Thread: Official English bill draws objections in Pennsylvania

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Official English bill draws objections
Proposed state law divisive, Latinos say
Monday, October 31, 2005
BY DIANA FISHLOCK
Of The Patriot-News
When Dalila Serrano moved from Panama to the United States 13 years ago, she wanted to improve her English to get a job.

"We're here, we should learn the language," said Serrano, president of Radio Omega in Lebanon, a Spanish radio station.

But she knows some people have difficulty learning languages.

When she heard some Pennsylvania lawmakers were proposing making English the official language of Pennsylvania, she had mixed feelings.

"I thought, 'What was the language before?'" she said. "I guess whoever doesn't speak English is going to have to deal with it. This country is getting a lot of people who speak other languages. It makes you think, 'Why, and why now?'"

A measure before the state House -- the Pennsylvania Official Language Act -- calls for official state documents to be published in English. Those include tax records, professional licenses, deeds, real estate records, publicly probated wills and other court documents.

The bill had been scheduled for a vote before the state House tomorrow, but it has been postponed.

Supporters say the bill would unify people because they would speak the same language. They contend it also would save money and preserve a long tradition of immigrants assimilating through learning English. Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York, is the bill's primary sponsor.

Detractors find the concept xenophobic, divisive and offensive. They ask why there's no funding for English as a Second Language classes.

Gov. Ed Rendell considers the bill divisive and unnecessary, and he worries that it could to lead to costly litigation, said Kate Philips, his spokeswoman.

Half of the states, including California, Florida and Georgia, have passed measures recognizing English as the official language, according to ProEnglish, a group that describes itself as "the nation's leading advocate of official English."

The Pennsylvania Statewide Latino Coalition said the bill targets Latinos and immigrants. Pennsylvania's Hispanic population has grown by more than 20 percent since the 2000 census, to nearly 500,000.

"Is the use of English really threatened in Pennsylvania?" the group asked in a news release.

The bill "is xenophobic, short-sighted, and sends a message that non-English speakers, their cultures, resources, labor, investment and tourism dollars, and even their very presences are not welcomed in the great state of Pennsylvania," the group said.

Supporters say the measure helps immigrants.

"I think it's pro-immigrant. I believe that very strongly," Rep. Gordon Denlinger, R-Lancaster, said. "We want them to come here and we want them to succeed."

Learning English is an important step toward that success, he said.

"America has always been a melting pot, and as folks have emigrated here they've had a desire to join," Denlinger said.

The bill would help immigrants participate in the American dream, said Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks. "This would help them in securing life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

The measure isn't mean-spirited, Clymer said.

"I don't think it's trying to single out any group," he said. "I think the idea is to be very helpful, to create an official language and help move forward those who might be struggling with English."

But Rep. Angel Cruz, D-Philadelphia, the only Latino statewide elected official, disagreed.

"I cannot sit back and let things like this go under the rug," he said. The state House and Senate need to hire Latino affairs directors and send out information in all languages, he said.

Cruz was skeptical about Pennsylvania saving money by restricting languages.

"Prove to us how are we saving money," Cruz said. "Show how we are not violating people's civil rights."

Instead of putting up barriers, Pennsylvania's politicians ought to increase immigrants' opportunities, he said.

"All tax-paying residents should have equal access to public services and a guarantee against language-based discrimination," said Margaret Brewer, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Latino Organizations.

Cruz also said it is offensive when politicians cater to the Latino vote, then push Latinos aside.

Last fall, both major political parties spent record amounts on Spanish-language advertisements. In the midstate, candidates attended many Latino functions and used bilingual election materials and staff.

Businesses locally and nationally are reaching out to Latinos and immigrants, even those who are undocumented. In banks, automated teller machines allow customers to make their transactions in Spanish and other languages.

Bonnie Nelson, who teaches ESL classes in the Susquehanna Twp. School District, said her students come before and after school for tutoring.

"They're very motivated to learn English," Nelson said. "That's without telling them they have to learn English."

Individual states shouldn't need to declare English as their official language. Congress should declare English as the official language for the entire nation.