Nashville voters reject 'English First' proposal

[Career Prole]

Source: AP (via yahoo)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville voters rejected a proposal on Thursday that would have made it the largest U.S. city to require that all government business be done in English.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, unofficial results showed the "English First" proposal losing with about 57 percent of voters against it and 43 percent in favor. Proponents said using one language would have united the city and saved money, but business leaders, academics and the city's mayor worried it could give the city a bad reputation. Similar measures have passed elsewhere.

"The results of this special election reaffirms Nashville's identity as a welcoming and friendly city, and our ability to come together as a community," Mayor Karl Dean said in a news release.

The referendum's leader, city Councilman Eric Crafton, had promoted it as a way to unite Nashville and prevent the kind of extensive translation services — and the associated expenses — provided by cities like New York or Los Angeles. He has pushed for English only since 2006 and got the issue before voters through a petition drive.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090123/ap_on_re_us/nashville_english_first

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Good for Nashville.
:applause:

[EFerrari]

1. That's damn impressive!

Good going, Nashville!

:applause:

[8 track mind]

5. I'm quite surprised really! Good News! N/T

[Claire Beth]

24. Nashville/Davidson county is progressive....

we voted both for Kerry and Obama. Smaller, rural counties are the problem with Tennessee. Most of those people have little or no experience with cultures other than their own and their churches tell them that God is a republican, (sigh).

[ORDagnabbit]

2. that sucks... were a nation of immigrants but we need a common language

[Career Prole]

6. English is common in the U.S.

If you're desiring English as an official language there's always Uganda.
Check the list at the link. Think about how those places that list "official" languages are making out. I'm not saying having an "official" language holds them back.
I am saying not having an "official" language doesn't hinder us.

[EFerrari]

7. We seem to have done just fine without an official language so far.

:)

[foo_bar]

9. ¿Qué?

"Two languages in one head? No one can live at that speed! Good Lord man, you're asking the impossible! 'But, the Dutch speak four languages and smoke marijuana!' Well … yes, but they're cheating!" - Eddie Izzard

[EFerrari]

10. LOL! I love him. He's perfect.

:)

[cosmicone]

13. Language doesn't matter...

principles of liberty and justice matter. I don't care if Spanish or even Swahili becomes the prevalent language in the future as long as we don't turn our back on civil rights, human rights and the Bill of Rights.

[Tempest]

26. Great post

You're exactly right.

[KamaAina]

31. Indeed we are.

Therefore, I propose that the official language of Nashville-Davidson be Cherokee. :P

[primavera]

50. Why?

Switzerland uses four languages nationally: French, Italian, German, and English. And their country is the richer for it.

[Selatius]

51. Tell that to the Swiss. nt

[mwooldri]

3. I'm all for a so-called "official language" but...

... isn't there some kind of human rights issue here too?

Sure help needs to be provided to get everyone in the USA a working knowledge of English... but not knowing enough English (or any) - shouldn't it be treated like a "disability" (for want of a better word) ?

I work for a rather large company, and we kind of have to reach out. English is of course natural, but there's enough Spanish customers to warrant a dedicated Spanish team. Documents can be put in Braille and large print... we have a TTY help line (though deaf customers can use relay operators if they prefer). If you can give us a clue as to what language you speak, we'll get a translator on the line to help us out.

If my big Dow Jones component company can do it then surely government can too.

Mark.

[alcibiades_mystery]

4. Excellent

English only is xenophobic shit. Let us develop as we develop. Let us mutate as we mutate.

[EFerrari]

8. In practice what English only does is strip away votes for Democrats

because most minorities tend to vote with us.

[zonkers]

22. good point. never thought about that.

[wickerwoman]

49. Also denies healthcare, education and welfare services to poor English speakers

Whether legal or illegal immigrants or poorly educated second generation Americans.

Having an "English-only" government means tax forms, applications for assistance and other programs to which poor English speakers are entitled would be incomprehensible to them. Means more money for the government in penalties for "misunderstandings" on tax forms and not having to pay out money to people who are too intimidated to fill out the forms.

People who back "English Only" are assholes who want to cynically steal money from vulnerable populations and save it for "real" (read white) Americans.

[Bolo Boffin]

11. I got into a little email spat with Councilman Crafton over another one of his idiocies

I think it was the War on Christmas that had Crafton all hot and bothered then. So that jerk is definitely on the Rush Limbaugh side of the Republican Party.

What's sad is that he got 43% in favor. Yes, I'm glad it got voted down, but that's still a large number of knuckleheads in Nashville.

[Ken Burch]

12. Thanks Nashville.

n/t.

[Holton]

14. Having to select English in order to use an ATM

was aggravating, so I closed my account at that bank. The local library upgraded its computer system so that English is the default setting. Little touches like that take some of the edge off the issue. I haven't looked into it yet, but I wonder if there aren't complaints of job discrimination in civil service, where applicants are required to speak English, or, required to speak Spanish. Either way, it seems to me government speaks with a forked tongue: there's no official language, but you must speak English/Spanish in order to be considered for the job.

