Mayor Karl Dean
Mayor Karl Dean told the Nashville City Paper here what the defeat of English Only means to him:
“You always need to make sure people feel welcome in our city and our city celebrates diversity,” Dean said. “I would look at the English Only vote as the confirmation of that. I said at the time, we’re the only major American city that’s been tested in that way and we passed the test.
“So I’m pretty proud of the way our city responded.”
Photo of Nashville Parthenon © Chris Wage. Used with permission. www.chriswage.com
An English Only proposal was defeated Thursday night in Nashville after over 40,000 voters stood up in opposition to the measure. The rejection aligns Nashville’s voters with the current Metro Council, current Mayor Karl Dean, and Dean’s predecessor Bill Purcell.
Former Mayor Bill Purcell vetoed a similar measure when it came across his desk in 2007; current Mayor Karl Dean has vigorously opposed this year’s version; and the current Metro Council passed a resolution by a 3-1 margin urging Nashville voters not to sign the petition putting the measure on the ballot in the first place.
English Only was defeated tonight by a margin of 57-43%. Amendment #2 failed by an even larger margin. An unprecedented, citywide coalition formed in opposition to both measures.
Image by Rex Hammock. Licensed via Creative Commons
The Tennessean reports here that the world is watching Nashville, and in some cases sending camera crews here, to see how we handle English Only.
Vote today.
For more information visit the Vote page of the Nashville for All of Us web site. If you have already voted, visit the Volunteer page and volunteer – this is your last day to do so.
The polls are open from 7am-7pm across town. The Vote page has a link to your voting location.
Image by Alexandre Duret-Lutz. Licensed via Creative Commons.
Even with approximately 70 posts to date, this blog has not reproduced all of the written opposition to English Only in Nashville, nor could it ever. Because today is the day of the special election and the last day to vote, however, the best we can do with the “waiting list” of those comments, letters, columns, blog posts, other statements of support, and news that have so far gone unpublished here is to link to as much of them as we can in list form below.
Our apologies to those whose public statements and endorsements have not been included here – and there are many of you. We know that everyone who has spoken out against the charter amendments in any context is a part of this effort.
Thank you! Keep reading →
This photo (4/16 in a Tennessean slideshow of local viewings of Tuesday’s inauguration) captures Nashvillian Thenita Jones in tears of joy at the Belcourt at the moment of the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Jones is wearing two inauguration buttons and also a Nashville for All of Us button.
Laura Creekmore
Laura Creekmore asks in this post about the logic of adopting a charter provision that could be unraveled by its exceptions:
I love the last sentence: Nothing shall be interpreted to conflict with federal or state law. Well, it does conflict… Can I start by saying that a charter amendment that has to contradict itself to comply with federal or state law is, on its face, a bad idea?
I’m assuming that if this amendment passes, the Metro Council will pass requisite “health and safety” provisions as indicated. So that cops and Metro General Hospital employees will still be able to speak to people in Spanish or any other language they see fit. Isn’t that crazy, though? We have to pass legislation to allow cops to speak to people in their own language? So that your doctor can talk to you about your medical history? When we have to make exceptions to our new charter amendment to protect public health and safety, it’s a bad idea.
The Greater Nashville Association of Realtors (GNAR) raises the possibility of harm beyond Nashville if English Only passes. The statement, on GNAR letterhead, is here and is also reproduced below:
STATEMENT CONCERNING “ENGLISH ONLY”
The Greater Nashville Association of Realtors announces that it is encouraging its members who live in Davidson County and all Davidson County voters to defeat the “English Only” initiative.
Rodney Beard
Rodney Beard of Living Word Community Church speaks out against English Only in this post on Faith Leaders for All of Us:
I love Nashville! I also understand the frustration surrounding local immigration issues and have even shared some popular sentiments a time or two. But I cannot, in good conscience, support the English Only initiative.
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Wouldn’t the money we spend fighting this be better spent by providing more English as Second Language classes in our schools, churches and community centers?
Mary Bufwack
Mary Bufwack, Ph.D., CEO of United Neighborhood Health Services, wrote in the Tennessean that the cost of providing interpreters is relatively low, but withholding them can be expensive:
Language barriers have resulted in the wrong diagnosis, the wrong medications, unnecessary hospitalizations and in one emergency case, permanent disability.
But the danger of a lack of language services does not only result in poor health care and harm to the individual unable to speak English. Entire communities can be put at risk.
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By purchasing language services in bulk, all providers, no matter how large or small the volume, have access to high quality services at affordable rates. All native languages can be served, not just those that are common.
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Language services are essential for an effective and high quality public health and health-care delivery system. In Nashville we need language policies that support the continued development of these services.
Mike Warren
Conservative Vanderbilt journalist and former editor of the Vanderbilt Hustler Mike Warren writes on Vandy Right that he would otherwise be sympathetic to the idea of English-oriented legislation, but Nashville’s version is too shoddy:
The verdict? I hate to say no to an initiative I morally agree with, but the shoddiness of the language (no pun intended) in the actual referendum means the folks in support should go back to drawing board.
The governing body of the Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville has voted to oppose English Only. From the Church’s statement published on Faith Leaders for All of Us:
The “English only” requirement does not acknowledge the linguistic diversity that has always characterized the U.S. (the result of many factors, including voluntary migration, conquest, employment policies, and compassion toward refugees) and continues today.
