Tower of Babel
Your Aug. 31 story, “Agencies Serving Public Told to Provide Interpreters,” contained the quote, “It sends a strong message.” Having interpreter services for every agency that doles out federal benefits does indeed send a strong message, i.e., that there is no reason to bother with learning English to be a part of American society. The talk these days is all about inclusion, but this policy has more to do with encouraging separation.
The tax money spent on interpreters could much better be used for more English-language classes. Why not have a language-instruction radio station?
Remember the Old Testament story of Babel? It wasn’t a celebration of diversity but a curse from God. Our policies shouldn’t be creating a modern version.
DANA GARCIA
Berkeley
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