Check out this quote from Kentucky's Governor Steve Beshear this morning:
"Kentucky has a long standing tradition of being a very welcoming state. We're seeking foreign investment in our state. We want people to come here from other countries to do business, and Gov. Beshear doesn't want to detract from that."
Sounds like boilerplate political language... till you consider that Beshear is explaining why he reversed a decision by the Kentucky State Troopers to offer the drivers license exam only in English. The Troopers said they did it as a way to save money. Multiple-language exams have been a flash point for anti-immigrant sentiment in many states--Alabama very much included-- for many years. Compare the Democratic Kentucky Governor's comment to this, from Alabama State Senator Scott Beason (R- Gardendale) last year, quoted by Dave White in his Birmingham News story:
"It's good for the people of Alabama to use English as the official language in a unifying factor so that we can all get along," he said. "I see down the road us getting to the place where we end up with two or three groups of people who speak different languages and have a difficult time working with each other. "I'm trying to avoid that situation."
Beason was defending his bill (which failed) to go back to an English-only driving test, and to require English in all other state government actions. But Alabama's license wars go back a decade. Through the 1990's, the state went to court repeatedly, fighting for the right to offer the exams only in English. Finally, in 1998, a Federal Court ordered the state to offer the multiple language exams, finding in favor of a Southern Poverty Law Center lawsuit. This morning, the Governor of Kentucky decided his state was not going down that road.
An unintended consequence of "english-only" rules is that it would disenfranchise those Deaf people whose primary language is American Sign Language (ASL).
ReplyDeleteASL is a distinct language, more akin to Chinese languages than to English.
There are about 9,000 Deaf people in Alabama. One person out of ten has some sort of hearing problem, making this the largest disability group.
Thankfully, no "English only" bills were introduced in the recent legislative session.
Again, this "issue" is a non-starter, because in many European nations, there are laws requiring or mandating that people be FLUENT in the native tongue BEFORE they are granted visas for any length of time.
ReplyDelete(And, I don't understand why some folks don't think it's important for guests to speak our native tongue, which happens to be the accepted language of international business - English - when they come to America.)
Case in point - a dear friend and business owner whom is now residing in Holland.
She had made plans to become an expatriate, and is now there, developing the European aspect of her American business. She is an American citizen, having been adopted by an American soldier and wife while he was on duty in Germany some years ago. Like her adopted father, she is also a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Because of her native German birth status, she is entitled to privileges that the non-native born are not. Her American sister's spouse - whom is a high level executive in Holland - was bemoaning that fact in conversation with her before she left for Holland. However, like any other person seeking long-term (defined as over three months) status, Sheila HAD to demonstrate to the government of the Netherlands that she is proficient in Dutch.
Language proficiency is ABSOLUTELY required. It is MANDATORY. Period.
The Dutch call it "civic integration," and those applying for long-term status must FIRST prove language proficiency BEFORE they apply for a long-term visa.
"As of 15 March 2006, certain categories of aliens seeking to settle in the Netherlands who need an authorisation for temporary stay (MVV) to enter the country will have to take an integration test before coming to the Netherlands. This mainly concerns people who want to marry someone in the Netherlands or join family members. Religious leaders (such as imams or other clergy) coming to work in the Netherlands will also have to take the examination.
"This requirement does not apply to MVV applications submitted to a Dutch mission or to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) in the Netherlands (through the advisory procedure) before 15 March 2006. Applications to take the civic integration examination can only be made as of that date."
"The civic integration examination is an oral test given in Dutch. Candidates will be tested on their knowledge of Dutch society and their command of the Dutch language. Anyone who prepares properly should be able to pass the examination."
ref: http://www.netherlandsembassy.org.zm/en/visa_requirements.html
This "issue" is NOT about race-bating, nor is it in any way racist. It is about COMMON SENSE, which it doth seem is in short supply from some.
It's time to MOVE FORWARD into the 21st century, rather than continuing to ride on choo-choo trains and play "Cowboys and Indians."
"The civic integration examination is an oral test given in Dutch. Candidates will be tested on their knowledge of Dutch society and their command of the Dutch language. Anyone who prepares properly should be able to pass the examination."
ReplyDeleteWhat about a person who cannot hear the oral questions or respond orally in a satisfactory manner?
Jay, how about looking into that issue (of accommodations for the deaf/HOH) for us, and then reporting your findings?
ReplyDeleteWould it not be reasonable to suppose that considerations for such accommodations are made?
I would imagine that many - if not most - folks would agree that ANY guest or person visiting for an extended period of time in the U.S. should be be tested on their knowledge of American society and their command of the English language (the "native" language, and one spoken most widely in the United States) simply as a matter of functionality in American society.
What harm is there in being able to communicate and being knowledgeable about one's domicile?
Surely you're not advocating ignorance!?!
It is one thing to set up requirements to become a naturalized American citizen. The process is quite rigorous, and rightly so.
ReplyDeleteIt's another thing to make language a litmus test for staying in the US for any length of time.
Not sure about your request for me to research accomodations--do you mean the US or in the Netherlands?
In any case, I'm quite familiar with the accomodations issue in the US.
As to the Netherlands, I was in Amsterdam two years ago. The trams have electronic signs, about the size of a tabloid newspaper, giving news.
Of course, I could not understand the language. However, I did recognize one word: "loverboy."
;-)
Jay, you wrote: "It is one thing to set up requirements to become a naturalized American citizen. The process is quite rigorous, and rightly so.
ReplyDelete"It's another thing to make language a litmus test for staying in the US for any length of time."
Why do you see these as two different issues? And I point out that language is not the exclusive point of testing, but knowledge and perfunctory understanding of the sociocultural milieu.
For example, it would be proper for a visitor to know the conditions in which a call to 911 should be (and should not be) made.
As well, a perfunctory understanding of our governmental operations and public services would be more than extremely helpful to any guest planning on staying for 90 days or more.
These are both helps and aids to those whom plan on being guests in our nation for extended periods, especially. Why would we not want to ensure their successful visit in that regard?
Oh, and while I wrote somewhat facetiously, albeit with some seriousness at heart, because I suppose (though I do not know for a "hard, cold fact") that appropriate accommodations would be made for D/HOH folks.
Finally, you gave a time frame. 90 days.
ReplyDeleteAnd still you haven't answered whether you mean accomodations in the USA or in the Netherlands.
Let's try an example. A family legally brings in an elderly uncle from another country. There will be no financial burden on the country, as he is well-off financially.
However, being elderly he finds it very difficult to learn more than a few words of English. The family is bilingual and can translate when necessary.
Limit his stay to 89 days?