Furthermore it does not manifest the hospitality toward immigrants and refugees that we have every reason to expect in our public and private life.
We urge the citizens of Nashville to vote No on Amendment One.
“It is sad that these voices have had to be raised”
The Tennessean daily newspaper has taken a position against English Only. Here is an excerpt:
Many public officials and civic leaders have criticized the English-only campaign. But in the end, it is sad that these voices have had to be raised just to make the case that Nashville is a tolerant city.
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Nashville should want the world to know it is a diverse, welcoming city. An English-only amendment does not send that signal. Voters should reject the proposals that appear on the ballot starting today.
Read the entire editorial here.
NewsChannel5 reports here on two aspects of Amendment #2 that would likely lead to more ballot measures: a lower threshold and provisions allowing greater frequency. Here is an excerpt:
The second charter amendment would allow someone who wants an issue on the ballot to collect signatures of just 1 percent of Davidson County registered voters. Right now, signatures from 10 percent of voters who voted in the previous election are needed and those numbers vary.
…
If it passes, voters could potentially have a special election once a year.
The full story is here.
Bob Fisher
Bob Fisher, president of Belmont University, was named Tennessean of the Year by the Tennessean newspaper. Here is an excerpt from the story:
Largely, thanks to his leadership in bringing the state’s first-ever presidential debate to Belmont, Fisher now has another accolade to add to the walls — or the floor, as will probably happen: the 2008 Tennessean of the Year, as determined by readers and The Tennessean’s editorial board.
Fisher is one of nine local university presidents who signed a joint statement in opposition to the English Only charter amendment.
Gregg Ramos
Gregg Ramos, part of Nashville for All of Us, has been named Nashvillian of the Year by the Nashville Scene. Here is an excerpt from the cover story:
On the eve of this city-defining election, the Scene is proud to recognize Gregg Ramos as its 2008 Nashvillian of the Year.
Now here’s the surprise: That’s not why Ramos gets the honor. Not entirely, anyway. If fighting English Only were all it took to be Nashvillian of the Year, we’d quickly (and gladly) use up the city’s reserves of trophies, plaques and engraving. The coalition gathering against the amendment can be said to encompass three basic groups: those with the most, those with the least, and those in the middle. Their ranks include university presidents and college custodians; pastors of every denomination and their parishioners; the mighty Chamber of Commerce and little-funded neighborhood organizations. Not for nothing is their broad movement affiliated under the name Nashville for All of Us.
Nashville Public Radio WPLN digs deeper into the practical impact of English Only in this story. Here is an excerpt:
A proposal to amend Metro Government’s founding document and make English the sole language for city business could cause sweeping changes in nearly every department. Or, it could not. No one really knows, which has made the campaign for and against the charter amendment difficult. There are no lists of what would change if the English-only measure passes a referendum vote. WPLN’s Blake Farmer explains.
Audio for this feature is available here.
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REPORTER: “Is it worth it?”
Yard signs are now available at campaign headquarters only. Headquarters is located at 1814 Church Street, Nashville, 37203 (former Ronnie Steine office, next to Budget Rent-a-car).
The building, also known as “Against HQ,” will be open every day between now and Election Day, January 22 – less than one week away.
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 8pm
Sunday: 1pm – 6pm
For a few minutes, the Nashville for All of Us web site incorrectly said the signs were “sold out,” but they are still available for pickup at HQ. Home delivery, however, is no longer available.
(L-R) Andrea Conte, Martha Cooper, Anne Davis
Andrea Conte, Martha Cooper, and Anne Davis, the wives of Governor Phil Bredesen, U.S. Representative Jim Cooper, and Mayor Phil Bredesen, respectively, walked from the Metro Courthouse to the Election Commission earlier this week to show their opposition to English Only and early vote against amendments #1 and #2. Here is an excerpt from the Tennessean story:
Andrea Conte and Anne Davis, the first ladies of Tennessee and Nashville, respectively, walked almost two miles with supporters from the Metro Courthouse downtown along Second Avenue to the Davidson County Election Commission offices at the Metro Office Building.
They were joined by Martha Cooper, wife of U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville. Cooper has already cast his vote against it. He was out of town and couldn’t vote with the governor and mayor.
They cast early votes against the English-only amendment.
John Seigenthaler
Journalism icon John Seigenthaler will host a live discussion of English Only tonight at 7pm on Nashville Public Television. From the NPT media update:
Updated. 3:09 p.m. Wednesday, January 14, 2009. Eric Crafton’s office has confirmed that the council member will NOT be part of this live show. This show, scaled down to a half-hour, will still include Seigenthaler and Briley and a discussion of the issues involving the referendum. Should he reconsider and decide to join us, Crafton is still welcome.
Update: 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 14, 2009. Nashville attorney David Briley will represent Nashville For All Of Us, a broad coalition opposed to ratifying the measure. Referendum architect Eric Crafton, Metro council member, District 22, remains scheduled to represent those who support it.
Davidson County voters go to the polls on January 22 to vote for or against ratifying a controversial English language referendum. Proponents from both sides of the referendum (those for it call it “English-first;” those against it call it “English-only”) will defend their positions, and viewers will have a chance to call in with their own questions, when moderator John Seigenthaler hosts Perspectives: The English Language Referendum, live from NPT’s Studio A this Friday night, January 16, at 7:00 p.m.on NPT. You can start submitting your questions now by sending them to question@wnpt.net.
