November 08, 2009
What's Inside:
English-only amendment sparks heated debate
Photo by Eric Keith / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo
Ruth Matos, owner of Vamanos taxi service, is surrounded by people from other countries every day. She said she believes adopting a law that state government business will be conducted in English only is a bad idea.
A question on the ballot in November is prompting debate among St. Joseph business owners who all call English their second language.
Ruth Matos’ South Side taxi service, Vamanos, is tailored to Spanish speakers, a growing population in St. Joseph.
But Missourians this election will be able to solidify that when it comes to government business, only English is allowed.
“To me, it’s offensive,” said Ms. Matos, who was born in Havana. “So, if you speak any other language, you’re not allowed to know what’s going on in the state.”
She flew with her family in 1969 to New York when she was 5 years old. A Spanish speaker, she learned English while attending schools on the East Coast and now is bilingual.
Amendment 1 asks voters if the Missouri Constitution should be amended so that English will be the language of all governmental meetings at which any public business is discussed.
“I think it’s wrong to put a language barrier up for any reason,” she said. “It’s almost racist.”
Data from the Census Bureau released in August showed that St. Joseph has the fastest-growing Hispanic community in the United States, with the population growing from 2,397 people in July 2006 to 2,980 in July 2007 — a 24 percent increase.
“For me, it’s not offensive. I understand why (the meetings) are in English,” said Marcela Quiroz, owner of Sin Fronteras (in English: Without Borders, or Frontiers). “I feel so proud I learned English.”
Ms. Quiroz lived in Mexico and California before moving to Winston, Mo. She opened the South Side office that offers translation and income tax services for Spanish speakers in June 2007.
“People who come to the U.S. should learn English, but at the same time, there are some people who can’t really learn it,” she said.
Children who speak languages other than English at home also are increasing in the St. Joseph School District. The district reported 126 were enrolled during the 2004-05 school year. The population then jumped to 387 in November 2006, the same year Triumph Foods opened its pork-processing plant in the South Side. The current enrollment is 580.
A North Belt Highway gas station owner learned English in his native country, India, before moving to the United States in 1997. He’s operated the Quick Mart and Liquor Shell gas station for about three years.
“This country’s national language is English,” said Shamir Manhani, 26. “Before we come into this country, we should accept that. You should adapt to where you go, not try to change it,”
The school district’s adult English Language Learners program had an enrollment of 98 in 2006. That nearly doubled to 192 in 2007, and in 2008, 307 adults are taking English classes.
Adult education director Betty Kimberling said she supported the initiative even though “it sounds like it’s really redundant and we don’t need it.”
However, she encouraged the use of interpreters if groups of non-English speakers start attending meetings.
Alyson E. Raletz can be reached at alysonraletz@npgco.com.
This story has 27 comments. Click here to join in on the discussion.
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From this \story:::“This country’s national language is English,” said Shamir Manhani, 26. “Before we come into this country, we should accept that. You should adapt to where you go, not try to change it,” To this I say "Exactly Correct!"
International air traffic is directed in english only worldwide, so why shouldn't our government meetings be held in english only? makes sense. too bad we have been over-run by illegals as of late, that this action appears to be reactionary. far from the truth. this is not the first time this issue has come up. it is one of the first times it has been put before voters. here illegally? don't get to vote. it is put before the citizens for a reason. citizens get to vote, that is one of the rights guarenteed by the constitution to citizens. if you are here illegally too bad, take the naturlization, and vote against it. until you do, i hate to say it, but your voice does not count, and will not count. voters only have to speak as loud as the pencil marks the ballot.
This proposal will have little to no impact on Matos' or Quiroz's businesses. This is entirely directed toward speaking English at government meetings. I have no solid statistics to back this up, but I'm guessing that the majority of Missourians are English-speakers. Why wouldn't you want your governmental business conducted in English? Would it be easier for us to learn Spanish, Korean, or Italian just so we can understand what's happening in our state? Make it official. Take a stand. ENGLISH ONLY.
When my Sister in law moved to Spain to work she knew little of the language. They didn't change for her she had to learn on her own how to communicate. That is what is needed in the United States of America. If you are illegal don't expect to change us.
