English: the Official National Language

Just when you think that Republicans couldn’t get any more craven and shabby. The US Senate has passed a bill making English the ‘national’ language of the USA. And in a related bill, oxygen is now the national gas.

[N]o one has “a right, entitlement or claim to have the government of the United States or any of its officials or representatives act, communicate, perform or provide services or provide materials in any language other than English.”

Hear that, Spanish speakers? You have no right to expect anything other than English. If the U.S. Government provides tax instructions, government documents, help with interpretation, or anything else, it’s because we’re being nice. More than you deserve. You’re welcome.

Why is this cowardly? Let’s consider the context. Republicans are currently battered by scandal and are historically unpopular. They need some victories. But not against anyone powerful. So instead, they take it up against the powerless, those who won’t be able to respond. And since they’ve chosen to align themselves with bigots, it’s a bonus if the target also has dark skin. Voila! A bill aimed against racial minorities that don’t speak English. This bill won’t actually change anything policy-wise. It doesn’t have to. It’s symbolic, see. Republicans get to look tough on immigration, and stand up for the language of the homeland.

Where’s the president in all of this? Where’s his keen acumen, his uncanny ability to judge the right side of an issue?

President Bush, speaking about immigration on Thursday on a trip to Arizona, reiterated that under his proposal illegal immigrants would have to learn English. “If you learn English, and you’re a hard worker, and you have a dream, you have the capacity from going from picking crops to owning the store, or from sweeping office floors to being an office manager,” Mr. Bush said.

Oh. And if you don’t learn English, well…

This has happened over and over again in history, and it’s always regrettable. Speakers of dominant language A forbid the use of minority language B in schools, government, and public life. If it goes on long enough, language B is lost, and with it a culture and a way of thinking. Spanish is not in danger of extinction anytime soon, but English is even less in danger. What’s the worry? Why pick this issue now? It’s just more target practice from the Republicans. It’s what makes them feel safe.