Meanwhile, the referendum has made national news, appearing in Sunday’s New York Times. As of this posting, it was the third most e-mailed U.S. news story and had almost 70 comments.
Nashville for All of Us has filed its pre-election financial disclosures. The Tennessean and Channel 4 were among the first to report the results, which feature a total raised so far of $286,025. Individual donors include Mayor Karl Dean and Fire Chief Steve Halford, and corporate donors include Vanderbilt, Gaylord, and HCA. Here is an excerpt from the Channel 4 report:
“The majority of the contributions though came from individuals, and a lot of them were $25, $10, $100, $250, which is what you want to see in a campaign,” said Mike Kopp, who represents Nashville For All of Us.
All disclosure forms were due at the election commission by 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Educators at Belmont University have issued an open letter opposing English Only, with the list of the staff and faculty signing the letter running 10-1/2 pages long. Here are excerpts:
[W]e join our university’s president, Dr. Robert Fisher and the presidents of Nashville’s other universities, in standing against the English Only initiative. We oppose the measure because we believe the initiative will serve to diminish the opportunities for broadening our students’ perspective, which our community now offers in abundance. We believe that the measure and the message its adoption would send to the rest of the world will create a culturally impoverished environment in our city. We are concerned that it will damage our economy by making it much more challenging for our city to attract global investment and to welcome international visitors.
…On this issue, we cannot help but be reminded of the admonition to welcome charitably the strangers and to treat them as our own native born (Leviticus 19:33-34) and to practice hospitality as Paul urged the early Christian communities to do (Romans 12:9-13). In our view, by placing barriers to the ability of our visitors to participate in our community, especially when they are first arrived and not yet proficient in our language, the English Only measure is both uncharitable and inhospitable.
Dr. Ming Wang
Speaking to the Nashville Chamber of Commerce about investment in China, Dr. Ming Wang of Nashville took the opportunity to voice his opposition to English Only, calling it “divisive, totally unnecessary,” and “ridiculous,” according to P.J. Tobia on the Nashville Scene blog. Here is an excerpt of Tobia’s report, in which Wang speaks with derision of the business effect of rules like English Only:
Wang also turned the table on the business types assembled and asked, “Would you still be motivated to invest and do business in China if tomorrow the Chinese government declared that all business could only be conducted in Chinese? Of course not. That would be stupid.”
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen joined Nashville Mayor Karl Dean to vote against English Only on Monday.
Speaking to a group of reporters including NewsChannel5, Bredesen said that the measure would hurt business recruiting and tourism in Nashville.
Mayor Dean said Nashville’s future depends on international businesses and visitors.
Nathan Moore
Conservative attorney Nathan Moore reports here that cutting anything more than $495 of Metro government’s $110,000 annual bill for telephonic language assistance would cause Metro to lose $250 million of federal money:
As Councilman Crafton agreed at the debate on Tuesday, Metro spends $110,000.00 per year on our AT&T translation service. When Metro needs translation, they dial into this service, and the government is charged a per minute rate for its use (as in, there are not armies of interpreters in various languages sitting around in Metro government drawing salary – physical interpreters are largely only found in the Health Department and the courts).
Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act (along with Executive Order 13166) determines that any local government department receiving federal funds must provide its services in multiple languages, because the law says we cannot disciminate against individuals based on national origin.
Here is the useage breakdown of Metro’s interpretation services (these numbers were provided to me by the mayor’s office)
Health 41.71%
Police / Sheriff 33.13%
Juvenile / Courts 7.95%
Metro Water 6.62%
General Hospital/Bordeaux 9.43%
Nashville Career Advis. 0.71%All of the above departments receive Title VI funds. The total is 99.55%. It appears I was more than generous with my previous estimate of 97%. This means that the passage of English Only could only affect 0.045% of the money spent, which means that Metro would save $495 per year. Or, we could just give back $250 million in federal funds each year.
Director Francie Hunt
“From my personal experience, immigrants are more than willing to learn more languages and are eager for assimilation. It’s a process and no law can speed that up.”
The Nashville chapter of Stand for Children has voted to oppose English Only, and Director Francie Hunt issued this statement to the Tennessean. Here are excerpts:
Our chapter felt strongly that it was harmful to children and to our community to pass a law that restricts communication. In a world rife with conflict, limiting our means to connect, collaborate and protect each other is a terrible example for our young people and with dangerous consequences.
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At family gatherings, I long to understand my mother’s tongue just as my mother once longed for me to assimilate into American culture when she first arrived. Passing punitive legislation will not make Nashville more “comfortable” with non-English speakers and it won’t inspire immigrants to learn English any more than the motivation it took to get here in the first place. From my personal experience, immigrants are more than willing to learn more languages and are eager for assimilation. It’s a process and no law can speed that up.
Patricia Stokes
English Only “diminishes the value of individuals”
The Tennessean reports here that a group of African-Americans, immigrants, and others has formed to oppose English Only and held a recent press conference explaining their opposition. Here is an excerpt:
“It is wrong morally because it diminishes the value of individuals and it speaks against the principles of liberty for all,” said Patricia Stokes, president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Middle Tennessee.
