Commentary : Measure Threatens to Divide Us and Tarnish Our Proud Heritage

Last summer we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. That glorious Fourth of July brought all Americans together.

Now, a few months later, Proposition 63, the “English Only” California constitutional amendment, threatens to divide us and tarnish our proud heritage of tolerance and cultural diversity.

America’s greatness and uniqueness lie in the fact that we are a nation of diverse people with a shared commitment to democracy, freedom and fairness. That is the common bond that holds our nation and state together. It runs much deeper than the English language.

Proposition 63, despite its title, does not preserve English as our common language. Instead, it undermines the efforts of new citizens of our state to contribute to and enter the mainstream of American life.

English is and will remain the language in California. Proposition 63 will not change that. What it will do is produce a nightmare of expensive litigation and needless resentment.

Proponents of “English Only” assume that this initiative will encourage more immigrants and non-native English speakers to learn English.

However, there is already substantial proof that these persons do not resist learning English, but rather that they demonstrate a strong desire to obtain English language skills, as evidenced by the waiting lists for courses in English as a Second Language.

A 1985 study by the Rand Corp. found that while most first-generation, native-born Latinos are bilingual, more than 90% of them are proficient in English and that more than half of the second-generation are monolingual English speakers.

This initiative does not provide positive alternatives to help people learn English. For instance, it does not provide for an increase in needed night and weekend English classes.

Rather than unifying California, Proposition 63 undermines our shared commitment to democracy. It could isolate those who have not yet mastered English from essential government services, such as 911 emergency operators.

By disallowing English language interpretation, the proposition could serve to take away the constitutional rights of immigrants.

By preventing immigrants from becoming better, more involved citizens while making the transition into American society, Proposition 63 could discourage rather than encourage the assimilation of new citizens. It simply punishes those who have not had a fair opportunity to learn English. Worse yet, because Proposition 63 amends the California Constitution, its harmful effects will be permanent and very difficult to change.

The Orange County Human Relations Commission unanimously voted to oppose this initiative noting that it could create intergroup tension, encourage resentment and bigotry, seriously undermine emergency services and cost taxpayers millions of dollars in legal fees.