If non-English speakers want to attend the meetings, they should bring someone with them who understands English and can interpret for them. No way should the city/state have to provide interpreters. The official language of this country is English. If you want to live here, you should learn the language. It is not racist to speak only English. What it is, is ridiculous for non-English speakers, immigrants, visitors, legal or illegal, to expect us to speak anything else. They knew what our language was before they came to our country. If you want to speak it in your home or even if businesses want to cater to ESL customers that is fine. This issue is a tired one, I wish people would stop beating this dead horse and get on with the important things in life. This really shouldn't even be an issue.
How dare Ms. Matos make a statment that this bill is "almost racist."
English is the language in industry, economics and success. And english happens to be the language of the United States. Those coming here should know that, and if they truly want to assimilate, they need to learn english. My grandparents came to this country becoming part of the backbone that makes this nation great by LEARNING the language.
Of course, Ms Matos capitalizes on (some may say exploits)those who DON'T speak english. Her business caters to those who can't communicate and therefore are at her mercy. This is EXACTLY why English should be the official language of not only the state of Missouri, but the United States.
They choose to come to this country then they should choose to learn English. We are not forcing them to come here therefore the need to learn English. If they want to speak Spanish to other people that speak Spanish then let them but we can not keep reprinting all official documents, text books, and other civil papers just to please those that don't want to learn English.
they deserved to go up the tree though.
Okay, I just about had an accident when I read the comment on the "click" language. Thanks for the laugh!
There's a big difference between "English" and the charming variation spoken in these parts, which can only be described as "Hillbillyese".
We need to vote for the latter because the costs of remedial learning would bankrupt Missouri.
Man MichaelH you're really sticking it to the ole News Press there, and to think they removed ninjaman, spyhunter, and grimjack for what they said about taco bell. I think your posts are so long that they really don't want to read them.
I'm more interested in the Taco Bell incident. At least that is something that came maybe be fixed. All the listening in the world isn't going to fix the Central Banking issue.
Yeah, News-Press got rid of ninjaman, but I still feel like he's with us, in a backwards sort of way.
I’m sorry . . . I’m still just chuckling to myself about MichaelH. It’s truly amazing reading your comments, trying to make yourself sound so intelligent. I should really start checking your writing to see if it's plagiarism. Wow, if you don’t like the News-Press so much why are you on this site every day and all day posting comments. Get a life already. I’m thinking you’re the real phony, have you seen your MySpace page recently. There’s not an accurate thing on it yet you talk about all the inaccuracies of fellow posters and media outlets. Who are you trying to prove yourself to anyway, don’t you know these things are anonymous.
I have been watching this site for months now and have finally decided to chime in. People always say, how insignificant an article is yet they seem to read it and even feel the need to spend time in their "important" life to comment on it. So where does the problem really lie? I myself find all news information, front page or not, of value. It affects someone somewhere.
well heres my 2 cents worth. It is not racist for a government to conduct thier business in the language of thier country. they do that so thier countrymen can understand what is going on. well i am one of those countrymen and if i wanted to hear government in another language i would go to another country. You knew english is our language before you even planned to come here,so you should prepare,like the man from india did. dont expect a country to change everything just for you and you alone.if you are that homesick then go home. we will understand and not hold it against you. and no i am not racist by any means,we have different nationalities in our family,including my own children and yes thier father speaks english.
MichaelH- can you keep it to one or two lines please? I keep falling asleep about half way through your novels that you post.
Please don't flatter yourself. You're words are rambling and a feeble attempt to, once again, sound intelligent. And yes, there are many of us on here who like to be anonymous. We actually value our opinion and privacy and don't choose to be arrogant and pompous by letting the entire community know who we are. So don't play brave. All I'm saying is that I completely disagree with the fact that you say this reporter's story was false. Lack of detail and a hint of research maybe but false? Those are big accusations. Anyway, I am done here. Unlike you I say my piece and move on. I have better things to do with my time. I'll keep reading the papers, watching the news and laughing at comments. Well, actually many of them are interesting so . . . .