Speaking 'El Ingles'
BY MIKE JONES Associate Editor
Apr 27, 2008
Another bad law headed
for the Oklahoma books
A
colleague recently
passed along a Tulsa
World news clipping
suggesting that I might find
it of interest. I did. Here it is,
in part:
"El Ingles" as it is spoken at
home by one's children . . . is
the goal of the earnest endeavor of these natives of "El Mejico" now residents of Tulsa.
Living in a coal mining settlement east of the city, they
are quite comfortable . . . in
their own self-contained little
colony . . . with one important
exception.
There are the children. They
attend . . . the Franklin school
where they are rapidly learning . . . English language and
culture.
And so, as with all good parents . . . we must shrug our
shoulders . . . and hie to the
schoolhouse, too.
One family has . . . been
represented by as many as five
adults.
That story appeared in the
Tulsa Daily World, Sunday,
April 9, 1933 -- 75 years ago.
The coal mining is long
gone but the Hispanic community of today still resides
largely in east Tulsa. And it,
like all other ethnic communities, is a close-knit group.
Like the Mexican residents of 75 years ago, most
are working for a living,
sending their kids to school
and doing their best to adapt
to the culture of Tulsa and
the United States. And, like
every other ethnic group that
migrated to the U.S., their
kids will become as American as the descendants of every other immigrant group.
Historically, the initial immigrants often retain their
native language and customs. Their children and
grandchildren become
Americanized.
They learn the new language, as did the Mexicans
here 75 years ago, in our
schools and from their peers.
It doesn't take a kid long to
figure out that if he or she is
going to make friends, English will have to be mastered.
Unlike the Hispanics of
1933 Tulsa, those of 2008
have even more obstacles to
overcome. Not only do they
have the difficulty of adjusting to a new country, they
have one law, House Bill
1804, and a pending law, Senate Bill 163, with which to
deal.
HB 1804, known as one of
the most strict and punitive
anti-illegal immigration laws
in the country, was the brainchild of Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, and easily passed
through the state Legislature
and over the governor's
desk.
This wrongheaded and
mean-spirited piece of legislation is now followed up
with SB 163, which would
make English the official language of Oklahoma. Funny, I
thought English already was
the official language, although I often have my
doubts after reading some
responses and listening to
telephone messages following any column written about
1804.
Terrill's latest attempt to
punish Hispanics, SB 163,
would require that driver's license exams be administered in English only.
In some perverted logic,
Terrill inserted language into
the bill that allows the state
to use a language other than
English if it is necessary to
"protect the public health
and safety." Then the bill
says that this cannot be applied to driver's license exams.
Huh?
One of the big complaints about illegal immigrants is
that they drive around without licenses or insurance. I
can't count the number of
times I have been told that
someone someone knows
who was someone's second
cousin was hit by an illegal
immigrant with no insurance.
Yes, it happens, often with
terrible results. It happens
when U.S. citizens drive
without insurance, too.
Here's a tip for Terrill:
Without a driver's license,
immigrants have no reason
to get insurance. After getting a license, one must present proof of insurance to get
a car tag. So, what this convoluted piece of legislation
would do is make certain that
those who can't read or write
in English will have neither a
license to drive nor insurance.
How that is not a matter of
public safety is puzzling.
SB 163, approved by the
House last week and sent to
the Senate, likely will be on
the ballot this fall for a vote of
the people. Any bets on that
outcome?
Few legislators voted
against this bill and likely
won't challenge any other anti-immigrant bill. After all,
what politician wants to be labeled in the next election as
"open borders" and "soft on
illegals?"
There are some who are
seeing the problems created
with 1804. Sen. Harry
Coates, R-Seminole, has
voiced his opposition. What
did he get for that? A bunch
of nasty e-mails and phone
calls and then someone pilfered his personal correspondence concerning 1804 and
posted it on the Internet.
Now to answer the inevitable question: What part of illegal do I not understand? I
understand all of it. I also understand that this country
has a huge problem with illegal immigration. I understand that there are more
than 12 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S.
and that rounding them up
and shipping them home is
impossible. I understand that
with reasonable, strong federal immigration laws we
could begin to solve this
problem. I understand that
offering those here illegally a
chance to continue to work
while pursuing U.S. citizenship might be a good way to
account for them.
I also understand that politicians the likes of Randy
Terrill are not solving the
problem. They are stirring
ugly fires and playing into
the hands of a vocal minority
in the hopes of furthering
their political careers. I understand that HB 1804 and
SB 163 are aimed not only at
illegals but all Hispanics.
I also understand that the
Senate, as did the House, will
pass, probably overwhelmingly, this piece of legislation
and send it to the people.
What politician looking toward re-election wants to be
branded as anti-English?
I also understand that in
the climate of 2008 it will
pass in a popular vote handily. Sometimes I wish I didn't
understand so much.
Read Mike Jones' daily blog:
www.tulsaworld.com/jonesblog
Mike Jones 581-8332
mike.jones@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
|
