getreal, (7/30/2009 6:32:01 AM)

Now we just need to find someone in Okieville that speaks English.

Eagle 4, Tulsa (7/30/2009 7:19:37 AM)

"...state lawmakers approved a different version about a week after the Justice Department sent a letter in April..."

So, Inhofe "threw up his tail" and organized a protest weeks after the issue had been resolved. Typical.

It's all right, Jim - your faithful constituents are extremely weak with chronology. Your support will remain intact and, more importantly, your collection plates will remain overflowing. If you preach long enough, the Earth will be flattened.

:), (7/30/2009 8:36:09 AM)

So, the proposal has already been changed to comply with the Civil Rights Act. I guess he showed those feds... wait now, what is Inhofe whooping about, again?

The Hoff is pleased :)

A Concerned Citizen, (7/30/2009 11:02:31 AM)

I am puzzled as to what this law will mean for state agencies advertising overseas. Can OU and OSU write international recuitment materials in languages other than English? Can Oklahoma Tourism advertise outside of English-speaking countries?

Ignatz, Broken Bow (7/30/2009 11:23:22 AM)

I would be all for this if it imposed on current Oklahoma born citizens the obligation to pass a simple English proficiency test or be sterilized and denied the right to vote.

billy8, Sand Springs (7/30/2009 11:47:19 AM)

What about all those kids who are graduating from high school and still can't read and speak correctly?

your kidding, Owasso (7/30/2009 2:49:58 PM)

Does this mean Owasso will have to take doen those stupid "Character Traits" banners that are in spanish? What a joke the whole City of Characters thing is anyway. The City Manager should compare himself to some of those traits before hyping them to others.

my view, Sand Springs (7/30/2009 4:19:03 PM)

Twenty-eight states have passed English only laws, Oklahoma will be added to that list making it number 29. If you were to break down the numbers in percentages we have at this moment 56 percent of the nation with English only laws, adding Oklahoma to the list will make 58 percent.

That would make the remaining 21 states in the minority. Just like those that are against the measure here in Oklahoma in the minority.

JB, Chicago (7/30/2009 4:32:14 PM)

Hi, welcome to Oklahoma. English only please, we hate foreigners.

Ayo, T-Town (7/30/2009 4:48:23 PM)

>>>>>"It was inappropriate in the first place for this federal agency to meddle in the affairs of our state."

Not if your state thinks it can stomp on federal civil rights.

If you people don't like that then don't take federal funds in the first place.

tfromtulsa, Tulsa (7/30/2009 6:23:01 PM)

my view - Good point.

Woofenburger, Hominy (7/30/2009 8:43:36 PM)

About 25 or 30 years ago there were Cherokee families living in the hills in eastern Oklahoma that did not speak english. When their children came to kindergarden the first thing they had to learn was to speak english.

I wonder if some of those folks are still around and how it will affect them.

stormytyca, Tulsa (7/30/2009 9:59:03 PM)

(I'm listing these as going there permanently... not if you're on "vacation") If you go to France, you learn French. If you go to Germany, you learn German. If you go to Russia... the list goes on. If you are going to come to America on a permanent basis, LEARN ******* ENGLISH!

I am sick and tired of having to spend 30 minutes drawing things so I can give someone directions who knows a total of about 15 english words... seriously people.

Is it really that much to ask that you learn the language of the country you are moving to?

mike2000, (7/30/2009 10:21:53 PM)

English Only will pass in this state by a wide margin. Get over it. We can take those ridiculous Spanish language signs down in downtown Tulsa. We can have immigrants make just a little bit of effort to learn the language. Is that asking so much?

Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (7/30/2009 11:16:17 PM)

Woofenburger, Hominy (7/30/2009 8:43:36 PM)
Isn't that a historical hot button issue with the tribes? Kids not learning their own language and it becoming lost? How about the history of forced education where Indian children were forced to give up their own language and learn English. O.U. has placed great importance on students taking a native American language as their "foreign" language. O.U. puts so much importance on it that they have lessened the requirement if you choose a native language over a Latin, Germanic, or other non-native language. So that means if you are in College of A&S if you take something like Spanish, you will be required to take 3 semesters. If you take something like Cherokee, you only have one semester to take. Of course it will eat your lunch but its worth it.

Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (7/30/2009 11:18:13 PM)

Forgot to mention that most of the native languages are not taught on campus. You must travel to a tribal learning center to attend the class. But they are working on online courses also and may already offer them.

tulsaworker1, (7/30/2009 11:28:26 PM)

S.I. Hayakawa recommended making the national language english two decades ago. As a japanese american and college professor, he felt it would do more to help the melting pot than continue to build enclaves of americans who can't speak english and instead of promoting and paying for illegals to function in our society. It doesn't restrict other languages, it just says that we don't have to cater to other languages. To function in the united states you should be able to speak and read english, end of story.

:), (7/31/2009 6:57:06 AM)

mike2k, what has no teeth, no weight and is totally irrelevant?

The latest version of ok's english only amendment! LOL!

Sure this will pass! The sun will rise in the east and absolutely nothing will change. You see, the amendment's impotence is the funny part! Get it? You might as well vote on the official sky color of okiehoma.

A Concerned Citizen, (7/31/2009 9:35:55 AM)

So, will Oklahoma colleges be able to write recruitment materials for non-English speaking countries? Will Oklahoma tourism be able to advertise in other languages? If not, it seems silly to limit ourselves.