Manda el español en calles de Miami

[RPR]

Miércoles, 11 de junio de 2008
GISELA SALOMON
The Associated Press

Melissa Green a menudo tiene que llamar a un amigo que habla español para que le haga de intérprete cuando ingresa algún cliente hispano a su floristería en el sector sur de Miami.

Green dijo que "es frustrante" no poder comunicarse con esos clientes o cuando le pide direcciones a alguien en la calle.

No hablar español no sólo dificulta ciertas gestiones, sino que conspira incluso contra las posibilidades de conseguir trabajo y está ahuyentando a muchas personas de Miami.

El español es hoy la lengua predominante en varios sectores de Miami, desplazando en la vida cotidiana al inglés.

En los comercios los vendedores atienden a los clientes en español, las universidades ofrecen programas para hispanohablantes y los supermercados, bancos, restaurantes y hasta el correo y las oficinas del Gobierno tienen folletos y personal que atiende en español.

En Miami hay médicos y enfermeras que hablan en español a sus pacientes y gran parte de los carteles publicitarios están escritos en español; hay diarios, radios y canales de televisión para el público hispano.

"Una de las consecuencias (del uso generalizado del español) es que la población anglo(sajona) se está yendo de aquí", expresó el sociólogo Juan Clark, profesor del Miami Dade College.

"Una de las reacciones es emigrar hacia el norte. Se resiente el hecho de que (el estadounidense) tiene que saber español para tener más ventajas en un trabajo. Si no habla español, tiene una desventaja", indicó Clark.

De acuerdo con la información del censo del 2006, el 61.9% de la población del condado de Miami Dade se identificaba como hispana.

Del total de 2.4 millones de residentes del área, el 58.5% hablaba español y el 27.2% sólo hablaba inglés.

En el distrito de Hialeah, el 94% de la población se identificó como hispana en el censo del 2006.

La bibliotecaria Martha Phillips, de 61 años, lamentó que los estadounidenses estén abandonando Miami y manifestó su temor de que el área se convierta en una "sucursal de América Latina".

Para James McCleary, tal vez ya lo es, porque cada vez que viaja a Miami siente que está en "una isla de América del Sur".

[Stanley]

In any other part of the world this would have caused a bloody war. Maybe Americans are peaceuful folks, he, he.

[RPR]

My observation has been that most Anglos tend to internalize their thoughts. Are they more tolerable? Hmmm...when you get them in a comfortable setting they tend to open more up. Even the most ultra liberal, Obama maniac, will flat out admit they don't understand why "they don't learn English".

[L_F_Miranda]

As published on June 19th, USA TODAY had another version.

Which one will win? You decide.

But, I always say, The POWERS THAT BE will decide no matter what the Miami Cubans or the Puerto Rican statehooders want.


English language legislation gathers steam across the USA

By William M. Welch, USA TODAY
English as an official language has gained momentum as proponents keep going to the ballot box with measures that discourage bilingual ballots, notices and documents.
Thirty states now have laws specifying that official government communications be in English, says U.S. English, a group that promotes the laws. This year such bills are under consideration in 19 legislatures.

"It's multiplying tremendously," says Mauro Mujica, a Chilean immigrant and chairman and CEO of U.S. English. "We've made huge progress."

Critics do not see progress. Some say the increase in the measures nationwide sends a hostile message to newcomers.

"It just poisons the atmosphere in local communities," says John Trasvina, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Typically the proposed laws require that documents, ballots and other communications be published in English. Exempt are communications to protect public health and safety or efforts to promote tourism.

This year:

•In May, the Ohio House of Representatives approved a bill making English the state's official language. It is now before the state Senate.

•In April, the Oklahoma House passed a bill requiring the majority of state business to be conducted in English. It is before the Senate.

•Missouri will decide this fall on an amendment to the constitution requiring English for "all official proceedings."

Advocates say they are not suggesting that English be the only language spoken but that it be the only language used in dealing with government.

Mujica, who speaks Spanish in his home, says requiring English for official business encourages immigrants to learn English. That will help them to assimilate into U.S. society and prosper in its economy, he says.

"We're making it too easy for people to function in other languages," he complains.

But the effectiveness of the movement is in question since federal sometimes trumps a state's official English law. For instance, the Voting Rights Act requires certain localities to publish bilingual ballots.

"They've raised the level of ire against languages other than English (but)… haven't really changed the government's or businesses' way of doing business," Trasvina said.

Rob Toonkel, spokesman for U.S. English, says that is not true. He says the laws do not cover everything but ensure that things like driver's licenses, zoning forms and the day-to-day activities are overwhelmingly in English.

"We want to be sure (immigrants) are becoming part of America and American society," he says. "That's what official English is about."

There is one issue the two sides appear to agree on — more can be done to help non-English speakers learn English.

Sam Jammal, legislative attorney in MALDEF's Washington, D.C. office, says making English classes more available for adult immigrants is a better solution than official English.

"We fully agree with that," Mujica says.


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English language legislation gathers steam across the USA - USATODAY.com