Thread: English-only proposal is cruel and dangerous

http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 7/MTCN0305

Friday, 09/15/06

English-only proposal is cruel and dangerous
Imposing an artificial language barrier would threaten public safety


English is the official language throughout this nation and throughout Nashville. Its use is not threatened; neither does the use of other languages threaten America.

That being the case, what is the purpose of Metro Councilman Eric Crafton's ordinance to make English the only language used in Metro government? The ordinance is the kind of shallow thinking and hollow rhetoric that appeals only on a base level.

Crafton says that Metro's current efforts to communicate with individuals in their native language is a "crutch" that discourages non-English speakers from learning English.

But think about the impact of the proposed restriction. The ordinance, if fully implemented, could hinder the efforts of police to try to gather information from non-English speaking individuals. Written material distributed by city government on such services as health care, inoculations, schools and housing would be rendered worthless to non-English speaking citizens.

Metro's local courts, its 911 emergency center, its jail officials, its hospital workers all have beefed up efforts to try to communicate effectively with all people they encounter. Imposing an artificial language barrier would threaten the public safety of all Nashvillians.

And Crafton cannot claim that the effort is aimed only at illegal immigrants. Many of the non-English speaking individuals in Nashville are here legally. Many of them are trying to learn English.

Crafton's ordinance would not reduce the number of immigrants in Nashville. It would not deny them jobs. What it would do is create chaos that need not exist.

Instead of stymieing communication in Nashville, the Metro Council should look for ways to foster more English-language instruction. Short of that, Crafton's ordinance should be chalked up to political posturing at the expense of the public's well-being. •

I don't buy the argument. I don't see any other ethnic group getting language interpreters, signs ect... in their native languages!

Give me a break!

This comes from Tennessee, not a border state yet. English is unifying and we're being culturally divided. This person needs a trip to CA, Ariz or Texas for a reality check.

I don't buy it either. If you live here you speak English....period. I don't care what language you speak at home but everywhere else...English.

Imposing an artificial language barrier would threaten the public safety of all Nashvillians.

There is a real language barrier and it's the people who refuse to learn english. If they won't take the initiative to learn english, then making english the official language will encourage them. It really benefits the non-english speakers to learn the language. It makes them much more appealing to employers and could get them a higher salary and more acceptance by society in general. The worst thing we can do is to let them remain in a secluded, seperate, non-english speaking community.

If English is the official language, the city doesn't have to hire Spanish speakers.

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index ... s_id=52178

Emotional buttons won’t help debate

September 18, 2006

Nashville, like much of the rest of the country, is swept up in the debate over illegal immigration. A piece of legislation that would make Metro government services exclusively English ratchets up that dialogue.

Councilman Eric Crafton’s resolution to essentially make Metro government an English-only entity is clearly an idea born of frustration. It is a concept that in truth would probably see a great deal of support from the people of Nashville.

But it is a bad idea, and one that only addresses a small part of a much larger problem.

We will not attempt the same pop psychiatry Crafton has used to craft his bill, saying that offering directions and government services in Spanish provide a “crutch” that allow immigrants to keep from learning English.

Dedicated public servants in Metro government feel a moral commitment when it comes to matters of social services as well as the general health, safety and welfare of human beings – illegally in this country or not. They will continue to serve people in need when they come to the halls of government in this city.

Crafton’s resolution is unrealistic and should not be passed. However, that does not mean the sentiment among Nashvillians it accurately represents should not in some form or fashion be addressed by the Metro Council.

Here like everywhere else, the debate over illegal immigration has devolved. Those on the left dismiss folks like Crafton as simply being regressive and even hateful. It is an unfair generalization that misses the legitimate societal problems posed by illegal immigration.

Those on the right have chosen to deliver their message in less than diplomatic tones. An electronic billboard overlooking Interstate 40 with a message supporting Crafton’s bill is an example of non-constructive dialogue.

Crafton and those in the right in this debate need to find real matters of public policy that can lessen the negative impacts of illegal immigration. A good start has already been made by Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall, with a new program possibly coming to begin deporting criminal illegal aliens in the county jail.

Those on the left need to move past the rhetoric and realize that for most people this debate is about the law. Illegal immigrants are in this country based on a criminal premise.

Since illegal immigrants are already here en masse, there is no way now to ignore their presence. Crafton’s bill would do just that. At the same time, it is an issue state and local governments are going to have to deal with in the face of a total breakdown on the issue at the federal level. Metro should put its efforts as a government into more creative solutions like Hall’s program rather than simply pushing the emotional hot button of immigration.

Dedicated public servants in Metro government feel a moral commitment when it comes to matters of social services as well as the general health, safety and welfare of human beings – illegally in this country or not. They will continue to serve people in need when they come to the halls of government in this city.

That is seditious behavior and complete utter BS. This is not a emergency room. It is a paid for by tax dollars government agency. Nice of you to feel so moral with other peoples money! How dare you and all like you! Local governments were not meant to service the people of the world. They are for CITIZENS!

Originally Posted by crazybird

I don't buy it either. If you live here you speak English....period. I don't care what language you speak at home but everywhere else...English.

I agree 1000% you live here, you learn to speak English.. period!

I bet the ACLU get's in on this one too

When the peco replaces the dollar i will learn spanish