U.S. English Extra: Denver Post Letter to the Editor
U.S. English Extra: Denver Post Letter to the Editor
February 29, 2012
To the Editor:
The Denver Post recently published an editorial about legislation that would make English the official language of the United States government [Feb. 21, 2012, “English-only bill speaks to nothing]. As an immigrant myself, and as Chairman of U.S. English, a group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language, I must correct some false assumptions presented in the piece.
By providing translations and services in multiple languages, the government sends the message of an ‘English optional’ society. When faced with native language support, non-English speakers feel no urgent need to learn the language of success in America. On the other hand, when the government provides services in English, it sends a message of assimilation. In fact, money used on providing translations could even be used to create additional English learning programs.
The ultimate goal of legislation to make English the official language of the United States government is to raise immigrants up to the economic level of native born citizens. When an immigrant learns English, he is more likely to hold a better, higher paying job and is able to fully participate in the democratic process. Official English legislation is a first step in the right direction to putting immigrants on the road to success.
Sincerely,
Mauro E. Mujica
Chairman/CEO
U.S. English, Inc.
The original editorial in The Denver Post, "English-only bill speaks to nothing" (February 21, 2012) can be found here.
U.S. English, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest non-partisan citizens' action group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S. English, Inc. () now has more than 1.8 million members.
