MN GOP Pushes to Exclude Languages Other Than English

[NNN0LHI]

http://theuptake.org/2011/02/01/draft-mn-gop-push-for-english-only/

February 1, 2011

Republicans in control of the Minnesota House and Senate are pushing legislation that would designate English as the state’s official language and repeal an existing law that requires state agencies to employ bilingual employees. The move would require most government business, including meetings, documents and other services, to be conducted in English only — this despite the Twin Cities’ celebrated ethnic and language diversity. A bill introduced yesterday in the state Senate would bar Minnesota from issuing a driver’s license to anyone who cannot understand English and would require applicants to pass the test without an interpreter. More than 20 states have adopted similar legislation. Most recently, voters in Oklahoma approved a ballot measure making English their official language.

[PDJane]

1. I wonder about these people, I truly do.....

This is going to make for insularity in a country that is built on immigrants. Where is the left? Why hasn't anyone stood up to this kind of bullying? Why are these assholes in power?

Glenn Beck keeps bleating on about Egypt and all those brown people destroying the American way of life. It seems to me that Americans are doing quite nicely without any help from anyone else.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. This state is going to Hell, and the Republicans are driving the bus.

It used to be one of the best states to live in -- good, well-funded schools, good roads, first-rate colleges and universities, high-tech businesses, lots of jobs, and a good deal of progressive legislation. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907665,00.html But after Tim Pawlenty and his budget-cutting, fuck the poor to pay the rich policies, and now a Republican-controlled legislature, it's turning into a cold Alabama: Underfunded, crumbling schools, bad roads, collapsing bridges, lots of unemployed and/or homeless people, state-sanctioned bigotry and intolerance, and no money for anything -- except tax cuts for the rich.

[madrchsod]

3. what about native languages?

http://www.native-languages.org/minnesota.htm

[Historic NY]

4. There goes..... E pluribus unum !!

[kevinbgoode]

5. Since so many teabaggers can't spell or even begin to use proper grammar,

does this mean they'll be ostracized for their own inability to master the English language?

It seems so ironic to me that the people who push for this legislative crap are the same ones who were too lazy in grade school to learn the language.

[niyad]

6. when I hear this kind of bs, I tell them that I insist that they demonstrate a college-level

proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking what is supposed to be their native tongue. they should be able to do at least as well as I, a non-native, do.

[riverwalker]

7. Minnesota's 12th Governor was born in Norway

Knute Nelson. A Republican. There is a statue of him standing with his mother on a immigrant ship, if front of the state capital.
Minnesota's GOP are a bunch of ignorant morons if they think this will fly. Most Minnesotans have an immigrant grandparent or parent who spoke only Norwegian/Swedish/Polish/and this tea bagger xenophobia will rub the wrong way.

[NNN0LHI]

10. They don't care if it flies or not

This is just smoke and mirrors so Minnesotans don't notice while these baggers are destroying the state.

Don

[jwirr]

8. They must have forgotten that we have a large Native population

that has been working for decades to keep their language alive. Plus many of the Finnish and Swedish people are still using their own languages in many events. That doesn't even count the newer arrivals.

[Johonny]

9. I speak Freedom language

let them Torres lovers go back to England and kiss the boot of King George if they want their "English" only.