Bill to Make English Oregon's Official Language Generating Overwhelming Support

The story, first reported here at Salem-News.com, became a hit late this week with other state media outlets.

(SALEM) - Oregon State Representative Donna Nelson (R-McMinnville) has received overwhelming support for HB 2459, the bill to make English Oregon’s official language.

Phone calls and e-mails to Nelson's office have been almost universally positive, providing feedback from all over the state.

“I’m getting calls from Pendleton to Medford to Tillamook,” said Representative Nelson.

“I’m grateful to hear from so many Oregonians – and I encourage everyone calling in from outside my legislative district to let their legislators know the importance of this bill.”

Incoming e-mails have been approximately 95% favorable, with support coming in from Oregon Democrats as well as Republicans.

“While I am a Polk County Democrat, I would back a bill to make English the official language of Oregon,” wrote Terri, from Dallas.

The English Language Bill is gaining momentum in both chambers of the Legislature.

“I am in support of Rep. Nelson's proposal to adopt English as our official language,” said Representative Sal Esquivel (R-Medford), one of the co-sponsors of HB 2459.

“It is our official language and we need to protect the American culture by maintaining English as the first method of communication.”

Two Senators, Gary George (R-McMinnville) and Jason Atkinson (R-Central Point), have also signed on to the bill.

A January 18th survey from Portland television station KATU showed 92% of respondents favor English as Oregon’s official language.

A 2006 Zogby poll indicated 84% of Americans favor English as the official language of government.

House Bill 2459 is getting attention from as far away as our nation’s capital.

“It is good to see Oregon’s legislators are recognizing the importance of making English the official language,” said Rob Toonkel, a spokesman for Washington, D.C. based grassroots organization U.S. English, Inc.

“Declaring English the official language is something we need to ensure unity within our diverse society.”

The English Language Bill has received its first reading in the Oregon House of Representatives, and now awaits committee assignment from Speaker of the House Jeff Merkley.

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Mary February 3, 2007 9:57 pm (Pacific time)

What a bunch of idiotic comments. To the dude who commented on the number of languages in India -- do you know that India is regularly rocked with something they call "communal violence" i.e. different ethnic groups blowing each other up, practically every single week? The Bangladesh civil war, the third partition of India, (3 million killed) was fought partially over language differences. Yes, we should really follow India's lead and divide our country even more than it is already divided. . .NOT. To the other morons commenting here: language divisions are one of the most commen causes of civil wars. Why on earth would you want to introduce such a volatile divider into our nation when we don't have to? To the ethnocentric lady: it is not "racist" to want to maintain one of the few unifying factors that is still left in this country. BTW, I looked it up, Spanish is the official language of Mexico and more than 20 other nations around the world. I guess these countries are "racist" too? Oh wait, ony whitey can be racist or "ethnocentric" right?

Joanna Van January 27, 2007 10:33 am (Pacific time)

Will Oregon pass current bill that supports English as official language? Not with my approval. I think that in doing so we would be rejecting the cultures and language of many Americans. House Bill 2459, would make English the official language of Oregon state is currently sponsored by Representative NELSON; Representatives BOQUIST, CAMERON, ESQUIVEL, KRIEGER, Senators ATKINSON, G GEORGE Proposing such a bill is a giant step in the wrong direction towards embracing the differences in all Americans. Americans with immigrant roots (that is every American except for Native American) should be applauded for keeping their culture and language alive. By passing House Bill 2459 we would limit services to many Americans that pay taxes. It’s not just English speaking Americans that pay taxes and have rights it is all Americans. We should learn from the past problems of colonialism such as forcing a language, culture and religion on humans. We should seek to teach and support bilingual skills in America that can greatly improve communication between cultural barriers? Or should we try to make every American fit into the same mold or box? I can not help but here in my head the phrase “Speak English or go back to Mexico, China or where ever you came from”. This Bill supports such hate and ignorance in this country. We should all take a deep look at how harmful this bill is in regards to social change in this country. Does Oregon want to be a state that pushes for ethnocentrism? Ethnocentrism or ethnocentricity is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture. This term was coined by William Graham Sumner, a social evolutionist and professor of Political and Social Science at Yale University. He defined it as the viewpoint that “one’s own group is the center of everything,” against which all other groups are judged. (Wikipedia 2007) I am worried the dominance of white acculturated ways stemming from colonialism has gone too far in America. We have come to believe that dominate language and culture is at the center of everything American. I think that we should try to improve language communication barriers not make it even harder to access. This bill is a social service workers nightmare by pulling tools and funding to help all Americans not just the fluent English speaking citizens. That is unequal access to services which spawns oppression.

Albert Marnell January 21, 2007 4:25 pm (Pacific time)

Leonardo, What Culture? Gas Stations and Hamburgers...Work and Shop, Work and Shop...and when you are not doing that the police and government have their noses up your rear end. You call that a culture? Go to Sicily or Turkey or Argentina. Those are cultures. This is a boring neurotic repressed hell.

