English language bill is nonsense: Citizens should encourage legislators to tackle real issues, not pseudo-patriotic poppycock.
Commentary by Terry Plowman, published in the Delaware Coast Press
Remembering the true patriotism of this country's veterans at last Friday's Memorial Day ceremonies brought to mind a glaring example of the pseudo-patriotism that sometimes afflicts our legislators.
Like their passion over the flag-burning issue a few years ago, their latest attempt to cloak themselves in "American" values is House Bill 172, the so-called "English language" bill, which has passed the House.
The bill proposes to declare English as Delaware's "official" language, which its supporters think is a good idea. We think it's a crock of phony, feel-good nonsense.
The bill is clearly a slap in the face to all legal immigrants, and it makes us wonder how our legislators' grandparents or great-grandparents would have felt when confronted with such a law upon their arrival in this country.
Should all immigrants learn English, America's common language? Of course they should, and most make a serious effort to do so.
Should taxpayers have to pay for signs and government publications to be printed in a multitude of other languages? Probably not, but if the government spent more money offering English education to immigrants, and less on hollow measures such as HB 172, the need for such signs would diminish.
The frustrating thing about bills such as this is that they force otherwise sensible legislators into voting for pseudo-patriotic poppycock. How can they vote "no" to a measure that declares English as the state's official language? Can they risk conveying the image to many of their constituents that they do not support "mom and apple pie" issues?
The bottom line in a world that is becoming smaller and more multicultural every day is that throwing up barriers like this makes no sense at all. We should be reaching out to all ethnic groups, helping to incorporate them into American life.
HB 172 is a racist, xenophobic idea which the state Senate should reject. And we hope local citizens see it for what it is and encourage their representatives to stay away from such foolish ideas.