Posted by
Steve on Friday, June 17, 2011 11:14:35 AM
On KFYI this morning, Barry Young was teasing us with information about a Texas Lawmaker at a hearing. He was listening to a Hispanic activist give testimony in Spanish with a translator. The Lawmaker reacted. I did not stay in the car long enough to hear the response, but I can guess what it was like.
My guess on what the Texas Lawmaker said is something like this: This is America. In America we speak English. If you are going to give testimony before this committee, you should give testimony in English. If you cannot give testimony in English, you are finished giving testimony before this committee.
At least that is what I think the person said. It is what I probably would have said in his position. This is America. The dominant language in America is English. Official business in the United States and in every state is done in English. Some official business gets translated into other languages for ease of the public, but it is still transacted in English. The United States does not have an “official” language. But, we have a language that is in all our founding documents and is the language used in all our primary levels of organization. That should establish an “official” language by usage, if not by law.
I am tired of picking up the phone and having to select a number for English or another for Spanish. I do not remember the site, but one assumes you want to continue in English. If you wish to conduct business in Spanish, you select another number. But to continue in English you do not have to do anything, except endure the inevitable Spanish part.
I believe that every American should speak a second language if possible. When I was given that chance, I was afraid and turned it down. I could have served a mission in a foreign language mission, but insisted on English. So, I went to England instead of a foreign speaking mission. It is a decision that I have questioned myself about for years. My Bishop wanted me to go to Japan. Most of my friends went to Spanish speaking missions. I was chicken. I had a difficult time learning German in High School so I was afraid I would struggle with a foreign language.
I have encouraged all my kids to pick up a second language. Most have learned Spanish as their second language. My oldest learned French. Spanish is very common here in Arizona, so picking up Spanish was easy for my other kids. I never learned to speak another language. I know enough German, Norwegian and Swedish to get myself in trouble. But I cannot really speak any of those languages.
I believe that any official business in the United States should be conducted in English. That means hearings before State and Federal committees should be conducted in English. Law enforcement is official business, but you cannot restrict law enforcement to just English. Law enforcement needs to have the ability to use any language common in the area to conduct business. That is so they can respond more quickly to emergencies. But courts and legislation should be in English. There is time enough to get English speakers to conduct the official business. In law enforcement, there is usually not time to find English speakers before action would need to be taken to solve the problem.