Leonardo January 21, 2007 9:28 am (Pacific time)

Making English our official language is yet another example of leadership by spite. Of course, we don't want to have to publish text books in a dozen different languages (although in the digital world this may not be an important issue), proclaiming English as the official language is really thumbing our noses at non-English speakers. It's "Nyah! Nyah!" Not a very mature political statement. Are we English speakers afraid of losing our culture? Then let our leadership do somethiing of real significance to improve our state.

Albert Marnell January 21, 2007 8:50 am (Pacific time)

Hey Albert! The many people that died before us in their noble yet horrible sacrifice have been the immigrant parents and grandparents that tried to fight their children or the government from shipping them off to the neglect, stench and death of run-for- profit nursing homes.

Henry Ruark January 20, 2007 10:06 pm (Pacific time)

Q-M: That forces "us" to define what makes "a real American" --which today may be more controversial by far than this simple-English conundrum.

anon. January 20, 2007 10:06 pm (Pacific time)

"real Americans?"

Q Madp January 20, 2007 9:43 pm (Pacific time)

It would be nice if English was THE national language, but no matter what the people want, the politicians getting wealthy by keeping people in stupidity and poverty will never allow this. When will we have real Americans representing Americans again??

Albert Marnell January 20, 2007 8:51 pm (Pacific time)

German lost by only one vote as the national language. Maybe Catherine Harris's ancestors had something to do with that. Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Ja, aber wirklich mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut. Hummel, Hummel...Mors...Mors.

Albert January 20, 2007 8:16 pm (Pacific time)

A vote was already taken on the official language of the United States of America. Congress VOTED that English would be spoken rather than German. English won by a couple of votes. Sprechen zie Deutsch, nien. That vote was taken in the late 1700s. Since we all know that Federal Law superceeds State law, one might want to speak english (to be politically correct, of course). It sure would be nice if everyone were nice to each other, but that's just not the way people are. And remember, many people died before us in their noble and yet horrible sacrifice, so that we may stand here and speak anything at all. And to them I say thank you, in english, proudly.

Henry Ruark January 20, 2007 6:41 pm (Pacific time)

Babe: Thanks for realistic factual response -"Wish I had written it !" Abe, "been there, done that",too; only reinforces what I wrote. Per learning, you overdue for some, too...good luck !

Autumn Light January 20, 2007 5:52 pm (Pacific time)

Perhaps with english as the "official" language more WASP Oregonians will learn how to read, write and speak it.

Lars Leifstrom January 20, 2007 4:21 pm (Pacific time)

Sal Esquivel is another Uncle Tom sell out like Alberto Gonzalez.

Babe January 20, 2007 4:02 pm (Pacific time)

Dear Abe, Go to any inner city that is poor or any poor rural white area. You will likely find yourself in danger because of the poverty in those areas. It has nothing to to with Latinos, or Mexicans. If the Latin American countries are poor, it is because we have participated in the exploitation of poor countries as we do today with outsourcing and as we have done in the past with Slavery. I would not expect Colin Powell or Geraldo Rivera to physically attack you anytime soon. If you go to a poor area in Liverpool, England or areas in Scotland, Wales, The Irish Republic or Ulster County, U.K., you are very likely to be attacked and robbed. Poverty is poverty. Every state in this country and every city has its bad areas. I also would recommend you not strolling around Moscow by yourself day or night.

Abe January 20, 2007 1:55 pm (Pacific time)

Henry: Prepare yourself for the coming day when you enjoy all the respect afforded Gringo males here in the US, as then you will understand the difference between Immigrations and Invasions. If you would like to preview our future you only need visit any city in Mexico that is away from the tourist towns and resorts. But then, if you would like to embrace that experience state-side there are numerous places along the Southern border that will provide you that opportunity. My best advice is to visit in groups, large groups.

Rick Hickey January 20, 2007 1:24 pm (Pacific time)

Nothing divides a Nation more than the lack of ability to communicate. Nothing is a bigger waste of MY MONEY (yes commies it is your money). The Government does NOT need to continue to waste our money on people that want to Bi-lingualise our Nation. The reason our "Melting Pot" works is because we all assimilated into ONE Language-ONE flag. Congrats to Donna and SAL ESQUIVAL (Latino) for understanding it is NOT about Race, it is about our future and OUR money the Gov't loves to spend. This will also send a clear message to Schools of Oregon-NO MORE BI-LINGUAL TEACHING! We are a free Country, speak OUR language, or Yes you can leave, in fact please sneak into Mexico (cost of living is peanuts)and see how you are welcomed.

Henry Ruark January 20, 2007 9:00 am (Pacific time)

Greg: Yours seems to mirror likely comments by original settlers here...whom we dispossessed by some of the same methods you now so blithely lay on 21st Century "incoming", driven by some of same forces as "us" faced far back in history.

grenade in the jello January 20, 2007 7:24 am (Pacific time)

how would those people who don't readily have access to English skills going to know how to vote on this?.,recent immigrants.,past relocated peoples and migrant workforces.,citizens, legal or otherwise, who are many times non-traditional English speakers anyway. It seems like an exclusionary tactic rather than a unifying one., and English is already the official language in America. India has the largest English speaking population in the world and over 18 major national languages and dialects into the hundreds and out of necessity to communicate from within a diverse society it is considered a major advantage there to learn to speak as many languages as possible as well as make it possible to do so. I know this is America but intelligence can be universal.

anon. January 20, 2007 5:01 am (Pacific time)

Greg..,steal?., rape?., murder our women and children?,who are you talking about?.,are you infering if "they" had been legislated to learn conversational English this would stop? Are you speaking of the McMinnville vicinity or where?., what does this have to do with it?

