English as official language worth considering

This is ridiculous as a tax payer that I have to fund a translator for someone to go to public schools or to be heard in court. The Constitution was written in English. The Bill of Rights were written in English. English is the official language of the armed forces. If you want to live here, learn English. If you don’t want to learn English, either deal with the fact that tax-payers will not pay for a translator, or go back to the country you came from. When my family came over to American there wasn’t this PC-crap that we have today. They learned English the hard way: sink or swim.

I appreciate the State News’ pragmatic approach to such a heated issue but the editorial merely scratches the surface. Without a contextualizing feature or article that further explores the socio-political issues and also the rhetorical implications of such a legislative gesture, this piece seems abrupt and incomplete.

What’s the point of having an official language? In places where English is widely spoken, it’s usually the only language used in court proceedings, government documents, etc. In places (such as certain towns along the US-Mexico border) where Spanish is the primary language, it makes sense to issue documents in Spanish. Having one national language would remove this pragmatic flexibility, and what exactly would it gain us?

If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

“In places where English is widely spoken, it’s usually the only language used in court proceedings, government documents, etc.”

That’s highly inaccurate. For instance, Oakland County is currently required to make all documentation available in 26 different languages upon request. While that doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, trimming that down to 1 or 2 languages would save several-100k in print fees, etc.

Why is English-Only a good idea? Why is it a problem that we don’t have an official language?

English-only movements historically targeted immigrant communities who aren’t acculturating “fast enough,” even though children of immigrants statistically acculturate completely (which includes learning English) in 2-3 generations. Statistically, the only immigrants who traditionally don’t take the time to learn English are older or aren’t planning on being in the U.S.

Also, why is this a topic of conversation? This is not the only time an English-only movement has been on a ballot. Opponents beat this thing down by 57 percent, a solid majority.

“Opponents beat this thing down by 57 percent, a solid majority.”

Gee, Prop. 2 got 59% — someone going to tell Ryan?

Most ILLEGAL INVADERS do NOT read their native language at the adult level — TAXPAYERS then have to pay translators up to $150/hour.

Sick, insane, and ridiculous. Make ILLEGALS pay, not us.

Illegal invaders? Really? That’s how you’re going to refer to undocumented people? With the all-caps and the angry tone? Your call, dude.

You acknowledged my argument about the vote but didn’t rebut it in any way. I don’t know if you were trying to assume, based on my argument, how I felt about Prop. 2, but the connection is weak and unfounded.

Besides, what exactly is your connection between undocumented immigrants and the English-Only movement?

To Liz Kersjes:

I applaud you.

I think I am wrting this in English. Not German [Ich spreche Deutsche?] nor Italian [Lei parla italiano?], much less Spanish [Yo si hablo espanol]. So why are so many people worried? As a matter of fact, the Lansing area is overwhermingly English. You have to go to big cities and here all kinds of languages. And get real: we live in a globalized world. And many in this country seem to have an open hostility toward foreign languages.

This rather surface level article seems to indicate this would only have an impact on “city business”. Private businesses would be free to have the spanish option on their help lines, on their signage etc. Unless of course you conservatives are advocating that the government tell private business owners how to operate their business.

“WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE’ kind and intelligent. who was this meant for? Liz or someone else? Coz someone wanted to know?

Legal immigration — OK.

INVASION OF MILLIONS OF ILLEGALS, SWAMPING SCHOOLS/HOSPITALS/EVERYTHING — I’m putting that on your bill, Liz. Einstein. Good luck.

“Illegal invaders? Really? That’s how you’re going to refer to undocumented people?”

“Undocumented” is now that PC-term for people that are committing felonies? That’s ridiculous. They are criminals by law and should be treated as such.

I like how it seems the general comments so far are people yelling, or saying that since most people speak english who cares or that somehow makes it irrelevant, and missing the main reason (logical rather than xenophobic reason at least) behind the idea: Money.

It costs a lot of money to have translators, documents, etc in other languages. Considering how many localities and government agencies there are across the entire United States, you’re not talking about chump change.

Hey Liz…..I find your use of the PC term “undocumented immigrants” offensive in the extreme. My parents went through more hoops than I can count, filled out more forms, paid more money just so they could follow THE RULES and come to this country LEGALLY. People who just jump in front of the line without following the rules make me sick.

Roberto-

Thank you for a voice of reason!

One of the major causes of unrest in late medieval England was the fact that legal and political proceedings and documents were either in Latin or French, which most citizens did not speak or read. It was established then, and enshrined in the civil law, that the due process of law requires that participants in the legal and political processes be able to understand those processes. That’s a good principle, and one that I defy anyone to deny.

I don’t see what’s wrong with spending some government money to make sure that, for example, defendants understand the charges against them.

The argument that governments should not translate government documents from English into another language assumes only people in the U.S. need to read government documents, which isn’t true. This is a big, important country with a big, influential government, so I would not assume translation services are only for people in the U.S. who don’t speak English.

A. Cooper – Well said.

Roberto Lopez – it’s interesting, but completely understandable, that some of the strongest anti-illegal immigration opinions come from legal immigrants.

Oh, one last thing, Roberto – the problems with common language in Canada stem from the national government trying to force Quebec to adopt English, even though Quebec has historically always spoken French. French wasn’t something a few immigrants forced on the people of Quebec, it’s been the language of the people since the people settled there. Things were fine in the two-language country until someone decided everyone needed to speak English to be Canadian.

Liz,
Your example of why you use the term “undocumented immigrant” doesn’t hold up. I wouldn’t refer to the person who stole my car by using the term “illegal” as that adjective to the word “person” isn’t appropriate. An individual can’t be “legal” or “illegal” without some context to a law. The status of the person in relation to the law is what the word “legal” applies to.

Well, Roberto, I’m sorry the aggression in my language isn’t up to your vindictive standards. Call it a draw? I’ll tell my immigrant friends you say buenos dias if you tell tus papas que le digo como estan.

As for your other points, I stand by my my previous arguments. But you make a good argument.

Yo ya estoy hasta la madre
De que me pongan sombrero
Escuche entonces cuando digo
No me llames frijolero

Y aunque exista algun respeto
No metamos las narices
Nunca inflamos la moneda
Haciendo Guerra a otros paises

Te pagamos con petroleo
e interes es nuestra deuda
Mientras tanto no sabemos
Quien se queda con la feria

Aunque nos hagan la fama
De que somos vendedores
De la droga que sembramos
Ustedes son consumidores

Coro:
Don’t call me gringo, You fuckin beaner
stay on your side of that goddamn river
don’t call me gringo, You beaner.
No me digas beaner, Mr. Puñetero
Te sacaré un susto por racista y culero.
No me llames frijolero, Pinche gringo
puñetero.———(chingao)

Now I wish I had a dime
for every single time
I’ve gotten stared down
For being in the wrong side of town.
And a rich man I’d be
if I had that kind of chips
lately I wanna smack the mouths
of these racists

Podras imaginarte desde afuera,
Ser un mexicano cruzando la frontera
Pensando en tu familia mientras que pasas
Dejando todo lo que tu conoces atras
Tuvieras tu que esquivar las balas
De unos cuantos gringos rancheros
Les seguiras diciendo good for nothing
wetback?

Have a good weekend!!!!!!!

Have a great week!!!!!!