Ohio lawmakers should reject efforts by some to make English the state’s official language, for a simple reason: It’s not necessary.
English is unquestionably the dominant language and will remain so, even as non-English-speaking immigrants arrive in the state
Many Americans are unnerved and some are offended by the recent images of immigrants marching in the streets, demanding a better place in society.
The nation’s immigration-policy tangle is indeed a daunting challenge, and Ohio faces some difficult decisions on how to accommodate its share of the newcomers.
A simplistic reaction such as an English-only bill, however, won’t solve any problems and likely would create new ones.
Immigrants already want to learn English, because they know they have to in order to lead full lives here. Some learn more quickly than others, depending on the time available outside of their jobs, as well as whether or not they’re lucky enough to find a class or center to teach them.
Some, especially first-generation immigrants who are older when they arrive, may never learn. But most will, as they should. Whatever the cultural backgrounds of the people who make up Ohio’s diverse population, society will be stronger, better educated and more prosperous if most people share the language and social values, such as individual liberty and responsibility, on which the United States was built.
An English-only law would do nothing to hasten immigrants’ necessary transition to English. What it would do is make it harder for the state government to communicate with Ohio’s many thousands of Latinos, Somalis and people of countless other nationalities — many of whom are legal immigrants, permanent residents and even citizens.
Banning the printing of state documents in anything but English would complicate job transactions and schooling. In the case of doctors’ offices, fire-safety efforts and law enforcement, it could be dangerous.
An English-only bill proposed by Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton, contains a provision allowing governments to publish documents in languages other than English if that’s necessary to comply with federal law or to protect public health or safety, but why enact the restriction that makes such an exception necessary in the first place?
The state would be far better off to narrow the language gap by finding ways to offer more English-learning opportunities to those who need them.
Encouraging, even prodding immigrants to learn English is the right thing to do. Unrealistically banning other languages isn’t the way to do it.
Source: Columbus Dispatch, April 19, 2006
