Posted On: November 12, 2005, 5:37 pm CST

Posted By: Truth

It is outrageous to suggest that being an American depends more on fluency in English than on living in this country, working for the collective good, and adding to its rich cultural diversity. ''English only'' laws canonize intolerance and bigotry and are contrary to the spirit of tolerance and diversity embodied in our Constitution. They are also based on false, xenophobic assumptions, which echo earlier periods when the nativist movement disenfranchised Yiddish speakers in New York, Chinese speakers in California and prohibited American Indian children from speaking their own languages in school.
Contrary to the fears conjured by English-only advocates, today's immigrants are assimilating into United States society and acquiring English proficiency as fast as previous generations of immigrants. The sociologist Calvin Veltman found that Hispanic immigrants are learning English as fast as earlier generations of European immigrants. A Rand Corporation study showed the same. According to U.S. census data, nearly 90 percent of Hispanic Americans 5 years old or older speak English at home.
Today's immigrants do not need oppressive English-only laws to recognize the importance of learning English. Latinos, Asians and other new immigrants fill the long waiting lists for overenrolled adult English classes in New York and Los Angeles, where a group of immigrants filed a lawsuit to force the county to expand English classes for non-English-speaking immigrants. To suggest those who are not fluent in English are un-American and threaten our nation's unity is racist.
America has absorbed many tongues. It is strong enough to absorb more. All who come here are well advised to master English; most immigrants know that and want it for their children. But none should be denied our society's services because of a fearful, discriminatory language law.
Our nation's history of linguistic and cultural diversity has never undermined our national unity, and it does not do so today. The common heritage shared by old and new immigrants alike is their quest for freedom and opportunity. The bond that holds this nation together is our shared belief and commitment to democracy, freedom and justice. And it is a bond that runs far deeper than the English language.