Posted on 04/13/2005 8:08:49 AM PDT by tomball
Two days after the end of the legislative session, state lawmakers are discovering something few were aware of: They voted to make English the official language of West Virginia.
The language amendment was quietly inserted into a bill addressing the number of members that cities can appoint to boards of parks and recreation. Among mundane details about record-keeping, the amendment adds the provision that "English shall be the official language of the State of West Virginia."
Senate Majority Whip Billy Wayne Bailey successfully offered that change to House Bill 2782 amid a flurry of bills moving back and forth between the House and Senate on Saturday, the last night of the 60-day legislative session.
"I just told the members that the amendment clarifies the way in which documents are produced," Bailey, a Democrat, said Monday.
House Majority Leader Rick Staton recommended that his chamber agree with the Senate‘s changes. But Staton, also a Democrat, said he was unaware of the substance of the amendment until asked about it by The Associated Press Monday evening.
Efforts to make English the state‘s official language have been introduced annually since the late 1990s. A group called U.S. English has championed the cause.
"I think it‘s wrong that‘s something like that was snuck into that bill in the last minute," said House Judiciary Chairman Jon Amores, who helped kill an earlier proposal to forbid any state or local agency from having to print documents in any language but English.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Joe Manchin could not immediately be reached for comment.
Andrew Schneider, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia, said English-only laws are based on the false premise that immigrants will not learn English without government coercion.
"And English-only laws do nothing constructive to increase English proficiency. They simply discriminate and punish those who have not yet learned English," Schneider said.
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On the Net:
West Virginia Legislature: http://www.legis.state.wv.us
I am not as amazed that West Virginian's speak English, as much as I am that Jon Amores actually could use the words, "I think" with a straight face.
It's wrong that most of the stuff snuck in at the last minute in any legislation becomes law.
I wasn't talking about immigrants. ;)
what language do the speak now?
BTTT!!!
Newsflash: Florida has an "English official language" in their constitution. It has done nothing to inhibit the Cubans of Miami.
English is the language that unites this nation and the world.
MSNBC had some univision anchorman saying that english is not important to the USA. Then again his job is dependent on english NOT being dominant.
I wish that they would make voting ballots ONLY be allowed in english.
"They don't call the cities due south of Cleveland "Little WV" for nothing."
Back when Akron had the tire companies, they used to teach the 3 R's in W.Va. schools:
Readin'
Ritin'
and the Road to Akron.
""I think it‘s wrong that‘s something like that was snuck into that bill in the last minute," said House Judiciary Chairman Jon Amores"
Then do you damned job and READ the bill before you vote on it.
Isn't that what you get paid to do?
HA! HA!...LOL! :) ..its' a good thing.
< Back when Akron had the tire companies, they used to teach the 3 R's in W.Va. schools:
Readin'
Ritin'
and the Road to Akron. >
LOL. I know. I have family there. That was the 50s.
Another contingent arrived when Charleston Newspapers booted everybody (union problems...it was a vicious strike).
A bunch of those guys wound up in Akron too. That was early 70s.
But with the early 80s, we began to get real smart and follow the sun. We discovered that I-77 went south too...so we now have the Hillbilly Highway to Charlotte...not north to Akron.
it will get struck down in some jackass leftist PC court, but it is good for a grin.
WTF are you talking about? Every second generation Cuban American I ever worked with spoke better English than they did Spanish. If you meet somebody in South Florida who can't speak English, chances are they are from Haiti or Central America.
I am actually for English being the official language - I will give you an example - In some parts of New jersey due to the influx of Koreans store fronts had only Korean letters on them. Non-Koreans had no clue what store it was or even what address it was. So they passed a law saying the store signs should be in English letters as well - equal sizes to the letters as the non-English letters. So police and first responders can find said establishments, etc.
Now in saying that - are we to go the way France has gone where it bans non French words like in favor of French official versions that a commission comes up with.
Also, what about states where English was not the main language when they became States? Like Spanish, French for Louisiana. What if Louisiana makes French the second official language? What happens when Florida and and the Southwest include Spanish?
There is even a good argument for making German the second official language in Pennsylvania and some states in the west.
Finally, as Conservatives I find it troubling that we are resorting to passing laws on such matters. Let us keep these sayings in mind:
"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws." - Tacitus, Roman historian
"The trouble today is that we have too many laws." --John Garner, US Vice-President, 1932
"Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearsome master." --George Washington
So I feel it is a sad state of affairs when we have to compel someone by the force of the state to speak a language. The ideal of course is that the non-English speaker should want to learn English on their own. Resorting to law means we as a nation are failing to assimilate immigrants in a holistic manner and now must compel them.
Why this failure? Based on the Conservative understanding of the world - the market is why immigrants are failing to assimilate. Before the rise of the welfare state you needed to learn enough English to work and conduct commerce. Without that economic incentive there is no longer a need to assimilate as quickly or as well.
With all that said, I am in favor of utiltarian uses of English as the official language of record as per the store front example I cited but I would be against this law if it was used to compel anyone to speak English.
If Florida has ballots in Spanish, then English is not it's official language at all.
I forgot to use Hawaii as an example where English would have to share as an official language.
NO ONE...in....West Virginia...SPEAKS ENGLISH!
I once found that the State of MO, for example, had to print a driver's test in 18 languages to accomodate the people who demanded them.
In Italy, for just one example, you are permitted to us a Universal Driver's License, for 1 year then must be tested in Italian (over 300 questions) or lose your "right to drive."
I think we both may have missed an issue or two, but it was lively. Your welcome!
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