to commit free speech to reflect
that seditious attitude. It does not matter that President Bush has the same attitude. (He said
last week that all those who seek America's blessings have a duty to learn the common language.)
The
world weighs in on Geno's 'Speak English' sign. The small, laminated placards, tucked
unobtrusively near the takeout window, have ignited a nationwide firestorm of debate about English,
immigration and free speech. And, neighborhood gossip has it, they have done a better job at
attracting customers than the store's Las Vegas-style neon lights ever did.
In
plain English, Rick backs Vento. Injecting himself in the middle of a South Philly controversy
as burning-hot as a stainless-steel grill, U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum made an unscheduled stop at Geno's Steaks
last night [6/19/2006] to wolf down a cheesesteak and stand behind its owner. He voiced support — albeit
in an odd, indirect way — for owner Joe Vento's much debated "Speak English" sign.
Joe Vento, Loud and
Clear. [Joe Vento] speaks for many of us when he says that he's sick and tired of porous
borders and individuals who aren't playing by the rules in their pursuit of the American Dream —
and that he's grown fatigued of politicians paying only lip service to the problem. Now, there are other
Joe Ventos, solving problems in their communities that Washington can't, or won't, handle.
Mind your
language at Geno's. The collapse of President Bush's recent immigration reform
was partly fuelled by fears that the English language was under threat from Spanish. But
as one food stall owner in Philadelphia illustrates, English has some unlikely champions.
Rudy Visits Controversial
Cheesesteak Shop. Monday night [10/1/2007] Rudy Giuliani visited a famous Philadelphia
cheesesteak restaurant that serves as much controversy as it does calories. Geno's Steaks has been a
famous Philly hot-spot for years. It was thrown into the headlines last year when the owner posted a
sign at the counter that reads, "This is America. When Ordering Please Speak English."
Pennsylvania
Shop Owner Backs English-Only Policy. A small sign that asked customers to order in English at
a famous cheesesteak shop was never meant to be offensive, the shop's owner testified Friday at a hearing to
decide whether the policy was discriminatory. Joe Vento, the owner of Geno's Steaks, defended his policy
before the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, which filed the discrimination complaint.
Update:
Ruling:
"Speak English" sign at cheesesteak shop not discriminatory. A city agency yesterday [3/19/2008]
dismissed a discrimination complaint against Geno's Steaks for its speak-English sign, halting a case that
thrust shop owner Joey Vento into the national spotlight of the contentious immigration debate. A split
three-member panel of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations ruled that a sign in the South Philadelphia
cheesesteak shop did not convey a message that service would be refused to non-English speakers.
Photo by Peter Tobia, Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Photographer.
'Please Speak English' sign to remain at
Geno's. [Joey] Vento had placed the sign in his famous Geno's Philly Cheese Steaks store in October
2005, and no complaints had been filed until the chairman of the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission filed
one in June 2006.
Tongue
Twister. It was the small sign that stirred up a legal tornado. Last week, Joey Vento, owner of a
popular Philadelphia cheesesteak restaurant, finally won the right to keep his sign: "This is America: When
Ordering, Please Speak English." It took him two years, much abuse and hundreds of hours of work by paid and
volunteer lawyers, but a local regulatory body finally ruled his sign wasn't discriminatory or offensive.
"Official English" links:
Resources
on Executive Order 13166: Clinton
declared U.S. officially multilingual by Executive Order. It
requires homeless shelters and other nonprofit groups to pay for translators
if they want to receive certain government aid.
English
First is a national,
non-profit grassroots lobbying organization founded in 1986. Our
goals are simple:
- Make English America's official language.
- Give every child the chance to learn English.
- Eliminate costly and ineffective multilingual policies.
U.S. English: Towards
a United America.
ProEnglish: Dedicated to
protecting our nation's unity in the English language.
ProEnglish: The English Language Advocates.
Dedicated to protecting our nation's unity in the English language.
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