This past weekend, I was having lunch at a fairly well-known diner located along Route 30 in Malvern. It’s about 40 minutes West of where I live so its location isn’t too convenient in making it a regular affair.
The place has the layout of your typical diner, though its food resembles that of what one would find at a bistro and the food is quite good. There’s a general dining area for people coming as groups, and a typical counter for those coming solo. The wall that’s across from the counter which is used to separate the kitchen area from the customers is cutout where finished meals from the kitchen are handed off to the waitresses.
Having sat directly in front of this view several times, one can’t help but observe that, as is the case of working in the food business, particularly those who work in restaurant kitchens and service industries in general, that these people do not communicate in English and are most likely either Green card holders, or illegal aliens; the latter of which has been and continues to be a hot topic in this country.
It’s without question that these people work hard and break their backs day in and day out so that their families living back home can have a better life. And ideally, many wish to call the US their home someday through permanent residence and citizenship. I believe, that just as my parents came to this country almost 30 years ago, that others should also have the same opportunity. Afterall, this is a country of immigrants.
The time for immigration reform is now, and a faster, agile, fair, and legal system must take its place that’s based on the pillars of citizenship, history, and a non-negotiable baseline understanding and fluency of English. At the very least, citizens of one nation should and must be able to communicate, at the bare minimum, in one language. The French have always understood that in order to preserve its unique national identity and cultural image, that there are some things that should never be changed or debated. One such aspect is the recognition of French as the official language of government, which is part of the French Constitution, and for which I believe we should adopt similar measures here. A common language is important because it provides a common understanding for all citizens to participate within a society.
And as they work here and make a living that neither you or I would are willing to accept, they will continue to live in the shadows of our society with neither the ability to communicate in English or conduct the legal or financial transactions we take for granted on a daily basis. Most importantly, those who aspire to become legal residents, and eventually US citizens, will continue to live in the shadows so long as they cannot communicate in English. With the present immigration system, this will continue to be the case. Some believe that the way of resolving the issue is for the government to recognize and support other non-English languages which, in my view, would place the future of American civilization in great peril. The inability for a society to communicate in a common language not only provides a disservice to those who come here seeking a better life, but gives future generations of immigrants a life of damnation and hopelessness. Sir Francis Bacon once said that “Knowledge is Power.” For those seeking a better life in this country, the knowledge of English brings power and equalization to the playing field.
Many opponents believe, however, that an English-only education system in today’s schools is a racist policy. How so? What could be more racist than for a child to be educated in America in their native language and be given false hopes that they will have just as equal an opportunity as those who are educated in English?
Supporters of an English-only education system and an English-centric immigration policy will ever say that it’s wrong to learn and be proficient in other languages. In fact, the children of immigrants should also be reasonably proficient in their native language as well because it is, after all, a part of their cultural identity. The education system is designed so that in an early age, kids can begin taking survey classes of foreign languages that they can eventually build upon and learn more about in high school and throughout college. In addition, the majority of immigrant parents believe that their children must learn and be proficient in English.
As an example, I can’t expect to travel to my mother country of
South Korea and begin communicating with my relatives and other natives in English. Why should I have the expectation for others to be able to communicate with me in English? Likewise, in what right mind can a minority group of people impose on an English-speaking nation the unreasonable and unnecessary expectation that they must facilitate and communicate in the languages of other nations and peoples?
Returning back to the diner, I observed that only one or two of the waitresses were able to communicate with the kitchen staff. This isn’t because the rest of them had no interest in talking to them or simply didn’t like them. Rather, it’s because they couldn’t communicate in a common language. The reason that these waitresses were able to talk with the kitchen staff is because they were fluent in Spanish, which they had learned from school. Whether or not these hard-working people will ever learn English is anyone’s guess. But it is and should be common sense to them that to live in another country, they should and must be committed to learning and gaining proficiency in the native language of that country.
Immigration reform in this country must include a mandatory, reasonable level of proficiency in the English language that is measured and assessed throughout the entire process of immigration and naturalization. In fact, those wishing to come to the US should start to become acquainted with English prior to arriving in the US to live, work, and be able to demonstrate continuous improvement in their mastery of English. English language immersion programs should be an integral part of the immigration process and be offered in as many mediums as possible. As one who believes in the concept of lifelong learning and continuous self-betterment, anyone can learn English.
Had my parents not exposed me to English at a young age through television, books, and school, I couldn’t possibly imagine how hard and difficult my life would be right now.
You have at your command the wisdom of the ages. 