Group denounces WVC English program as ‘xenophobic’

[The Northerner]

The Autonomous Chapter of the Salt Lake City Brown Berets is denouncing a West Valley City program that encourages all residents to learn English, calling it a xenophobic measure.

The group is urging people to write letters to West Valley City Mayor Mike Winder and Councilman Steve Buhler condemning the initiative. Members are holding a meeting on Friday evening at 7490 S. 3200 West to discuss the measure.

“We understand certain people bending to the wishes of Minutemen,” member Daniel Argueta said. “This (initiative) is more to appease the anti-immigrant community.”

Buhler said he wrote the initiative before approaching the Utah Minutemen, a group that pushes for stricter enforcement of immigration laws, and denies that there is any discriminatory intent. He said all other feedback he’s gotten about the West Valley City English Initiative has been favorable.

“It sounds like they don’t really don’t want to live in America,” Buhler said of the Brown Berets. “They’re making up their own facts and stirring up trouble and misinforming others.”

Winder also said West Valley City is not xenophobic, pointing to its Cultural Celebration Center and large ethnic minority community.

Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51006148-76/english-berets-brown-group.html.csp

[virgogal]

1. If I moved to Mexico the first thing I would want to do would

be to learn to speak Spanish.

How anyone can have a problem with this program is beyond me.

[krispos42]

2. *shrug* On the one hand, you're in America. Speak American English

On the other hand, I don't have a problem with forms and such being multi-lingual. Conversational English picked up casually from other English speakers (native and immigrant) is not up to the precision and clarity needed for legal documents and applications and such. I don't mind when I call someplace and the robo-secretary says "Para español, toque el numero dos", either. If I was living in Germany and wanted to talk to something that involves money, I'd much rather do it in English, even if I was reasonably fluent in German.