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<DIV>Harold. Nashville in Tennessee. Saludos,</DIV>
<DIV>CMV<BR> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000bf><STRONG>Carlos Martin Vélez, Ph.D.<BR>Assistant Professor of Spanish/ESL <BR>Brescia Univers</STRONG></FONT><FONT color=#0000bf><STRONG>ity<BR>717 Frederica Street</STRONG></FONT><FONT color=#0000bf><STRONG> <BR>Owensboro, Kentucky 42301<BR>Oficina 270-686-4313 Fax 270-686-6422<BR></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000bf><STRONG><FONT color=#ff007f><STRONG><BR>Todo está en las conecciones. Connection is everything. </STRONG></FONT></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000bf><STRONG><FONT color=#ff007f><STRONG>Inspira. Conecta. Actúa. Adaptado From "<SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1219174342_76>The Visitor</SPAN>" Movie.</STRONG></FONT><BR></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
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<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Harold Schiffman <hfsclpp@gmail.com><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> lp <lgpolicy-list@ccat.sas.upenn.edu><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, February 3, 2009 12:32:35 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Kentucky: Language proposal deserved rejection<BR></FONT><BR>Language proposal deserved rejection<BR>Monday, February 2, 2009<BR><BR>A century ago, when the New Immigration from Southern and Eastern<BR>Europe and Asia was at its height, it was noted that visitors to great<BR>American cities could tell what section of town they were in by the<BR>aroma of the cooking and the different languages they heard.<BR>There were efforts to restrict immigration as there were efforts to<BR>encourage assimilation. Both efforts persist today. The current<BR>downturn in the American economy has served as its own brake on<BR>illegal
immigration, and it seems removed from the hue and cry of a<BR>couple of years ago.<BR><BR>As many have noted, the United States is a nation of immigrants.<BR>American culture is richer for this diversity — and that includes the<BR>language we speak. Thus, it was a relief late last month when voters<BR>in Nashville rejected a proposal that all government business be done<BR>in English. The vote was 41,752 against the proposal and 32,144 for<BR>it, reflecting the division in our nation over the issue of<BR>immigration reform. Nashville Councilman Eric Crafton promoted the<BR>referendum as a way to unite Nashvillians and avoid the extensive and<BR>costly translation services of other cities. Had it passed, Nashville<BR>would have been the largest U.S. city requiring all government<BR>business be in English.<BR><BR>Business, academic and religious leaders; Nashville Mayor Karl Dean,<BR>and Gov. Phil Bredesen said the proposal would tarnish the
city's<BR>welcoming image, harm tourism and business recruitment and endanger<BR>federal funding for city services. (In Knoxville, there are no<BR>"English only" initiatives for city government, said William Lyons,<BR>senior director of policy and communications.)<BR><BR>The English language is rich with phrases from many other cultures,<BR>and we use these every day without question and with little thought to<BR>their origin. It is difficult to understand how one can appreciate<BR>this literary and linguistic contribution to our language and at the<BR>same time prevent a city government from using a second or third<BR>language to help perform the services its citizens expect.<BR><BR>Studies of immigrants have shown that, while the first generation to<BR>come here experiences difficulty learning and speaking English, the<BR>second often becomes fluent in both languages and the third no longer<BR>speaks the native tongue or has to learn it
anew.<BR><BR>Lourdes Perez, director of Knoxville's Catholic Hispanic Ministry,<BR>said it takes about 10 years to fully learn English. Meanwhile, the<BR>ability to have necessary documents and information in another<BR>language is a big help during a time of transition.<BR><BR>She said that, while she encourages people to learn English, "Many of<BR>these people are in survival mode — getting the kids to school and<BR>putting food on the table — and going to class to learn English isn't<BR>always a priority."<BR><BR>We are a much better society when we can provide those who want to<BR>become American citizens eventually with the help they need for<BR>day-to-day living instead of throwing up obstacles just because we<BR>believe we can.<BR><BR><A href="http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/feb/02/language-proposal-deserved-rejection/" target=_blank>http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/feb/02/language-proposal-deserved-rejection/</A><BR>--
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