Common Links

America is a land of many people. It has been that way since our beginnings as a country. In the beginning, we had the English and the Germans. Later, we added the Irish and the Italians. Today, we have people from all parts of Asia and other areas of the world adding to the mix that makes us what we are as a people. To me, that is one of the things that makes such a diverse country and makes for a large portion of our strength.

Although we have our differences and they should be appreciated and celebrated, there are some things we should have in common. Perhaps the single most important area for a common thread as a people is in language – both spoken and written. When America began as a country, it was decided by one vote that the language of the new country would be English instead of German. Over the years and the centuries, both those who were already in America and those who came to our shores made it a point to be able to both understand and communicate in English. For many years, English was a given and provided a unifying force in advancing the cause and course for America.

Today, we find ourselves exposed to phony allegations among many in America who are complaining that not enough is being done to accommodate them in their native tongue. There is something that these people need to understand, and that is they do not have a constitutionally right to have every government program in society catered to them in their non-English language. Regardless of the illegal Executive Order (13166) signed in Los Angeles by President Bill Clinton in what amounted to another attempt to circumvent Congress, the application of the Executive Order would only have federal application if it were in fact, legal.

What this measure does not and should not cover is the programs run by the individual states. Those areas are left to the states as they pertain to states’ rights as specified in the Fourteenth Amendment. An excellent example of this would be in the area of obtaining a driver’s license, an area in which knowledge of English is essential. While many road signs in the United States are in the more internationally known symbols that one finds in Europe, there are many signs that require a working knowledge of the English language in order to effectively and safely operate a motor vehicle – and that’s just one example.

As a nation, we cannot afford nor should we kowtow to each and every group that demands everything and anything in their language. These people should take some initiative and learn English. In doing so, they will not only be able to better integrate themselves into society, they will broaden their view of the world and open themselves up to more rewarding and fulfilling life experiences. Back in the 1980’s, a number of states passed legislation and/or ballot referendums that made English the official language of that particular state. In Arizona, it was called Proposition 106. Other states passed similar measures, and now we have one that has made its way to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Last week, the Supremes invited a showdown on the subject of "English-only" by agreeing to hear a case from Alabama involving an Hispanic woman from Mobile who took issue with Alabama’s decision to administer their driving tests in English only. This action was done following the passage of an amendment to the state constitution the previous year. The amendment instructed state officials to "take all steps necessary to insure that the role of English as the common language ... is preserved and enhanced."

Problems arose when Martha Sandoval, a permanent resident alien originally from Mexico filed suit alleging that such action was in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That federal law bars discrimination based on, among other things, national origin by any program that receives federal money. Alabama’s Department of Public Safety receives more than $1 million each year from both the federal Department of Transportation and Justice Department. This money goes to offset the costs that go with such things as overtime pay for troopers and hostage-rescue training.

As a matter of law, the feds are technically right on this one and they have case law on their side. Expect the Supremes to uphold the lower and appellate court rulings on this one. While I support English as a common language for America to do business by and can understand the rationale behind English-only legislation, if a state or other entity is going to take federal money for anything, they subject themselves to the strings that the feds are going to put on it as a condition of accepting it. If they don’t want to be beholden to the federal government, they should turn the money down. Such not only applies to government at the state and local level, but to private entities as well. The demands of federal control over the integrity of what some people try to accomplish are one of the reasons that some places don’t seek federal funding. They do not want to be told hot to do the study or how to perform research, etc.

The federal government’s conditional of funds to the states and municipalities, however noble, amounts to nothing more than a Faustian-style deal that by the time they learn about the fine print, it’s too late to back out.

Perhaps the best argument for one language for one nation would be in our national motto "E Pluribus Unum", which translated means, "One nation from many people". You will find this on the back of the one-dollar bill in the beak of the eagle on the back of the bill. You will also find it on the reverse side of both the new one-dollar coins as well as on the old Susan B. Anthony dollar coins.

"One nation from many people" – when you get right down to it, that is the real beauty of America.

You can e-mail your comments to Timothy at trollins@idirect.com.

Copyright © 2000 by Timothy Rollins.
All Rights Reserved.

-Published with permission