What fear looks like…
Warning, rant ahead…
The city of Nashville will spend $350,000 to $500,000 to hold a special election in January. The issue: Making sure that Nashville business is done in English only.
Thing is, English already is the official language of Nashville. And so, the protectionist message is, in my opinion, just a P.S. to newcomers that well, we don’t like you so much.
And, if you’re one of the many European tourists who come here for country music and barbeque, and you need our police or rescue to help you, well, you’d better speak English, gosh darn it. But, maybe OK, we’ll make an exception because you’re a different kind of foreigner.
Here is the local paper’s Sunday editorial, and a con position by a well-respected local attorney, the pro position by the kooky and crafty councilman who has pushed this. He wants to make sure that Metro meetings are held in English “in the future.” What American city holds public governmental meetings in a foreign language? (Miami? If so, tell me…)
Seriously, besides my grandma and older immigrants, few are the newly arrived I have met in Tennessee who decided not to learn to speak English. They are learning English. They are thriving, opening businesses and keeping this booming town booming. And what is more, their kids — raised as Americans — speak fabulous English. And Spanish.
I have one piece of advice for Crafton: You’d better learn how to say chimichanga correctly. Or you never know what will end up in your Numero 8 special, hombre.
Have you been to Hialeah lately? LOL!!
“Making SURE….” ???
That is crazy-scary!
He wants to make sure that Metro meetings are held in English “in the future.”
Who said our politicians are not proactive? Apparently, things down in Nashville are so peachy that these guys have nothing more pressing than trying to prevent something that might(????) happen in the future.
I just thought of a couple other issues that Nashville “MIGHT” also need to pay attention to in the future: public schools, hospitals, libraries, small businesses, unemployment, taxes…
@Dayngr OMG, Hialeah. Maybe I’d better rethink my position…
@Marta Mucho crazy scary around these parts sometimes.
@Raul sing it, brother…there’s plenty of take care of.
Carrie,
I remember over 15 years ago, the city I used to live in New Jersey, passed some type of legislation stating that English was the official language (government business was to be conducted in English)… It was mainly done as a reaction to the fact that many city employees were speaking a language (other than English) among themselves at work…
It’s easy to become emotional about this issue, but in doing so, we must not neglect to see that there’s a rational side to it. I agree that we could debate individual or personal motives of those pushing the “English as official Language” issue. Two people may want something to happen, but have totally different agendas about it … there will be those who may support this issue for the wrong reasons … and more likely like you stated it will be a result of their ignorance … we tend to fear what we don’t know … it’s part of human nature … and to those … we take the time to “educate” them, one at a time … some will learn and some will not … but that’s there problem …
I know Maria is young … but I remember when my now 20 years old daughter was in Kinder and I was “classroom mother” … we had Christmas parties and made Christmas ornaments … by the time my 16 years old was in kinder and I was again “classroom mother” … Christmas parties had become “Winter Parties” and Ornaments had to be winter-like … no angels, etc… as a result of “sensitivity” … children who would normally celebrate Christmas participated in the celebrations of other religions or ethnic groups too, yet it was consider “insensitive” or politically incorrect for those kids to participate or be exposed to Christmas celebrations … same goes for Easter, etc… this is why I see and understand that some feel they must “protect” to some extent the core identity of what makes this country what it is! … IMHO, it’s not about excluding, but about including …
My 2 cents …
I wish you well :) Melek
“Prejudice is the child of ignorance.” ~ William Hazlitt
Melek, you are a kind and wise woman…sadly, much of the support has come because of fear and “isms.” The story of America is change…we just gotta roll with it.