Category: Odd + Funny Author : Duncan Riley Posted: January 10, 2009
Tags : christians, Nashville, speak english, weird
Protesters at a rally against an initiative that world force Nashville metro Government to conduct business in English only have said the among other things, the initiative violates Christian teachings.
While the proposal would require all government communications and publications to be conducted in English, though the council could make specific exceptions for health and safety.
“It is wrong morally because it diminishes the value of individuals and it speaks against the principles of liberty for all,” said Patricia Stokes, president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Middle Tennessee.
“It doesn’t make sense socially, economically, spiritually, morally,” Councilwoman Erica Gilmore said. “We are a place of many nations and many people, and we should embrace that.”
According to the Tennessean, supporters say the change would encourage people to learn and use English; put the onus for language help on individuals, not government; and save the $100,000 or so Metro spends each year on translation and related services.
Jan 10, 2009
This annoys me to no end. The official language of the United States is English, and if you choose to come here, well, guess what, things are going to be in English. Why should we have to accommodate people who don't have the courtesy to learn the language?
Before anyone goes saying “typical self-centered American”, I think the same for every country. If someone moves to France, you better know French. You move to Germany, you better know German, etc. So this government body is forced to spend $100K a year to accommodate people to lazy or unwilling to learn the language of the country they moved to? Makes no sense to me.