An English Only Law I don't Think SO

The United States has a long history of imposing the English language on either territories or upon sovereignties that she has acquired. For instance, immediately after the Spanish - American War in 1898, English became "the official language of the class room" within Puerto Rico. In the same way, English had been imposed upon the Philippine people as the official language in the Philippines, shortly after the Philippine - American War in 1899. Additionally, in 1907, United States President Theodore Roosevelt wrote, "We have room for but one language in this country, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality , and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding house." When I hear how our current political leaders and lawmakers are attempting to enact English as this nations native language I can only think to myself, "What is going on with those politician in Washington DC?" If we as Americans had the capability to travel back in time when this nation was in its infancy we as modern day citizens would more than likely be shocked to hear anywhere from fifteen to twenty languages spoken by the individual inhabitants on any given day. Not to mention the various Native - American languages that were spoken long before the "Trail of Tears." Personally when I think of one of the great beauties of our country is its own great diversity. Not just with its people but in the various languages that are spoken within her boundaries.

During the earliest days when this nation was made up of thirteen states our political leaders wanted to throw off the shackles and reminders of the Old World countries. Thus began the great debate of wanting a unified language to tie its citizens into one unified body. In fact one particular language that was proposed was the Hebrew language. There were other proposed languages but that one sticks out to me like a sore thumb. Can you just imagine listening to our modern day political leaders making speeches and political promises while sounding like ancient biblical prophets? The reason I say that is because Modern Hebrew had not yet been recognized as a language and was not until after the founding of the state of Israel in 1948. When I think of that even as a passing thought I can't help but chuckle to myself while asking the question, "What in the world were they thinking back then?"

Here we are today once again debating same thing that our founding fathers did over two hundred years ago. Currently nineteen states have enacted or passed their own version of an "English Only Law." With Alabama and Tennessee passing the most mean spirited versions as of this date according to the "Associate Press." Although, these laws have not gone into effect they are in fact currently being challenged by their respective state supreme courts as being either unconstitutional and in most cases violating the "First Amendment" altogether." But before I go any further let me remind you of how our first amendment is written. "Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

When I read the passage "prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech" nowhere within that passage or anywhere within the first amendment do I see that anyone for that matter must speak the English language. Granted, this is an English writing course and in order for us to advance ourselves in our education and chosen careers we must pass this course. Of course there are those that will argue "Hell if I go into Mexico they will expect me to speak their language." However, what most American are unaware of is that when Mexico was occupied by Spain for more than four hundred years the Mexican constitution states that Spanish is nothing more that the unifying language of that nation. Also it was Spain which just happened to write the Mexican constitution long before Mexico won its independent freedom from Spain in 1906. Furthermore, Spain never wrote into the Mexican constitution that the indigenous native people were no longer allowed to speak their native languages. Yet our political leaders and lawmakers want us to give up the languages of our fathers in order to speak and understand one language

The founding fathers of this nation knew that this country of ours would and should not automatically be a mono - linguistic nation. General George Washington put it best in his prayer at the disbandment of the Continental Army in 1783 when he recited these words, "Defend our liberties and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindred and tongues." That is only a small part of what was once known as "Washington's Prayer." Yet many of our current citizens have lost touch with what our early political leaders and law makers saw in their time and had the foresight to know that it would still apply to us in the twenty - first century.

To carry my argument further along about how a great number of Americans are easily offended by other languages. A few years ago a young man wrote and sang his own version of the "Star Spangled Banner" in Spanish. Even now when I play that version some of my neighbors get very upset with me. With most of them yelling at me, "That is our national anthem and it should be sung in English." But to me when I hear this piece of music and consider the weight of the words this young man selected for his version, I hear a person singing about the love he has for his newly adopted country.

In 1986 I met a woman who was originally from the Pine Ridge Sioux Reservation, she introduced me to a Sioux Indian singing group called "Red Earth Society." They performed a version of the "Star Spangled Banner" written and sung in the Lakota language. This particular version was written and performed during the Second World War as an effort to recruit young men from the different Sioux reservations into the armed forces at that time. No one found that version to be unpatriotic. When the Sioux people wrote those words no one complained that it was offensive or that their version should be sung in English. Additionally up until 1919 there were three versions of our national anthem written and sung in the Spanish language.

This is more than likely an argument that will continue for many years to come. And I sincerely hope that out supreme court will continue to uphold the "First Amendment" by stipulating that any single language forced upon it citizens is an infringement upon our civil liberties. Let us all remember that the people who came to this land did so to escape the tyranny that the aristocracy had imposed upon it citizens then. Besides, as long as that individual is expressing his or her love for their newly adopted country I don't have a problem with them speaking a language other than English. As long as, we remember that the First Amendment guarantees everyone freedom of speech then maybe we as Americans can move forward in a new era where we can look upon our fellow citizen with a degree acceptance and not with an eye of suspicion.