Rep. Brenda Gilmore
Another excerpt:
State Rep. Brenda Gilmore, a former councilwoman who is Erica Gilmore’s mother, said the passage of the charter amendment would look strange to the rest of the world after the election of Barack Obama, an African-American.
“We cannot afford to send a message that Nashville and Tennessee is out of step with the rest of the country,” she said.
The Tennessean article lists the following groups as being part of the joint effort: the Urban League, the NAACP, the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship and the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition.
iPhone and iPod touch users: update your Home Sreen with a new custom icon for the Nashville for All of Us home page.
Here’s an explanation of how it works, courtesy of The Unofficial Apple Weblog:
If you’re using version 1.1.3 of the iPhone or iPod touch-with-January-2008-Upgrade, you’ll probably encountered Web Clips. Web Clips add home screen icons that lead to your favorite sites. It’s easy enough to make Web Clips, just tap the “+” button at the bottom of any MobileSafari webpage and choose Add to Home Screen from the pop-up menu…
Before this weekend, if you added NashvilleforAllofUs.org to your Home Screen, you would have created an illegibly tiny screenshot of the site as your icon. Now, you will see the official Nashville for All of Us logo.
Angie Harris
Proscribing the Nashville Metro government to English only in all of its official communications is a questionable initiative from a governance standpoint. The vague verbiage of the amendment gives the impression that it is intended to be applied as broadly as possible regarding government communication — the specifics of its application to policy are unclear.
Map to HQ
Nashville for All of Us is proud to announce the opening of our campaign office:
1814 Church Street, Nashville, 37203
(former Ronnie Steine office, next to Budget Rent-a-car)
Google Map
The building, also known as “Against HQ,” will be the primary phonebanking and canvassing location. We’ll be open every day between now and Election Day, January 22 – less than two weeks away!
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 8pm
Sunday: 1pm – 6pm
We will continue to phonebank at the Davidson County Democratic Party office (95 White Bridge Rd, Suite #412, Nashville, 37205) each weekday between 10am and 6pm. Feel free to use that location if it is more convenient. Each location has 10 cellular phones that you can use, first come first served.
Click here to sign up for shifts. Someone will call you to confirm your shift and make sure you know where to go.
Ralph Schulz
In todays’ front-page NewYorkTimes.com article about English Only, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce President Ralph J. Schulz reports, “Businesses from outside Nashville have been calling and saying, ‘Is Nashville a xenophobic place?’”
Schulz had previously told the Tennessean in this editorial that English Only would “weaken Nashville’s business environment,” and Schulz was quoted in this earlier story describing English Only as “the antithesis of hospitality.”
Sign up to receive a yard sign at http://yardsigns.nashvilleforallofus.org
The Nashville City Paper editorial board states here that the most glaring flaw of the proposed English Only amendment is its inexact wording, which makes it unpredictable:
Yet, there are even more basic reasons to be against the English Only initiative. It is a poorly proposed law because it is terribly inexact. Put simply, Metro government leaders from the police to the water department have no idea how this law would impact the services they provide because of the measure’s incredibly vague wording.
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There is a veritable minefield of unintended consequences from this proposed law.
There are many reasons to vote against English Only. Perhaps the best one is that as laws go, this one is poorly thought out and the potential result is something no one can predict or know.
Councilman Jim Hodge
Councilman Jim Hodge sent out an e-mail urging a vote against both amendments in the upcoming special election. Michael Cass of the Tennessean has the full story here. Here is an excerpt:
The second charter amendment will, I fear, result in yearly special elections like this one in January, which is costing us about $300,000. Since we already have elections every two years, I can not justify such extra expenses in good conscience. It appears to me to be a bad and expensive policy, which is contrary to good government operations.
Soo Yang
Soo Yang expresses concern here that English Only would have an adverse effect on Metro government:
Even those who support the English-Only measure admit the demands for government services in foreign languages are increasing. Rather than working to meet the demand, however, those who support the amendment irrationally claim the increase in demand for services in foreign languages is wrong and dangerous. By demonizing and working against these demographic trends, the pro-amendment campaign is making the city government less efficient and less competent in resolving critical issues such as illegal immigration.
Sarah Moore
“The threat of another language eventually taking control is just silly.”
Sarah Moore disputes in this post that there is any threat to the English language that would be addressed by English Only. Here are excerpts:
Of course, English should be the language in which government and business is done in Nashville. And, guess what? It is! The threat of another language eventually taking control is just silly. Every immigrant who comes to our great city desiring a better life wants to learn English.
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I want my children to grow up in a thriving metropolitan area that embraces all cultures and peoples. I also want them to read their ballots in English the first time they go to vote and be able to speak up in Metro Council meetings that are conducted in English. If English Only fails, as it should, my children will be fine on all counts.
Katherine Coble
Katherine Coble explains her opposition to English Only in this post. Here is an excerpt:
I don’t quite get this tea party version of America some people have, where we have to have dress codes and codes of conduct that limit the individuality and freedom of citizens. I don’t get this version of America where some people think the things they like and enjoy should become codified while the things other people like and enjoy should become illegal. “America” doesn’t mean “I should get to boss you around because I was here first/have more money.” “America” means that you get to enjoy the pursuit of happiness through most means.