Disbelief January 20, 2007 4:50 am (Pacific time)

It's so easy to get stupid people on a campaign. I have a great idea! Let's invade Iraq! Just sing, "God Bless America," the Kate Smith version only, and watch the sheep follow into the slaughterhouse.

Common Sense January 20, 2007 4:40 am (Pacific time)

We still do not have National Healthcare and she starts a bandwagon over language? What a diversion from real important issues. This is as tired as the O.J. debate.

Esperanto January 20, 2007 4:35 am (Pacific time)

People from all over the world will be able to overcome archaic language barriers. Uga Boga.

Babe January 20, 2007 4:32 am (Pacific time)

Dear Abe, The more insults that are hurled at Doughnut, the more she knows she is a loser. Why bring up this trivial garbage and create real division and resentment?

Study-Sphere January 20, 2007 4:26 am (Pacific time)

The 3000 languages in the world today were originated by our ancient ancestors and morphed over several millennia. These languages are full of inconsistencies and irregularities. It is a tribute to the human mind that it can handle such material. In 1887, a new language free from irregularities was introduced. By learning to speak this relatively easy- to-learn bridge language, called ESPERANTO, people from all backrounds are able to overcome the language barriers that we all live with today.

Osotan January 20, 2007 4:21 am (Pacific time)

this is democratic dialogue.,I like it.,whether I agree or not, and we can actually Vote on it! It is a Great country!

Greg January 20, 2007 1:49 am (Pacific time)

I never travel to a foreign country unless I have a working knowledge of the language. I wouldn't think of moving to a foreign country if I wasn't fluent in the language and culture. And, I certainly wouldn't move there illegally, then just expect them to provide me with health care and educate my children in my native language and provide all government documents in my native language, then steal from them and rape and murder their women and children. English is the language of the United States of America as it is in England and Australia, as Japanese is the language of Japan and as Spanish is the language of Mexico. That’s the way it is. That’s the way it should be. With the help of Donna Nelson and those like her, it is the way it will be in Oregon. Thank you Donna!

Thomas Edwards January 20, 2007 1:09 am (Pacific time)

What is wrong with people. I can't believe these comments. We have the best country in the world and all you want to do is take it down. We have opened our arms to the rest of the world and they are taking us down to thier level.

Hogie January 19, 2007 10:27 pm (Pacific time)

It's good to see that Democrats can read and write.

Abe January 19, 2007 9:54 pm (Pacific time)

Sure looks as a few members of the disturbed class have found the news site. The more insults they hurl the more Donna knows she has a winner.

Osotan January 19, 2007 8:03 pm (Pacific time)

how can I say more?

Dear Ms. Nelson January 19, 2007 6:49 pm (Pacific time)

Donna is an Italian name. Why not change it to Doughnut?

Pedro Muhlheimer January 19, 2007 6:44 pm (Pacific time)

Spanish needs to become the first language of the United States. English is such a Loco Idioma? Get rid of English, it sounds so stupid. All you dumb Gringos get off of the land taken from the Indians and Mexicans! Guess what? I ain't Spanish or American Indian. What a bunch of hicks! Yet you all are driving Toyota's and have Asian everthing. Let go of your past America. It is just another continent of Atlantis.....under the ocean where it belongs!

King James January 19, 2007 6:26 pm (Pacific time)

We beg of Thee Donna, that Thou becometh more honest with Thyself and whilest Thou Reigneth Thine Racism out of HOT AIR! We beseech Thee to get with the program and do something worthwhile. Furthermore, stay out of New York! I do not believe these B.S. numbers. Have you been hanging out with Catherine Harris the election criminal who should have gone to jail?

Albert Marnell January 19, 2007 6:15 pm (Pacific time)

What kind of double talk is "Declaring English the official language is something we need to ensure unity within our diverse society," ? This is camouflage racisim. Wait a MINUTE.....camouflage is a French word....do not use it. Kindergarten is a German word....do not use it. Slalom is a Norgwegian word...do not use it. Aardvark is Boer from South Africa...do not use it. Fahrenheit is German...Gesundheit is German....Plateau is French...Never say Pizza again...say, "Can I have a piece of that bread pie with the cheese and tomato sauce. Hey Donna, I think you spend to much time trying to look like Elizabeth Taylor and not enough time thinking!

osotan January 19, 2007 5:58 pm (Pacific time)

I think it's Latin for "where are you going?". I read somewhere the English language emerged from it and was staunchly applied until King James authorized the Bible's mass production in English.,something about a reformation?, rallying British support over a divorce not allowed in the Vatican.I'm not suggesting anything subversive.,I swear it! andI'm not making this up.
Quo vadis - Wikipedia

JAFO January 19, 2007 5:33 pm (Pacific time)

Quo Vadis?

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