English Only-Really?

Earlier this month the city council in Lewisville, Texas voted not to change the practice of translating documents into Spanish, a move precipitated by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Lathan Watts’ motion to make English the city’s official language.

Watts said use of the English language is a "pillar of American unity and identity." Apparently his council colleagues disagree, as his motion failed to get a second.

The former staff assistant for Texas Senator John Cornyn attempted to save face by calling the English-only resolution, "largely symbolic" but emphasized that English has a critical place in American life.

"One of the things that allows that melting pot to melt together is common language. Without it we’re not a melting pot, we’re stir-fry, basically," Watts said. He pointed out that all American founding documents and great speeches were written in English.

REALLY?

Hey, Councilman Watts - do you think things may have changed a bit in the good old USA since 1776? I'm guessing Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence in English because, oh I don't know, he spoke English and he was writing it for a mostly English-speaking group of colonial radicals?

You're kidding us, right? Surely as Vice President of the Denton County Young Republicans, you're familiar with the history of the Republic?

English IS the official language of the U.S. - in fact, its spoken widely. Maybe you want to drive outside your gated community once in a while and discover America for yourself.

Using English as the sticking point in the nation’s immigration debate is stupid. If you want to talk about illegal immigration, let's have a serious discussion about the problem. Ask and Answer the tough questions: How did we get here? What are the economic realities? What as an open, democratic society are we willing and able to do now to get the situation under control?

Chafing at Spanish being spoken here or setting limits on document translation is smoke and mirrors politics. The City of Lewisville spends just $475.60 on document translation annually and has an operating budget of nearly $100 million.

Don't waste our time, Mr. Watts. Lighten Up.

Americans don't need a common language to unify us. We don't need elected officials trying to divide us either.

Here's a reality check for you:

Things Change. Time Marches On. Technology Advances. Wake Up and Smell the Coffee.

All those great founding American documents and speeches were originally written in English, but they've been translated into thousands of other languages because the words have meaning beyond borders - even our own. I'm guessing, Mr. Watts, that your Bible has been translated into English, right?

Lucky for you the original Hebrew authors aren't around to object to their words being translated so that we Gentiles could hear those truths.