Hat tip: Kleinheider
Rev. Dennis J. Meaker
Rev. Dennis J. Meaker of the West Nashville United Methodist Church published this message regarding the significance of the English Only referendum from the perspective of the Christian scriptures. Here is an excerpt:
The biblical command to extend hospitality is not limited to those of our faith. It is particularly ironic, however, that self-professed Christians are so willing to exclude their brothers and sisters in Christ by reinforcing the barrier of language. As noted in 1 John 4:20-21:
“Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”
By the time you read this article, early voting will be open in Davidson County. The English-only referendum is not a political issue that the church is supposed to avoid. It strikes at the heart of what we profess to believe. As you go to vote, and please do vote, remember Christ is present in every person around us, even those who do not speak English.
Chief Justice A.A. Birch
Former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice A.A. Birch has voted against English Only and Amendment #2, according to this article in the Nashville City Paper. This is an excerpt:
Among those who arrived to vote Friday were former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice A.A. Birch…
Birch told The City Paper that he voted against both charter amendment proposals, but did not elaborate beyond that.
Hat tip: Kleinheider
In this YouTube video published on the home page of Nashville for All of Us, a number of Nashvillians say why they are voting against English Only, including Mayor Karl Dean, Bishop David Choby, Anastasia Brown, Tom Oreck, Rev. Sonnye Dixon, and Buck Dozier.
Early voting has begun and will end January 17. Your vote counts – click here for information from Nashville for All of Us about early voting days and times.
Speak Up Nashville!
Alan Valentine
Alan Valentine, President/CEO of the Nashville Symphony, urged board members to vote against both charter amendments, citing a threat to the Symphony itself. Michael Cass of the Tennessean has the whole story here. This is an excerpt:
“Amendment Two: This would make it much easier to make changes to the Metro Charter (like English Only) by drastically lowering the number of signatures required to bring such amendments onto a ballot. This would make our city’s governing charter subject to special interests, and this could be done as often as once a year. This amendment would reduce the effectiveness of our Metro Government and weaken our stable business environment. And, BTW, the City of Nashville is **required** by the terms of the City Charter to provide annual financial support to the Nashville Symphony (yes, we are mentioned by name in the Charter); if this measure succeeds, you can be sure that some group of people who do not value our city’s cultural institutions will seek to remove that requirement from the Charter, not long after this measure passes.
The Nashville City Paper asked Metro departments how they would be affected by English Only, and no one knew what would happen to their (sometimes prize-winning) secondary-language communications. Here is an excerpt:
Voters unsure of how they will vote on the English Only referendum at the Jan. 22 special election might be interested to find out that Metro departments don’t know how the charter amendment proposal would tangibly change the way they do business.
From Metro Water to Public Works to Metro Nashville Public Schools, department after department has told The City Paper that the English Only proposal is too vaguely worded to predict its effect.
Even the leader of Nashville English First, the group pushing the charter amendment, said there could be unintended consequences if the proposal passes on Jan. 22.
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Police runs a program called El Protector, which uses Spanish-speaking officers to do proactive outreach and education on key issues like how to access emergency services. El Protector also educates the Nashville immigrant community on drunk driving and domestic violence laws.
El Protector has become successful enough that it will be recognized as an exemplary program by the Vera Institute of Justice at the beginning of the year, according to Aaron.
It’s against that backdrop that Police are left wondering whether El Protector would violate the Metro Charter if English Only were to pass.
The full story is here.
David Briley
Former mayoral candidate David Briley stressed the importance of opposing English Only in an e-mail to his supporters, reproduced here by Michael Cass of the Tennessean. This is an excerpt:
I have not written you since the 2007 election but I am writing now to ask you to get involved in an issue that is important to me and our City. I am asking you to Vote Against the English Only ballot referendum that will be held on January 22. Personally, I oppose English Only for many reasons…
Evans Donnell
Evans Donnell has called English Only a “black eye” for Nashville:
[I]t will be costly to taxpayers (it already is if you consider spending six figures for a special election) and it will be a business and tourism “black eye” for Nashville.
The full post is here.
Hat tip: Kleinheider
Councilman Lonnell Matthews Jr.
Councilman Lonnell Matthews Jr. calls English Only a “step backwards.” The Tennessean’s Michael Cass has the whole story here. Here is an excerpt:
We are considering discriminating AGAINST peoples’ culture and nationality with this proposed amendment. At a time when our nation has shown tremendous growth by electing the first President of African Descent, we can not afford to take steps backwards.
Hat tip: Kleinheider
Mayor Karl Dean
Mayor Karl Dean is “strongly against” both charter amendments. The Tennessean’s Michael Cass has the whole story here. Here are excerpts:
I am strongly against these charter amendments and I want you to join me in voting against English Only and Amendment No. 2.
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First, let me explain what the English Only amendment is not. It is not a vote on immigration reform and it is not a harmless message to office holders. The proposed charter amendment will have absolutely no effect upon efforts to curtail illegal immigration or to reform current national policy. Rather than permitting voters to send a message to the government, the referendum alters our charter in a way that will create legal, political, social and even moral consequences for years to come.
To me, it is the antithesis of hospitality and an unnecessary drain on taxpayer resources. The issue is divisive and will distract us from doing those things that will help us realize our potential as not just a great American city, but a great international city.
