Why not French-only?
My letter is in response to the editorial by Brittney
Bigler regarding English-only legislation.
She obviously has little understanding or sympathy for new immigrants
to this country.
I can foresee many problems if English is the only language spoken or
used in print by the Government in Arizona. You couldn’t teach
an English as a second language class in public schools; or any foreign
language for that matter. It would be difficult to educate new immigrants
about our traffic, criminal or even fishing laws, if English was the
only language you could use.
It might be difficult for a policeman to give French tourists directions
to the Grand Canyon if the cop was restricted to using English.
In fact, “English only” is just like the “French only”
problem American tourists experience in France.
I think the problems this law will cause for our agencies and public
employees will be many and hard to anticipate.
I suggest that Ms. Bigler and our legislature be patient with new immigrants
and visitors to our country and perhaps worry about bigger issues. Passing
this mean-spirited law will only create problems.
Russ Haughey
Adjunct Faculty, Life Science
Just try to imagine
Brittney, my dear, I hope that you plan on taking at
least one cultural diversity class while enrolled in college. Your intolerance
to Mexican culture and your inability to grasp the lifestyle of the
Mexican migrant are frightening.
Contrary to the beliefs of the Arizona legislature, Mexicans are not
trying to take over. They are not trying to take over our culture, and
believe me, they are trying to learn English. The last thing they want
is to turn this country into Mexico. Why do you think they came here?
Try for a minute to remove yourself from the white, suburban culture
we live in. Try to imagine working for a living (not working for car
payments, or money to go to the movies, but merely to live, to eat).
Try to imagine making the decision to cross over 50 miles of desert,
abandoning your family in hopes of finding work.
Try to imagine coming from a culture of family units, where small groups
take care of each other, and entering a world of individually motivated
greed.
What is truly “utterly pathetic” is the unwillingness of
the United States citizens to accept the plight of other human beings
and extend a helping hand.
We all bleed red, Brittney, we are all human. And beyond this, we are
all brothers and sisters, from Chile to Canada. Hopefully, one day all
the borders will be gone, and we may walk freely to prosperity, without
being ridiculed by our neighbors.
Mark Petrie
Student, PolSci/Anthropology
