Nashville Adopts `English First' Policy

[The Straight Story]

Nashville Adopts `English First' Policy
U.S. Video


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Nashville's government has adopted English as its official language, following similar moves by several smaller cities around the country.

After months of debate, the city's Metro Council voted 23-14 on Tuesday to approve the measure requiring all government communications to be in English, except when multilingual communications are required by federal rules or are needed "to protect or promote public health, safety or welfare."

The exceptions were added after the city attorney contended that the bill's original language was unconstitutional. Some supporters and opponents of the measure said the exceptions mean the law will have little effect on city business.

Bill sponsor Councilman Eric Crafton and his supporters said the change offers an incentive for immigrants to learn English.

"This bill says we'll simply do the governmental business in English," Crafton said. "If we shouldn't do it in English, I'd like for somebody else to stand up and tell us what language we should conduct our business in."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/ENGLISH_ONLY_NASHVILLE?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

Well, let's hope someone learns em how to speak it down yonder.

[Burma Jones]

1. I hear they also decreed that Apple Pie contains Apples.....

It's all about showing how much you want all those little brown people to go "home".......

[porphyrian]

2. Does that mean they'll have to start speaking it?

Man, those hicks are going to be pissed.

[boobooday]

3. LOL

Just what I was thinking. When do they start?

[GainesT1958]

4. Actually, many of us DO speak it pretty well, but...

Sounds as though Crafton is the kind of guy who needs to learn to hablo Espanol, so he can move on down to Paraguay with the Bush family in 2009!:eyes:

B-)