4A - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
FRIDAY,FEB.1,2002
FACEOFF
Should English be the official language?
English-only forms aid government domestic commerce, equality
COMMENTARY
As much as I hate to admit it, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia made a good point last semester when he visited the University of Kansas. We are the only nation, he said, that identifies itself not by race, where we live, or where we come from, but by the principles of the Constitution.
These principles give us the best arguments against
respects to make English the official
When asked to write a column in defense of English as the "official language," I found myself in a curious position. How does one write a column on the topic without coming off as a complete racist?
SO WHY ARE WE DITCHING THE LATIN?
Americans should not be defined by what language they speak
The dilemma gave me pause, until I realized that the problem with the debate was the manner in which the question was phrased. The "Official Language" always sends a chill up my spine with images of George Wallace, brown shirts and hateful speeches about a mythical "cultural heritage."
However, legally mandating that all federal documents be completed in only English strikes me as a far less inflammatory and a far more reasonable position
The most important reason to favor legally man dating English-only federal forms is that it ensures transparency across the bureaucracy. While it is probably very likely that someone in San Francisco speaks fluent Chinese, it is decidedly less so if that particular form finds its way to Duluth, Minn.
This is also the case with states. If a state feels compelled to vote an English-only ballot initiative into law, so be it. Likewise, if it chooses to make forms available in 100 different languages, that is entirely the state's choice.
So should every federal office have to retain the services of individuals who can translate every language spoken anywhere in the United States? I think not. It is in the interests of the United States and interstate commerce to make sure that every official federal government document is created equal.
Dave Grummon opinion@kansan.com
This is not the case with states and municipalities. I do not care whether the residents of a particular city feel that having paperwork available in multiple languages best fits their communities—that's the miracle of federalism. Local control allows the local government to adapt to its constituency.
in somewhat moderate position is, of course, unsatisfying to the official-language opponents. Because what lies at the root of that sort of advocacy is another example of misguided multiculturalism. According to those advocates, to force someone to fill out a federal form in English is culturally imperialistic, racist and un-American.
In this meeting pot, or so it seems, good everyone should be able to speak in whatever language they want in any circumstance. This, of course, is stupid.
In this melting pot, or so the story goes.
The rather unfortunate thing about this position is that it finds itself in a paradox of its own. By eschewing standards of practicality, it leaves itself bereft of a check on the profligation of languages.
What most advocates mean when they say "no official language" is "both English and Spanish." But, if English-only discriminates against minority populations, so does English-and-Spanish-only. To be consistent, one must include absolutely every language spoken in the United States, by anyone.
So the only recourse left to "English-and-Spanish" advocates is to appeal to standards of reasonability, which leads to the conclusion outlined above: English for the federal level, empowered states and localities and free and happy individuals. To do otherwise would be imprudent and, dare I say it, un-American.
After all, who is to judge which forms should be printed in which languages? I think every die-hard Esperanto speaker, every Gaelic-tongued Renaissance
festival junkie and every Radio Shack Trekkie worth his or her Klingon dictionary has just as legitimate a claim as anyone else under the "we don't want to judge" standard, unless someone cares to belittle their individual language choice. Yet I'm sure this is not what the multicultural advocates mean to propose.
Chamberlain is a Topeka senior in political science.
COMMENTARY
SUNSON
IT'S NOT THE "OFFICIAL" LANGUAGE!
under the law to all
persons in their jurisdiction. Even if this doesn't create a strict legal obligation for government to make its services accessible to those who haven't mastered English yet, it at least creates an ideological one. Our government is here to serve all the people, not just todav's majority.
If we stand for equal protection under the law, does it make sense for the government to provide translators in court proceedings? The quality of justice you receive shouldn't depend on language skills. In an area like Dade County, Fla., where a giant chunk of the population speaks Spanish, it makes sense to allow court proceedings to be held in Spanish. If government is to be of, by and for the people, it should actually work for the people it serves.
What about other government services like drivers
license exams or tax return instructions? Americans should have the opportunity to be active, connected participants in our democracy and society. If this kind of interaction is fundamental creating an integrated society, government should try to accommodate non-English speakers, just as it should accommodate individuals with physical handicaps.
what is certain, however, is that our country is becoming more multicultural. The private sector has no illusions about this new demographic reality and is beginning to respond. When many consumers who speak a foreign language live in one area, hospitals, retailers and service providers respond by accommodating those consumers, thereby selling more products or services. Both smart businesses and workers know that becoming bilingual is in their interest.