Stephen Zralek
Stephen Zralek, interviewed by the Nashville Business Journal as a “Rising Star,” was asked, “What does Nashville need to help retain and attract top young talent?” This was his answer:
First, to remain multilingual. Nashville is full of creative people from all over the world. We need to defeat the “English Only” measure because it’s wrong. It’s bad for our economy, and it sends the wrong signal about our city.
The interview is here.
Belmont University President Bob Fisher
“Sometimes you have to encourage people to think again about something that might seem right on its face, but on closer examination is not.”
The Tennessean reports that Belmont University president Bob Fisher came up with the idea of a joint letter to the editor authored by local university presidents. The resulting joint statement was published today by the Tennessean.
In the story describing the origins of the statement, Fisher describes as “special” his role within the university community:
“More and more, we view our jobs as being CEOs of the university, but when you do that, it’s like a pastor seeing himself as CEO of his church,” Fisher said. “When you do that, you give up some of the special stuff that goes with being part of a university community.”
Lipscomb University President L. Randolph Lowry
Lipscomb president L. Randolph Lowry echoed the importance of leadership on this and other issues:
“Sometimes you have to encourage people to think again about something that might seem right on its face, but on closer examination is not.”
Read the full Tennessean story here.
“As academic leaders, we are concerned about the impact – literal and symbolic – on our mission”
The presidents of nine of Nashville’s most respected institutions of higher learning – Aquinas, American Baptist, Belmont, Fisk, Lipscomb, Meharry, TSU, Trevecca and Vanderbilt – submitted the following joint statement to The Tennessean in opposition to English Only:
In just a few short days, county residents will go to the polls to decide the fate of the “English-only” amendment that has been proposed for our Metro Charter.
This is not the first time that this proposal has been before the democratic processes in our county. A previous attempt to enact this legislation was halted by the courageous veto of former Mayor Bill Purcell. We have also seen current Mayor Karl Dean stand firm in his opposition. Both of these leaders saw the passage of this legislation not only as unnecessary but as damaging to Nashville.
It is especially important that the higher education community in Nashville be heard on this issue. It is the obligation of institutions of higher education to help their communities think critically about important issues of public policy, especially when the policies have a deep and lasting impact on these communities.
Read more here or at the original Tennessean link. Keep reading →
Charles W. Bone
“You can’t imagine how many CEOs I’ve spoken with who say they would have chosen to relocate to another city had this proposal been enacted when they came to Nashville.”
On behalf of Nashville law firm Bone McAllester Norton PLLC, Charles W. Bone issued this statement in opposition to English Only:
Dear All:
Our attorneys have decided that our firm should be on record to oppose the English Only charter amendment that is on the ballot in Davidson County in January. As such, we are the first law firm to publicly denounce the English Only measure, which makes me very proud.
Nashville is a world-class city that speaks many languages. We are a center of learning, government, religion, business and entertainment. English Only hurts Nashville’s values of stewardship, safety, tolerance and hospitality, not to mention our economy. You can’t imagine how many CEOs I’ve spoken with who say they would have chosen to relocate to another city had this proposal been enacted when they came to Nashville. Keep reading →
Rabbi Shana Goldstein Mackler
Standing up against English Only, Rabbi Shana Goldstein Mackler of The Temple invokes Yom Kippur and “the opportunity to acknowledge a wrong and to do something about it:”
One of the most beautiful reasons I am proud to make my home here in Nashville was that this is a City of Refuge, a place where immigrants come for safety, freedom from persecution and degradation, and for a chance at a better life. We all know people who have been welcomed by this city, who have been sponsored and cared for by our citizens and our community. Still, despite the fact that research on immigration into Nashville shows immigrants wanting to learn English, wanting to acculturate, wanting to become citizens, fears and stereotypes of foreigners abound.
This fear has enabled and engendered a piece of legislation that flies in the face of who we are as Jews, as Americans, and as citizens of Nashville: the English-Only initiative that is on the special ballot calling for a vote this month. Keep reading →
If Jesus came to Nashville speaking Aramaic, this item might appear on a few Christmas lists.
In a Christmastime letter to the editor of the Tennessean, Nashvillian Karl Warden considers Jesus’ native language of Aramaic and poses this question:
Would you require Christ to speak English if Christ came to Nashville?
Read the entire letter here.
Photo Credit: Gwendolen Cates
Irish-born Nashville singer Maura O’Connell will canvass door-to-door against English Only, reports Beverly Keel of the Tennessean.
O’Connell told Keel:
I don’t know that there was such a difficult time given to those people years ago as it is now. The younger generation will always learn English and assimilate.
Read the Tennesseean story here.
O’Connell’s singing career spans a dozen albums and includes appearances with artists such as Dolly Parton, Van Morrison, and Rosanne Cash.
O’Connell was also cast by Martin Scorsese in his 19th century epic The Gangs of New York. She played the role of an immigrant street singer.
Helia Rethmann
My name is Helia, and I work for the Tennessee Foreign Language Instititute (TFLI). I started teaching languages in 1992 – first teaching my native language German at Berlitz and later teaching as a private tutor, which was more fun and more profitable.
I started working for the TFLI in 1997 and I have taught German (and later ESL) ever since. It was not until I took the TESL course in 2001, however, that I wholeheartedly started to enjoy teaching. The TESL training replaced my ‘pick-and-choose’ approaches with a solid foundation to foster learning success. I have since developed several Professional Development Courses for ESL and foreign language teachers based on the principles of TESL.
