Thread: TN:English-Only Draws Strong 1st-Day Voting

English-only draws strong 1st-day voting
Post-holiday turnout surprises
By Maria Giordano • THE TENNESSEAN • January 3, 2009

With Nashville still largely in holiday mode on Friday, election officials said turnout was surprisingly good on the first day of early voting for the English-only ballot initiative.

The measure, which would limit virtually all government communications and publications in Metro Nashville to English, helped draw 1,161 people to the polls on Friday. A second ballot question would alter the process for voter-driven changes to the Metro Charter.

"Heavy is not the word," said Ray Barrett, Davidson County's administrator of elections. "It's a good turnout for a special election. Everybody's a little surprised, being it's the day after New Year's."

The English-only issue has created strong feelings on both sides. Supporters say the amendment to the Metro Charter would be a uniting force for the city and prompt new immigrants to learn English more quickly. Opponents see it as divisive and discriminatory, sending the wrong message from a progressive and welcoming city.

The measure's chief sponsor, Metro Councilman Eric Crafton, has said the amendment also would save the local government hundreds of thousands of dollars in translation services.

"Nashville has needed to have this discussion for a long time," said Crafton, who plans to vote next week. "Why couldn't we unite Nashville through English? The best part about this is that everybody will get a chance to get their voices heard."

Issue is very divisive
Some who voted Friday at the Election Commission offices downtown agree with Crafton.

"I think we should have this," Ernestine Palmer said. "If we went to Mexico, we would have to speak the language."

But those opposed to the measure say it is potentially dangerous, especially in the event of a health or safety concern. Under the proposal, the Metro Council would have the power to grant exemptions to the English-only rule.

In a letter issued Friday, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said he was against the two charter amendments and believed if passed would "create legal, political, social and even moral consequences for years to come."

"To me, it is the antithesis of hospitality and an unnecessary drain on taxpayer resources," Dean said. "The issue is divisive and will distract us from doing those things that will help us realize our potential as not just a great American city, but a great international city."

Dean's sentiments were shared by some of Friday's voters.

Pearl Amanfu said she thought the proposal was unfair and, more importantly, not supporting an environment of inclusion.

A native of the West African nation of Ghana, Amanfu said if Nashville has the ability to provide the translation service then it should. It helps to have some support as a family goes through the immigration process, she said.

"I feel people with limited English proficiency would feel excluded or not welcome," Amanfu said.

Early voting continues through Jan. 17 at the Davidson County Election Commission offices at 800 Second Ave. Election Day is Jan. 22.

Contact Maria Giordano at 615-259-8048.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090 ... 1001/RSS01

"I feel people with limited English proficiency would feel excluded or not welcome," Amanfu said.

That's like saying it's squelching a student from feeling obligated to get an education before he actually gets to operate on someone because schools too hard. To me since they offer translators for things, it's a way of letting them know, we'll help you for now, but there still are some things YOU must do to actually be a citizen here. They aren't without obligation to pull their weight on things. The idea is to temporarily assist, not make it no longer a requirement.

We have always been a nation of immigrants. If those who came before were able to have success in the US without translators or the Government writing in their native language, why can today's immigrants do the same? Maybe we are getting less intelligent immigrants who will drain as opposed to enhance our country. Oh, we have yet to find a city, even Boston or Chicago, where any government documents are written in Irish Gaelic, therefore, isn't my hubby being discriminated against?

Oh, we have yet to find a city, even Boston or Chicago, where any government documents are written in Irish Gaelic, therefore, isn't my hubby being discriminated against?
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Exactly. I wrote Obama about English only and he said because of emergency alerts and such we couldn't do that. Out side of Spanish....have any of you seen or heard any other weather warnings or alerts in any other languages? I lived in a tourist area where we had people vacationing from all over the world and they didn't have "lifeguard" or "under tow strong today" in every language spoken by all the tourists there. You'd be blown away by a tornado before you got through 1/3 of all the different languages spoken here. You couldn't read a sign in enough time to exit if it was done in all the languages spoken here. Those light boards on big highways aren't in every language to let you know about detours or what the fine is if you speed around workers and there isn't enough time to wait for your language to pop up to know what to do. We have bi-lingual education here for Spanish, but other groups don't get the additional help if there isn't a certain percentage of students speaking that language. Yet they learn English and graduate with no extra funding and over 1/2 the Spanish drop out or still won't speak English after they graduate. Seems we've proved this program doesn't work. When I worked in in SD they had more Chinese immigrants than any other and there wasn't bi-lingual Chinese classes for thier kids. Signs weren't in Chinese to help them feel more welcome. American workers weren't denied work because they didn't speak Chinese. Can't make one foreign language more important than another because those numbers will change from generation to generation....stick with one language or it is discrimination.

It's discrimination if you only require a specific group to learn it and not the rest. Everyone is expected to know English. Why should citizens be barred from jobs for speaking our own language when someone who doesn't, gets it? Why should bi-lingual Spanish get paid more when bi-lingual Russian doesn't?

"To me, it is the antithesis of hospitality and an unnecessary drain on taxpayer resources," Dean said. "The issue is divisive and will distract us from doing those things that will help us realize our potential as not just a great American city, but a great international city."

This guy misses the point. Hospitality means you are INVITED INTO your home or country. Divisive is when you try to undermine the foundation of culture and language of a country built by others with another language than those coming in and not wanting to assimilate. That is divisive. Taypayer resources are dwindling and that is in part to the massive taxes we pay to those for health, education, prison time, etc, to those who should not be here in the first place. No sir! Your statement is utterly false on all counts.

