Thread: English: the official language of Hazel Park

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English: the official language of Hazel Park
By Jeremy Adragna
C & G Staff Writer

HAZEL PARK — When Mark Samano moved to the United States from Iraq in 1980, he dedicated himself to learning 10 words in English every day. Within three months, he could speak the English language. Within six months, he was teaching math classes in English for Detroit Public Schools.

Samano heads the Hazel Park School District’s foreign language classes now, and said that every immigrant should take the time to learn English if they want to be an American.

“When we come to this country we have to master English,” said Samano. “If we don’t, forget it. You’re living in a Third World country.”

The City Council agrees. Last week, Hazel Park became one of the first suburbs in metro Detroit to pass a resolution calling English its official language.

Mayor Pro Tem Jan Parisi, along with fellow City Council member Andy LeCureaux, called for a resolution last month to make English the official language of Hazel Park. The idea, Parisi said, is to have a common language for conducting business.

“If we don’t all speak the same language it’s going to be pretty difficult for anything to really happen,” said Parisi. “I think there will be a deterioration in our culture if we don’t stick to a main culture. One of our main points is that communication is very important in this country. If people don’t speak our language and we don’t speak their language, how will we really ever get anything done? It really has to be defined.”

Parisi wants Hazel Park to be a pioneer in a state and national effort to force immigrants to learn the language most commonly spoken here.

The City Council passed a resolution on Sept. 12 calling English “the key to better jobs, improved health and high education.”

A similar piece of legislation could go before the state Senate in the coming weeks. House Bill 5633 was approved in May and was OK’d last week by the Senate Committee on Local, Urban and State Affairs. The bill also aims to call English the official language of the state of Michigan. If approved, HB 5633 would allow state agencies to end the practice of offering documents, written materials and Web site content in languages other than English.

Nothing will change in Hazel Park, according to City Manager Edward Klobucher, who presented the resolution to City Council last week.

“It is the official language of the proceedings of the Hazel Park City Council,” said Klobucher. “It is the official language of our legal notices and things that we are required to publish under the law. We are sending a message that we think it should be the official language of the United States. It will be our official language, but it does not mean that we won’t be assisting those who have need of language assistance.”

Klobucher admitted there is not a large foreign-language speaking population in Hazel Park. According to 2000 U.S. Census data, 7.2 percent of residents here were born in another country. Of the city’s 18,963 residents, less than 10 percent said that they speak a language other than English in their home. Both figures are far below national averages.

“I think it’s different now,” said Parisi. “We’re always saying African-American and Chaldean-American, many years ago you were just glad to be an American and be part of the culture. I definitely think we have to have our own culture. But when we are conducting business we have to respect and make culture in our country.”

City Hall does offer some basic information in both Spanish and Arabic, according to Klobucher. The city does not, however, offer English classes to residents. Hazel Park Schools offers several courses each year for those seeking to learn English.

“Either you live in America or you don’t,” said Samano. “Either you love it or you leave it. If you love it, then you learn the language. If you don’t, then forget it. Go back to your country.”

You can reach Jeremy Adragna at jadragna@candgnews.com

“Either you live in America or you don’t,” said Samano. “Either you love it or you leave it. If you love it, then you learn the language. If you don’t, then forget it. Go back to your country.”

Exactly! A common language is necessary for unification of a country. We have got to get out of these pc days and get serious about assimilation and unification.

Originally Posted by Brian503a

http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/09-20-06/MF-ENGLISH.asp

“Either you live in America or you don’t,” said Samano. “Either you love it or you leave it. If you love it, then you learn the language. If you don’t, then forget it. Go back to your country.”

You can reach Jeremy Adragna at jadragna@candgnews.com

These are very nice words - I hope this message applies to people who are here legally , because illegals are showing that they do not love and respect America by the fact that they are here illegally .