As a long time ESL instructor, teacher trainer, and court interpreter, I have met and continue to meet countless amazing people who do their best to learn English while working several low-paying jobs and facing tremendous odds. Keep reading →
Coalition for Education about Immigration
The Nashville-based Coalition for Education about Immigration (CEI) has launched its web site at http://educationaboutimmigration.com/
CEI explains its origins here:
In 2006 anti-immigration rhetoric was intensifying in the Nashville community. Myths and misconceptions about immigrants and immigration along with corresponding vitriolic conversations seemed to be proliferating on national and local radio talk shows. An idea that originated in the Community Relations Committee (CRC) of the Jewish Federation in 2006 expanded to a series of exploratory meetings with immigrant advocates, including members of Conexión Americas and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC). Discussions that ensued led to the formation of the Coalition for Education about Immigration (CEI). From the onset, the founding members of CEI believe that when provided with accurate information, the Nashville community will draw reasonable, educated conclusions of their own. What began with a concern of a half dozen community members grew, in a short time, to a grassroots membership of nearly 300 individuals and more than a dozen loosely affiliated organizations.
CEI has also published this PDF with background information on English Only.
The litigation to block the English Only special election, which was brought pro bono by local attorneys David Randolph Smith and Sean Lewis and unaffiliated with Nashville for All of Us, was rejected by the Tennessee Supreme Court on December 11. This means that the special election will happen as scheduled.
For more information about this specific case and the reasons the attorneys took the case without pay, and for information about ProEnglish, the national group backing English Only in Nashville, click here.
Mary Mancini
In this post opposing English Only, local radio host Mary Mancini of Liberadio cites statistics showing English usage among Latinos:
Research indicates that 98% of Latinos think it is “essential” that their children learn English. In fact, 80% of foreign-born children from Mexico learn English “well” or “very well,” and 92 percent of second-generation Latinos are fully fluent in English. By the third generation, only 28% of Latinos are still proficient in Spanish. (Migration Policy Institute).
The full post is here.
National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators
The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT) and the Tennessee Association of Professional Interpreters and Translators (TAPIT) sent a letter to Mayor Karl Dean in which they strongly oppose English Only. Here are excerpts:
We strongly oppose the Nashville charter amendment because it is a dangerous and misguided initiative. Proposals of this type can, and have created severe and confusing barriers, not only for limited-English proficient (LEP) individuals, but also for government officials, resulting in denial of equal access, equal protection, and basic human rights.
…
We in NAJIT and TAPIT work daily with speakers of other languages, and we know that most of them have a strong and sincere desire to communicate in English. They do not willfully avoid speaking English out of stubbornness or spite; they recognize the value of being able to converse with the broader society in its own language. If this initiative passed, Nashville will be the only major city in our country to have an English-only law. It is unfortunate that those pushing for this divisive ballot measure have not focused their energies on the creation of better facilities and opportunities for learning English.
Early voting on English Only starts January 2 and the special election starts January 22, but if you are an eligible Nashville/Davidson County voter and you won’t be in town, absentee voting is an option.
More information is available here:
and the form to request an absentee ballot is available here:
Conservative husband-and-wife bloggers Nathan and Sarah Moore are writing that English Only is unconservative:
From Nathan:
Ah yes, half a million dollars to potentially pass a nonsensical law. Why don’t we pass a referendum against quartering troops in peace time, or one that declares slavery illegal. Maybe even get so bold as to lobby that half a million dollars be spent on classes teaching English to immigrants.
From Sarah:
Why should the taxpayers of Nashville pay $300,000 for a special election on January 22 simply to send a message to immigrants letting them know that they are not welcome here? That’s great for business and our place in the global economy!! Of course immigrants should learn English. Integration into our English-language society is best for everyone involved. But, why should we purposefully make the process difficult for them, especially when English is safely written into state law as our language?
Come on, conservatives! Let’s send a message that we really are opposed to government waste, both in terms of money and unnecessary laws. Vote against English Only next month. It will be a step in the right direction that we desperately need.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean
From the Tennessean:
Nashville business leaders should take up the fight against a proposed city charter amendment that would declare English the official language of the city and ban the city government from providing services in any other language, Mayor Karl Dean told Chamber of Commerce members Tuesday.
Speaking at a gathering of members of the chamber’s Partnership 2010 economic-development initiative, Dean said that requiring the city to stick to English in all of its dealings would “negatively impact” efforts to lure foreign companies to the city.
Advertisement“I’m opposed [to the amendment],” the mayor said. “It is the antithesis of hospitality and a drain on our resources.”
Read more here.
From a letter to the editor of the Tennessean:
I find it a little hard to imagine that Tennessee has become so homogenized it wants to spend the money to have an “English only” ballot. It seem a sharp contrast to the foundation and makeup that comprises our country. I really don’t think that Emma Lazarus omitted in her poem engraved at the base of the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free” (but let them only speak and read English).
Read more here.
The Executive Committee of the League for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Ear Foundation has joined Nashville for All of Us. The committee issued this statement:
As the leadership of an organization that works closely with hundreds of men, women, and children who interact through interpreters, we oppose the characterization of interpreting services as a burden and would not want to see Nashville become a community in which diverse methods of communication are viewed with suspicion.
