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One of the depressing things about the AZ situation, for me, is that while
there are still many countries with repressive laws that affect minority
languages, most countries appear to be moving in a direction of more and
more tolerance. It really is against a worldwide trend. Even CHINA is liberalizing
its language policies to some extent--why are we falling for this stupidity,
when time is so very short? <br>
<br>
It also really makes me very angry that that English-Only movement has used
all of this rhetoric about helping immigrant kids learn English and used
it against indigenous American languages. It's not that I support English-Only
in ANY form, but I do feel quite certain that when most Americans vote for
these laws, they don't intend to vote against Native American languages.
It's very, very devious and evil. If I understand Prop. 203 properly, I
think that it needs a 75% vote to significantly alter it. The only real
hope is that lawsuits and the courts will block it. I believe that's what
happened in Alaska: Native groups challenged the English-only law (another
one of those laws by Unz and his gang of bullies) and it's stuck in court
as a result. I remember reading an article in which some idiot representative
of the English-only movement in Alaska said something like "We're not against
preservation of Native languages, but they have to be practical. They couldn't
use them if they go to Germany." Well, hell! You could condemn some of
the largest languages on earth on that particular grounds. <br>
<br>
We all need to get a lot more politically savvy. I've found that people
really respond to certain kinds of rhetoric--you can say things like "Prop.
203 reduces Navajo, an American language that helped win WWII, to the status
of a foreign language." People really turn their heads when they hear statements
like that. Most Americans instinctively recognize the rightness of preserving
indigenous languages, but when they think that they are voting for "English
for the children," then most never even think about indigenous languages.
I'm not a nationalist, but we do need to point out strongly that were are
preserving our own American culture here. The other side is brilliant at
appealing to people's emotions--we need to do the same thing. We are, after
all, on the right side of this issue. <br>
<br>
<br>
Susan Penfield wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid1095781052.b017db4104013@www.email.arizona.edu">
<pre wrap="">All,
I'm sure this is a pattern affecting endangered languages in many corners of the
world. Thanks for this perspective on the Tucson and Canadian situations. For
an indepth discussion of Prop. 203 in Arizona, see this page on James
Crawford's Language Policy website:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JWCRAWFORD/az-unz.htm">http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JWCRAWFORD/az-unz.htm</a>
It contains a complete explanation of the origin of Prop.203 (spinning out of
California...) and the current status of this legislation.
The tenor of 'English-only' arguments, although aimed at the Mexican-American
population, is clearly a threat to anyone working on indigenous language
revitalization and we should all be aware of the hidden agendas in this type of
language policy.
Best,
Susan
Quoting Rolland Nadjiwon <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:mikinakn@SHAW.CA"><mikinakn@SHAW.CA></a>:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Interesting Anecdote:
Proposition 203, English only, is not a recent proposition. My wife and I
and our children were living in Tucson at the time it more of an issue.
There was a major opposition to it by the Mexican Americans. One of the
outspoken families was the Rhonstadt family, an old family with signatures
on Spanish/ American documentation predating Texas/New
Mexico/Arizona/California statehood. The protests resulted in a response of
the nature that the proposition would not be rescinded but it would not be
enforced. It appeared, at the time, many people did not realize the extent
of the Mexican American remaining in the southwest even to this day and had
intended the legislation to be used against the Dene and other native Tribes
in Arizona. The Mexican American response seemed to be a total surprise to
White rural populations who strongly supported it. Perhaps that is part of
the reason why you find 203 is "poorly crafted and even more poorly
implemented...."
The only reason I am aware of this legislation, is because of the two
official language legislation in Canada for French and English. That
Canadian decision around the same time as Prop 203 was 'very' controversial
in Canada.
Here in the city where we live, we had moved to Tucson for my wife to do her
Grad work at UofA, the mayor, a somewhat colourful/notorious personality,
rescinded the legislation and declared Sault Ste. Marie, ON. as an English
only city. Both my wife and I were unaware of the Mayor's actions. However,
people who knew where relocated from were saying, "Hey, you come from that
English only city up in Canada."
"No. Canada has two official languages by Federal Legislation: English and
French."
"Oh no. Your mayor just declared your city an English only city."
Of course it didn't work. I could never figure why he did that considering
he is Italian and, probably, the largest language group in Sault Ste. Marie
outside of English, as Hispanic is in Arizona.
However, our Native Language programs are taking a beating here in Canada
also because of official language legislation where we are neither included
or excluded.
-------
wahjeh
rolland nadjiwon
----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan Penfield" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:sdp@EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU"><sdp@EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU></a>
To: <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:ILAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU"><ILAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU></a>
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 9:16 PM
Subject: Re: English-Only laws in AZ
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Matthew,
Thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention. It is particularly
troubling since, in the beginning of the process, Native people were
assured, repeatedly, that they would not be included in the application of
this
poorly crafted and even more poorly implemented (my opinion, put mildly)
proposition.
Susan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matthew Ward" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:mward@LUNA.CC.NM.US"><mward@LUNA.CC.NM.US></a>
To: <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:ILAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU"><ILAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU></a>
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 3:55 PM
Subject: English-Only laws in AZ
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Just wanted to mention that I've been in touch with ACLU Arizona about
the issue of Prop. 203, the English-only law, affecting Native immersion
programs. It does indeed seem that Window Rock Public Schools may risk
losing funding by continuing their immersion programs, and the issue may
have to go to court.
We all need to be vigilant in letting people know that these
English-only laws do not just apply to immigrants--they also endanger
efforts to preserve Native American languages as well. I suspect that
if Azizona voters had understood the effect of this law, they wouldn't
have voted for it in the first place.
Matthew Ward
</pre>
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</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
Susan D. Penfield, Ph.D.
Department of English
The Writing Program
Second Language Acquisition and Teaching Ph.D. Program (affiliate faculty)
Indigenous Languages and Technology
Southwest Center, Research Associate in Anthropology
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721
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