[Chipper Chat]

15. I agree with you about having to "select" English.

Yesterday I made a phone call to confirm my new Elder-Beerman card and was greeted by "for English press one".

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. So? Is this an excessive burden for you?

:shrug:

[Tempest]

29. If this is a burden for him

I'd hate to see how he makes it through the day.

[Uncle Joe]

41. "In the year 2525 if man is still alive, if woman can survive." n/t

[NashVegas]

52. It's An Annoyance

I WANT MY MONEY! NOW!

[Chipper Chat]

53. Not really - just annoying.

It's like you walk up to an elevator and you see a sign that says "Press here if you want to use the elevator".
Or you have an emergency and dial 911 and the person anwswers "Press 1 for English?"

[RebelOne]

18. Well, just try living in Miami, FL, where Spanish is the dominant language.

You could not even find a decent job if you weren't bilingual. That's why I now live in North Georgia.

[alcibiades_mystery]

19. You understand that businesses are not affected by English Only, right?

The reason your bank does it is simple: capitalism is global, and doesn't give a fuck about any imagined nationality.

[Bill McBlueState]

25. really?

I would think migrating to a new bank would be substantially more of a headache than pressing one additional button whenever you use an ATM.

[Tempest]

28. Especially when banks charge for closing accounts

And leave your money tied up for days during the processing period.

I wonder what he's going to do when his new bank starts using multilingual ATMs because it increases their bottom line.

[Holton]

32. Changing banks was not a problem.

The new bank's ATMs had already upgraded for default setting in English. The old bank went bankrupt.

[Tempest]

27. That's extremely petty

"Oh My God! I had to make a simple and easy decision before using an ATM so I closed my account!"

I can't imagine what other minute issues set you off.

I'm betting you constantly get road rage and yell at kids who step on your grass.

[Loudmxr]

16. T for Tolerance T for Tennessee!!

Its good marketing. Being open to different languages helps serve your customers. Its basic conservative philosophy. Let the market decide.

On the Spanish subject I just have to say that is so passe. We here in California are soooo past that. We learn ASIAN languages now Salamat!!(thank you in Tagalog) :smoke:

[No Elephants]

17. Whoever named that proposal English First needs lessons in the English language--and in truthiness.

[Karenina]

21. Makes perfect sense. "Please press 1."

:rofl:

[MiddleRiverRefugee]

23. Does Nashville Number notation count as English?

1....4....5....2 :-)

[volstork]

30. I was PROUD

to vote against this piece of legislative crap.
A small step for inclusivity, but a step nonetheless.

[Career Prole]

45. Well done!

I know special elections are a pain in the what-have-you. They know it too so that's why those fireplugs do it that way.
Thanks for gettin' out there!
:yourock:

[volstork]

48. My pleasure.

Actually, my civic DUTY!

[WriteDown]

33. Cracks me up how stupid this is....

Try going to Germany, France or Japan and see if they do any govt business in any other language than their native language. I've always wondered why progressive nations seem to get it and even progressives in the US don't seem to.

[Tempest]

34. It's no problem in Germany

Their visa forms are in German, Russian and English.

The visa office worked with me in English and they didn't put up a fuss like the xenophobes in the U.S.

[WriteDown]

36. Visa like visa card or visa like work visa? nt

[Chovexani]

38. The native language of this country is Iroquois, Lakota, etc

Unlike Germany, France, or Japan, the US is a nation of immigrants. No one here is native except for the folks on the rez with no electricity, therefore the notion of a "native language" is patently ridiculous. Why is this so hard for "progressives" to understand?

[WriteDown]

39. Haha....speak for yourself.

I am an actual native, but understand that we aren't returning to my people's language.....ever. Not exactly easy to learn anyway. Also, on my res there has been electricity for a long time. Not much else though.

Also, the French and Germans aren't exactly natives either. Japanese have a much better claim though.

[Romulox]

40. Actually, the Japanese comitted genocide on the native people of Japan, the ainu. nt

[WriteDown]

43. Good point....

If you are ever in Hokkaido, you can see a big difference in appearance. Although, I believe that the current Japanese race has been in Japan for a long time as well.

[Robeson]

35. Thanks. We worked hard against that bill.

[Career Prole]

44. Thank you!

Your work paid off. Great job!
:yourock:

[Robeson]

46. It may be a red state, but Nashville/Davidson County is a nice sea of blue...

...:-)

[Career Prole]

47. I hear you.

I live "on a blue island" myself!
:toast:

[Chovexani]

37. Good for Nashville!

Glad to see the Nashville voters saw through the racist BS of the English Only crowd.

[Uncle Joe]

42. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Career Prole.