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Thursday, June 21, 2007

Clarifying the “English-only” resolution recently adopted by Oak Point

By Chad Jones

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<a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/people/jim-almond/">Councilman Jim Almond</a>. Council members Cashew and Macadamia Nut were unavailable for comment.

oakpointtexas.com

Councilman Jim Almond. Council members Cashew and Macadamia Nut were unavailable for comment.

On Monday, the city council of Oak Point, a town of roughly 3,000 not too far east of Denton, passed a resolution declaring English as the city's official language. The measure narrowly passed by a 3-2 vote.

Like all immigration news, this story is obviously controversial. But instead of ranting about whether it's right or wrong, I'd just like to clarify what it will and won't do.

What it won't do

WFAA's Shelly Slater recently reported that, under said resolution, a new Spanish church being built in Oak Point will be forced to take down its Spanish sign. Also, writes Slater, Spanish or Chinese restaurants will be required to speak English and issue English menus.

"Not true," said Councilman Jim Almond, the originator of the resolution, who admitted to being a little ticked off at the misconceptions (and who also seemed a little irked at having to talk to me in general; he's gotten mucho phone calls).

"Businesses like the church and others will not be changed by the resolution. It was designed mainly to, as much as possible, have our city government not print our official documents in anything but English."

Backing up that statement comes the official language of the resolution (available via the city's website), which states:

"The declaration and use of English as the official language of the City of Oak Point should not be construed as infringing upon the rights of any person to use a language other than English in private communications or actions, including the right of government employees and officials to communicate with others"

What it will do

Because the resolution is a resolution and not an ordinance, its intended reach and scope is minimal.

For sure, the city of Oak Point will henceforth not issue any city documents, such as council meeting agendas, in any language other than English. In the past, Almond asserted that city officials had to spend time and money (how much of either he couldn't exactly say) on trying to translate information into Spanish.

"We have interpreters come to our city hall now and that’s not something we should do," he said.

An Oak Point teacher laughs at her student's failed attempts to speak English.

An Oak Point teacher laughs at her student's failed attempts to speak English.

As a result, non-English speaking residents will now have to get someone (a friend, a family member, who knows) to do some translating on their own time, if they want to know what the next city meeting will be about.

Interestingly, however, Section 3 of the "English only" resolution is titled "Exceptions," and it lists all the ways the city actually can write and distribute information in other languages. A few of these exceptions are:

  • "to protect and promote the public health, sanitation and public safety," (makes sense)
  • "to promote trade, commerce and tourism," (of course)
  • to "collect payments" (sure thing)
  • and to "teach or encourage the learning of languages other than English." WHAT?

Yes, under this "English only" resolution, the City of Oak Point can send out information in non-English languages to encourage the learning of non-English languages.

Confusing? Yes. Contradictory? It would appear so. But Councilman Almond would contend that, above all else, the resolution should be viewed as a symbolic message with a higher purpose (so ignore that other stuff).

"This resolution, like the one in Farmers Branch, will show Washington that we don’t approve of this damn Amnesty Bill and that people are fed up with taxpayer dollars going to enable people to not learn the language of this country," said Almond.

As of the 2000 census, 7 percent of the population in Oak Point is said to be Latino, though no figure has been given to indicate how many of the city's residents do not speak English. When asked if Oak Point is aiming to offer English language classes for its citizens, Almond responded:

"No, it is not the responsibility of the city to teach anyone English. It is their own responsibility."

As for the resolution's indirect consequences, such as alienating non-English speaking populations or causing national embarrassment for dissenting Oak Point citizens*, Almond contends that the majority of citizens agreed with the measure, which is why he drafted it in the first place.

"I've spoken with a lot of people, and this is the general feeling," he said. "There are those who disagree, but most Oak Point residents do not."

In related news, U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay moved on Tuesday to prolong suspension of Farmers Branch's ordinance.

*back-up files available here include copies of email opinions sent to the city—nine for the measure and eight against it

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Comments

okme2

okme2 Anonymous

Thank You Oak Point!

2 years, 4 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Billusa99

Billusa99 Anonymous

I wonder if they got together with a bunch of their lawyers first -- in "voy dyer" of course -- to write that convoluted thing?

Non, naturellement pas!

2 years, 4 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

veegee Anonymous

They couldn't "voir dire", because that would violate the resolution since it is Latin. They had to Bubba Up.

I assume all other latin phrases would violate the resolution also. ;-)

2 years, 4 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

RollingThunder1975

RollingThunder1975 Anonymous

"to promote trade, commerce and tourism,"

I doubt I'll be seeing a COME TO OAK POINT ad on tv anytime soon just because of this..

and that picture of the teacher laughing at her student's failed attempts to speak English. That is just really uncalled for. So that is what is going to happen if a student is having problems trying to speak English is to get ridiculed?

2 years, 4 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

terryorze Anonymous

Hmm, as a man living in a country with a shortage of young laborers to pay my Social Security I think I should sue for them discouraging young willing workers from coming here from another country.

2 years, 4 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Lisa Lawrence Merritt

Lisa Lawrence Merritt Verified

As descendant of some non English speaking folks who came to the North American Continent a long ass time ago(DAR,DC,DRT) I know for a fact that my ancestors opted to learned English and dropped the Mother Tongue all together. Otherwise I'd be speaking Native American, German or even Gaelic.

Get over.

LLM

2 years, 4 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

DC

DC Anonymous

"We senators have to deal with so many complicated subjects every day that we're at the mercy of the Social Security experts. How is it that ... you were able to get politicians to do the right technical things on a program they couldn't understand?" Hmmm...

What was the official language before this ordinance?

I predict it to be as well enforced as Dallas smoking ban, panhandling, etc etc etc.

2 years, 4 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

David Gouldin Verified

terryorze -

As a member of a generation who most likely won't see a dime of the Social Security we're paying into, I think we should sue your generation for using it all up! :)

2 years, 4 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

ledaglavey Anonymous

Hooray for a city havin the "nerve" to establish English as the language of the government of the city. I am really ticked off when I see my tax dollars spent to provide an interpreter for a Mexican that refuses to learn the language of the country where they are bleeding the taxpayers white.

2 years, 4 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

terryorze Anonymous

David, we can all have it if there are enough you workers. Or for less than the cost of a couple years of war, we could pay for it all. I was never true that anybody won't get social security. There is about 9 years that the program will run a deficit. Saying that you will not get any Social Security is a plan to drive a wedge between you and your parents so that you will gladly kill Social Security so that the very wealth will no longer have to pay it. They see the business paid portion as something they will get to keep if they can just kill it.

2 years, 2 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

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