Experienced and knowledgeable speakers are available through Nashville For All of Us to present information about why it is critically important to oppose the English Only resolution and/or to train and activate interested organizations to campaign against it. Presentations can be tailored to your organization’s needs and can address a variety of topics related to the conversation about immigration. For information about speakers and/or to arrange for someone to speak to your organization contact …
Avi Poster
aviposter@comcast.net
414-2396
The Nashville Peace and Justice Center was featured in this Channel 5 story for reaching out to local residents about English Only:
The small group of volunteers hopes to make a big difference one phone call at a time.
“To alienate any group of human beings is completely wrong,” said Krystal Kinnunen-Harris.
“Nashville doesn’t need to be a place of persecution,” said Stephen Mallett.
Read the story and watch the video here.
Phil Michal Thomas recently appeared in the “Tennessee Voices” section of the Tennessean and had this to say about English Only:
Nashville’s economy has grown, with several foreign-owned businesses opening offices…. If this charter amendment is passed, not only will it be unlawful to transact official business in a foreign language, it may also jeopardize the existence of the larger employers.
Has Davidson County considered the legal ramifications of passing this “English-only” initiative in regard to Title VI or Title VII? Can we afford losing a vast amount of federal funding due to being in clear violation of the federal statutes? The election is already costing taxpayers at least $300,000.
Read the entire piece here.
The Nashville City Paper interviewed Ann Gillespie of ProLingua and asked her about English Only:
“I do not foresee a Nashville community that would stand by and allow immigrant neighbors struggling with English to be denied help because they couldn’t learn the language at the snap of the councilman’s fingers,” she said.
Read the full article here.
Nashville for All of Us has officially moved to Facebook – the group is called “Nashville’s Moment Is Now” (click here to join).
There are other great Facebook groups opposing the English charter change, and the “official” status of Nashville’s Moment Is Now doesn’t take away from the wonderful things going on elsewhere. Some of those groups are very active and have grown even larger than Nashville’s Moment Is Now, so check them out:
http://nashvillesmoment.com/2008/11/nashvillians-are-already-opposing.html
The idea of the growing Facebook community coalescing around the issue – no matter the group – is to inspire and activate Nashvillians to vote AGAINST the English charter change.
We all believe that Nashville’s moment is now.
Bishop Richard Wills, the bishop of the Nashville Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church, recently sent a pastoral letter to congregations in Middle Tennessee about the English Only referendum. Bishop Wills invokes the Season of Advent as he urges congregants to “provide a welcoming, hospitable community for God’s people.”
The pastoral letter is available in full at FaithLeadersforAllofUs.com
For invoking the fall of the Roman empire and for using language like “overrun with legal immigrants,” local councilman and English Only proponent Eric Crafton has appeared in the national blog Hatewatch (“Nativism in the News”).
Hatewatch is written by the staff of the Intelligence Report, an investigative magazine published by the Alabama-based civil rights group Southern Poverty Law Center.
The backers of the proposed amendments use the term “English First” – but the accepted term is “English Only” – for example, it is the preferred term used by Wikipedia.
Which term is right? “Only” or “First”?
One objective measure is whether the word “only” or the word “first” appears in the proposed amendment in Nashville:
English is the official language of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. Official actions which bind or commit the government shall be taken only in the English language, and all official government communications and publications shall be in English. No person shall have a right to government services in any other language. All meetings of the Metro Council, Boards, and Commissions of the Metropolitan Government shall be conducted in English. The Metro Council may make specific exceptions to protect public health and safety. Nothing in this measure shall be interpreted to conflict with federal or state law.
Another measure is whether the word “only” or the word “first” appears on the web site of Nashville English First:
It is important to clarify that although there are many languages spoken in Nashville, only one – English – is authorized for official government actions and communications. Having one language as the official language avoids arguments and potential lawsuits over the meaning of translations, costs less than using multiple languages, and treats all other languages the same instead of favoring one immigrant group over another.
“Only” is an objective, descriptive adjective used by the very proponents of the measure.
Dozens of local religious leaders have joined to oppose the referenda, in a group calling itself Faith Leaders for All of Us:
As religious leaders in Nashville/Davidson County, we have watched with interest and concern the movement to establish English as the official language of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville. … We come from a variety of religious traditions, but we are united in our opposition…
Click here to visit the full site: faithleadersforallofus.com
Michael Vine tells this story of his father’s change of heart on English Only:
I was surprised to learn that my own wise, learned, and well traveled father once supported English Only. Predictably, he saw this proposal as a fair reaction to illegal immigration. Fortunately, my father was, in his words, “blessed” with an experience that drove him to denounce that simple resolve.
Click here to read the entire text of Michael Vine’s story.
Nashville for All of Us has launched its web site at www.nashvilleforallofus.org
There’s a lot to do between now and January 2. Two early tasks for which volunteers are needed are (1) developing written refutations of the latest talking points at the proponents’ web site, and (2) coordinating volunteers. If you have an interest in volunteering, please send an e-mail to volunteer@nashvilleforallofus.org
A lawsuit has been filed against the proposed English Only charter change. This litigation, which has been covered by local media and raises Constitutional challenges against the proposed Charter amendment, is not affiliated with Nashville for All of Us. For more Information, click here to visit the plaintiff’s attorney’s web site.
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