Language You Can Understand

The United States Senate has actually done something intelligent and far-sighted, for once, something that is definitely unusual for them, though granted it reeks of pandering. As I always say, it is easy to do the right thing when it is convenient to do so, maybe not so easy when it isn’t. In this case, I definitely am not complaining that the United States Senate has voted by nearly a two to one margin to name English as the national American language. This mandates that anybody that goes to school in the US, no matter where they are from, will be required to learn English. A little bit trickier is the obligation of al limmigrants to learn the language, which should be amended from the bill. But at it’s essence, the Bill is correct in it’s assertion that all immigrants that would become Amrican citizens, should strive to assimilate. To me, it is not so important that a first generation immigrant become fluent in English. As good as that would be, it is too impractical to expect. Their childen, however, should definitely assimilate. Otherwise you have to all intents and purposes a divided country, with divided loyalties, and you are right back to the prospect of a segregated society.

Maddeningly, I have no doubt that the majority of the 34 some Senators that voted against the Bill, if not all of them, are Democrats. I don’t honestly think they did so with the goal of producing a divided country. I do, however, think they are pandering to what makes up a strong and influential segment of their base, who do want just that.

Regardless, the Bill is indeed far sighted. Suppose the Bill ultimately fails to pass, or is, as I fear might be the case, thrown out on constitutional grounds by a leftist leaning judge. The implications of this might not be so obvious immediately, but down the road, they are staggerring. As sure as night follows day, assumming the largest minority language remains Spanish, and this grows to become a significant portion of the popualtion, it would be easy to imagine the time when it is mandated by law that the country become bi-lingual, with the accompanying requirement that both English and Spanish be taught in public schools.

Truthfully, while I do not see this happening, I can see it being proposed and becommng a real issue, and a very divisive one at that. From that point on, it come easily become madatory policy for televison broadcasts to be repeated in Spanish, or shown seperately on some Spanish language alternative channel availiable throughout the country. This would probably drive up expenses across the board.

And I know it is too easy to really let yuur imagination get carried away with all these scenarios, but one thing cannot be avoided, and that is the alternative to all this. This would become a very truly divided country. Only the divisions would be felt not just across regional borders, but in most if not all neighborhoods and cities across the country.

The good thing about the Bill, isthat while it identifies English as the national language of the country, it does not discourage anglo or othe students from learning Spanish, or for that matter any other language, and in fact points out the very real and obvious benefits of this. Still, there has to be a common ground and beginning point, and it only makes common sense that this be with English as the national language. From that point on, we can grow as a nation with a common culture, regardless of what your nation of origin might have been three or four or more generations in the past. After all, how united can the country be if a vast segemnt of the popuation can’t so much as ask for directions from the other.