All Things Considered, post 35
No need for “official English language”
Language is the art of communication, especially in a societal sense. This country has been created and grown on the diversity of thoughts, ideals, and language. As a result the way the people talk in New Hampshire do not communicate the same way as people do in New Orleans, and there are a variety of other regional accents just as distinctive in other parts to this country.
Since the mid-1980’s, a conservative political effort has grown to legislate English as the official national language. Those who believe this think that a collective use of foreign languages in the USA hurts rather than helping immigrants, and the cost of printing signs and documents in various languages is a waste of tax money. This “Official English” bill H.R. 997 would eliminate publishing official publications other in than a “standard” English. With more than 33 million foreign-born people in this country, communication is crucial for all segments of society.
It is important to note here, as a man with a formal education and as a writer, a command of the written and spoken English is imperative for success in a general sense, and on a regional or national scale. English is a standard of business for the world, but realize English is a changing language influence heavily by foreign influences and cultures. Through a strong diversity emerges an even stronger unity of conversation and sharing of ideas.
Any effort to legislate an “official” language for this country would be denial of everything this country stands for, and such an “official” conservative movement could lead to an “official religion” here. One language does not fit all, even if the waistband has enough elastic to expand from sea to shining sea.
Peace be you with always,
Rev. Paul Abernathy
“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” -2 Peter 1:2
Contact Paul Abernathy at paulabernathy@gmail.com.
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