Similarly, it's in the best interest of the government and the nation to make significant accommodations, at least to the largest non-English-speaking groups. Some people may try to frame the "English-only" debate as an immigration control issue. But it's not. The face
These people will make up vast sections of our future population. Does it make sense to shut them out of our education, health and government systems?
Do we want millions of tomorrow's Americans to be unskilled, uneducated, unhealthy and completely disconnected from our nation and society? The negative effect this would have on our crime rates, our economy, and the welfare of our society would be staggering.
While "English-only" advocates will undoubtedly point out the increased cost to taxpayers for accommodating non-English-speakers, the cost is much less than it would be if government did nothing to reach out and integrate these emerging populations now. Some fear that if we see store signs or, worse, government forms in anything other than English, America is somehow becoming less American.
But our most fundamental Constitutional concepts of what it means to be an American have nothing to do with language. I hope that being an American has far more to do with our respect for the rights of others and the rule of law.
The average American of the future will not be linked to any one race or religion. Nor will the average American speak only one language. And for most of us, at some level, that's a little scary. The sooner we admit that to ourselves, the easier it will be to get ourselves unstuck from the fears and prejudices of the past and focus on what needs to be done to improve America's future.
Grummon is a third-year law student from Beloit.
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University administration was wise to cancel classes
Whether we wanted it, winter at last blew into Lawrence this week, and with a vengeance.
One year ago, an ice storm caused the University to cancel morning classes, but because the decision was made late, many students didn't get the message until they had made the treacherous journey onto campus.
As the community hunkered down to weather this lingering storm, University of Kansas officials were smart to act quickly and decisively.
Roads were not safe for KU on Wheel buses and Mount Oread looked more like an ice skating rink than an institution of higher education. Forecasts predicted that between 1 and 3 inches of freezing rain and sleet would have fallen in the last few days. Power lines and tree branches, coated in thick ice, snapped like toothpicks around town.
But this year, the administration had announced its decision to cancel classes by 11 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, early enough to keep many students and non-essential staff members off the roads.
Simply put, it's been treacherous out there. KU officials should be commended for putting the campus
community's safety first.
It might be frustrating for professors to fall behind a day in their syllabi, but classwork can be made up. No class, no matter how valuable or fascinating, is worth risking one's health or safety.
The University administration practiced sound judgment this week and realized that valuable time in the classroom cannot outweigh common sense. After all, when Mother Nature strikes, you can't stop her because of a test.
Besides, with conditions this treacherous a sizeable number of students probably wouldn't have made it to class anyway, which makes having meaningful discussions difficult.
Just remember when you head back to that daily grind that the maintenance workers didn't have it so lucky. They were out clearing sidewalks, salting roads and chipping away at the ice so that you can walk to class safely today, even if you really wanted another day off.
So we hope students enjoyed their rare two-day break courtesy of Mother Nature, whether it was spent catching up on studying — or catching up on sledding, drinking and sleeping.
Kursten Phelps for the editorial board.
864-0500
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Has anyone else noticed that since Sept. 11, the New England Patriots seem to be a team of destiny?
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We should have noonan sticks at every game
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If you're reading this, we had school today.
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Miss Gorgeous, you're just that, gorgeous.
It's pathetic when you have to schedule all your classes around Eliminate and The Fifth Wheel
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One time when I had just met this guy I accidentally screamed, not said, screamed, the wrong name during sex. He thought it was his best friend, but really it was my ex-boyfriend, and he found that out later, and I was just wondering what the sex columnist would advise me on that one.
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My name's Kari, spelled with one "r," and I have a boyfriend and I'm not breaking up with him.
The KU administration has a vision for KU that means higher pay for administrators. But what about staff and
Are you kidding me? that all we can score. One-hundred-and-five lousy points? Gee, we pathetic.
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teachers who work daily with students? They often live in poverty.I feel student tuition dollars should go to what helps students.
If the Kansan wants a Pulitzer Prize, they should score a 4/20 interview with Willie Nelson this week.
This is for everybody in today's cultural anthology class; remember, today's program was brought to you by the No. 3.
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I love Quinn Snyder, too.
It's a Mazda commercial, not a Hyundai commercial
Even classes at every other campus, including the Edwards campus, are canceled. What about Lawrence? Like there are no commuters to Lawrence.
I think next year the KU basketball team should sit right behind the KU football bench and heckle and make fun of how bad we are losing.
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To all the girls who walk past me in the bar, headed for Boschee, when I'm famous in two years, you'll think, 'Wow, he went to KU. I wish I'd met him.'
The best way to end an engagement is to ask for a prenup.
丽
| just remembered that Phil Hartman is dead. Ah, that's so sad.
Dennis Dailey, will you be my boyfriend? Check 'yes' or
'no'.
P