English only?
Several states are trying to make English the official language, requiring that all business be conducted in English.
What a shame.
Do you realize that if English were the only language, we wouldn’t have the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Ohio, Alaska, or Hawaii? We would no longer have the cities of Seattle, Miami, Chicago, or Milwaukee! Or Sacramento, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Antonio, or Las Vegas! We would no longer have the Mississippi River, the Missouri River, Lake Michigan, or Lake Huron! George Washington would have never crossed the Potomac River!
There would be no Mardi Gras!!!! There would be no New Orleans, no Baton Rouge!
Are you saying we can no longer go to a place of business and order pizza, tacos, burritos, spaghetti, salsa, moo goo gai pan, chou mein, lo mein, kim-chee, sushi, kebabs, or a salami and provolone sandwich?
We couldn’t go to the store and buy queso dip, tortillas, mozzarella cheese, pita bread, or éclairs! We couldn’t go to a zoo and see a flamingo or a moose!
We would also be without Psi Beta Kappa, Delta Chi, Sigma Chi, Delta Delta Delta, Lambda Alpha, and every other Greek fraternity/sorority organization!!
Do you realize that many religious observances are conducted in languages that are considered sacred and part of the religious ceremony? How can you conduct a Jewish Bar-mitzvah, a Latin Mass, or a Muslim Prayer Service without their languages? And what about Native Americans who use their language in their sacred ceremonies?
If English became the only language, we could no longer have a rendezvous, nor could we RSVP for one! (For those who don’t know, it stands for Respondez S’il Vous Plait!)
I LIVE IN TECUMSEH, OKLAHOMA. To say that would be illegal, seeing as neither Tecumseh or Oklahoma are English words!!!
To those of you who believe in English Only for Americans, try going for ONE DAY without using a word that comes from another language!!!!
Without using Hola, Ciao, Aloha, or Adios.
- Without using Habeas Corpus, No Solo Contendre, or the abbreviations i.e. or e.g.
- Without going to Taco Bell, Taco Grandé, Taco Bueno, Taco Mayo, or Taco John’s.
- Without having a rendezvous, or sending in an RSVP.
- Without calling a Physician, Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Podiatrist, Dentist, Neurologist, Dermatologist, Chiropractor, or going to a SPA (named after a town in Belgium!!)
America is an amalgamation of languages and cultures from all around the world. It is this diversity that makes us strong, adaptable, and NOT BORING!! It is FEAR that is driving this English only movement! Fear of people and words that are not understood! I’d say it was Xenophobia, but that’s another illegal word!!
Here’s a thought. Instead of making English the only official language, how’s about requiring that EVERY AMERICAN learn at least THREE languages!
STOP THE MADNESS!! Accept the non-Englishness of American English! Be proud of your heritage, and your neighbor’s heritage, and your parents and your grandparents and your great-grandparents and anyone else you know who is American but talks differently than you!!! Don’t be afraid of things you don’t understand!
Listen to Spanish language radio! Watch international TV stations! Read international newspapers and websites! Learn an endangered language! Get educated! Get informed! Education is the only way to combat ignorance!!
If you speak another language, DON’T STOP!!!!! Keep speaking it, even to yourself if you have to!!
PASS IT ON!!
Donald and Dolores Perrot
http://www.neaseno.org
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
|
