Proposition 63: Official Language

I want to add my personal support to The Times editorial (Oct. 3), opposing Proposition 63, the “English as the Official Language” initiative.

I suspect that many voters are supporting Proposition 63 because they feel that it will make immigrants learn English faster. Yet, how successful has any government decree ever been in forcing cultural change, even if it is supported by a majority of the people?

The magic of America has always been to appeal to individual initiative with indirect inducements and incentives. The promise of America should be to assure immigrants that learning English significantly improves their opportunity to support themselves and their families--which is one of the reasons they came to America in the first place.

Our best course of action is to ensure immigrants’ rights of free access into our economy and society and to provide sufficient funds for educational programs to teach English.

LODWRICK M. COOK

Los Angeles

Cook is chairman and chief executive of ARCO.