English-Only Laws?

In today’s world it would seem that we have grown into a more diverse and unified nation that accepts multiculturalism and appreciates the benefits of diversity.  I mean, we do have a black president…right?  Strangely, discrimination has persisted throughout all of our advancements.  It seems that there is a margin of Americans that simply refuse to grow and change with our increasingly diverse population.  In fact, opposing sides of the spectrum have been visibly split down the middle since Obama’s election, when individuals began labeling each other as being either “for” or “against” Obama’s policies.  In recent years racism has branched out from it’s covert hiding places throughout our nation and reared it’s ugly head yet again.

Anti-diversity laws are on the rise, especially those directed at Spanish speakers.  If we look at Arizona, we can see a striking example of just how intense the situation has become.  Not only has Arizona passed it’s racial profiling (SB 1070) bill into law, but they have also mandated that Spanish language courses and Hispanic cultural learning be stricken from all public school curriculum.  Other states are following Arizona’s lead and pushing their own bills to inhibit the spread of both illegal immigrants and Spanish language in the U.S.  In the process, the states have alienated legal Spanish speaking citizens and their families, and given fuel to hate groups and vigilantes who are afraid of what affects our nation’s growing diversity may have on their individual rights and the national economy.

This newest English-only law is yet another demonstration of the lack of understanding that some Americans have in regard to Spanish speakers and Hispanics in general.  For those of us who have studied or practiced a foreign language, the challenges are obvious.  Learning a language can take years and often times generations before complete fluency is reached.  Studies have shown that the first generation immigrants often have limited fluency in their new language (no matter what their native language).  The second generation (children of immigrants) are more or less fluent bilinguals of both languages.  Third and fourth generation individuals often lose their bilingual or mother language abilities all together and take on their own native language, that of the country they were born in.  They have assimilated fully into the culture.

Knowing this, how can expect all first generation immigrants should speak ONLY IN ENGLISH?  More frustrating, is the assumption that most non-English speakers aren’t attempting to learn English.  Every foreign language speaker knows that learning English is beneficial to them.  There is already so much in their daily lives that makes them outsiders due to their limited language skills.  So, now we should make it more difficult by not providing any help in their native language as they learn?

With countries like Spain and Canada taking measures to prevent employers and businesses from discriminating against foreign language speakers by having them provide alternative products and services, why are Americans taking the opposite approach?  What is it that makes us hesitant to accept other cultures and languages as part of our own national identity?  Wouldn’t it be beneficial to us to join the ranks of other powerhouse countries and become multilingual?  How about expanding our world views?  Foreign policy?  Diplomacy?  How far will it go America?