My ancestors that came here from Europe knew one of their main goals was to assimilate which included learning English. They didn't demand things in their own language. A common language is unifying. How this country has gotten off that path must be due to some kind of globalist agenda or something like that.

It Has been caused by the politically correct type! ! ! ! Which I personally think is corck..We need to enforce the law of the land if you are not here legally then get the heck out end of story!!

Opposition to 'English First' defies common sense

Let's get some things out in the open about the "English-First" amendment that Nashville voters will consider in the upcoming Jan. 22 special election.

It's an undisputed fact that people who don't have a working knowledge of English are either non-citizens or are illegal immigrants. How do I know? Because you are required by law to speak, write and understand English to become a U.S. citizen. Opposition to this measure, disguised as a pro-diversity coalition, is all about one thing: keeping a steady flow of cheap, illegal labor streaming into Nashville.

Although we would be the first major city to adopt the English-First amendment, Councilman Eric Crafton's measure would follow in the footsteps of a growing number of states and municipalities. It's something I labeled a few years back as demagnetizing America. Our country has become a magnet for illegal immigrants through government benefits, sanctuary cities and employers who seek out inexpensive labor. Although the pro-illegal immigrant forces like to label those in our camp as racists, it's actually their policies that harm illegal immigrants in this country. The pro-illegal immigrant side exploits and entraps the illegal immigrants, turning their plight into a cause celebre.

We've seen countless radical activists and Hollywood types protesting alongside illegal immigrants in the streets of America. How many of these same people are willing to take their protest to Mexico City or Guatemala City to effect change there and allow these people to prosper in their own countries?

Academia has long been a breeding ground for radical, liberal causes. It should come as no surprise that university presidents from eight of Nashville's institutions of higher learning have now issued a joint statement opposing English-First. But how many of these institutions actually put their money where their mouth is? How many of these institutions offer an entire curriculum in, say, Chinese for their Asian students? A better question is, how many of them are hiring illegal immigrants?

Their contention that they're "concerned about the impact — literal and symbolic — on our mission of teaching, learning, curing and discovering" rings hollow. They, of all people, should know that to succeed in this country, you need to be fluent in English. If these people really had the interest of their students at heart, they would be encouraging assimilation through a common language.

How many of these university heads have bothered to become fluent in another language? Eric Crafton has. The author of this amendment is fluent in Japanese. He not only graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt but also holds a degree from Keio University in Tokyo. This amendment is not the product of some wild-eyed xenophobe who has never ventured outside of Davidson County. It's a well-thought-out attempt at making our city stronger by insisting that those who choose to do business with our government do so in English or bear the financial burden of a translator instead of saddling the taxpayers with that cost.

As Crafton points out, his four years in Japan taught him that governments conduct business in their native languages. If you choose to live in a foreign country, that goes hand-in-hand with learning the language. How many Americans choose to move to, say, France but refuse to learn French? Those who do don't fare too well. If nothing else, it's an insult to expect your adopted home country to do business in your language.

Opponents of Crafton's measure claim to believe that Nashville will be seen as unwelcoming by foreigners doing business in Nashville. However, these people generally come equipped with their own translators or hire them on the ground here just like American companies operating overseas do.

It's not really about foreign investors or international students. In short, it's about doing what's right for the city of Nashville. If the anti-English-First people really want to be "progressive," let's lead the nation in common sense.

Phil Valentine is an author and syndicated radio talk-show host heard locally on SuperTalk 99.7 WTN weekdays 4-8 p.m. His column appears in The Tennessean on Sundays. Web: www.philvalentine.com.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 9901040360

'English Only' In Effect In Smaller Cities

Nashville Would Be First Major City To Block Services In Other Languages
By Reported By Jonathan Martin
WSMV-TV
updated 10:15 a.m. PT, Tues., Jan. 6, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville could become the first major city to have a law blocking city services in any other language.

Early voting continues at the Davidson County Election Commission through Jan. 17, with the special election on Jan. 22.

Related:Survey: Do You Support "English Only?" | Video: Nearly 30 Cities Have 'English Only'-Type Laws

Early voting for "English Only" -- a measure that aims to make English the official language of Metro government -- began Friday.

Election officials said they are shocked by the amount of people voting early: three times more in the first three days than in the last big special election four years ago.

"It opens the floodgates for other cities saying, 'Oh, look, Nashville did this; we should, too.' I think this is a horrible, horrible measure," said William Engel.

"If you're a citizen and you want access to the services, then you should speak English," said supporter Jay Garrett.

Similar ordinances are already in effect in nearly 30 smaller cities and towns in the United States, such as Hazleton, Pa.

Hazleton's mayor said there has been a drop in the number of illegal immigrants moving to the city, but said the city's Hispanic population grew overall.

"Over 32 new Hispanic-owned businesses have moved into Hazleton, and our Hispanic population continues to grow here, so I have not seen an adverse effect on creating the law," said Mayor Lou Barletta in a phone interview Monday.

In Farmers Branch -- a suburb of Dallas, Texas -- "English Only" was passed by the City Council more than a year ago. A city representative said it's too early to tell if it has had any major effect on economic development.

"Any comment or impact since then could be called minimal," said Tom Bryson.

But in Carpentersville, Ill., where more than 40 percent of residents are Hispanic, the new law continues to draw protests, and the city is facing several lawsuits calling it unconstitutional.

It's unclear what kind of impact "English Only" would have in Nashville, since none of the cities with the law is as big or relies as heavily on tourism or economic development

But backers said at the very least, "English Only" will preserve the English language.

Green Bay, Wis., and Fort Smith, Ark., also recently passed similar "English Only" rules.

Most of the cities with the law have been sued. A few of them have been forced to make some changes after federal judges found parts of their "English Only" law unconstitutional.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28512081/