True enough, at this point, it’s not affecting South Asians anywhere in the country (at least according to Census data). But the predictions for the forthcoming South Asian immigrant populations show that this could become an area where South Asians should be concerned, particularly Bengali and Urdu speaking populations.

Saying that English is the official language — let alone saying the government will not provide materials in another language — opens the door for such absurd rulings as not being allowed to speak a language other than English in schools, the workplace, etc. (which is already a problem in a lot of areas)… I think that’s why English-only legislation is particularly frightening to me, because language is a cornerstone of any culture. Saying a language is unwelcome in this country is tantamount to saying the culture is unwelcome (in my eyes, at least). And then where would we be? English-only legislation comes up quite frequently in state congresses, but to see it coming up on a national level, and actually passing… that’s scary.

Currently, in Chicago, there are fair housing materials available in many languages including Hindi, Urdu, and Arabic. But, the translations have been created by non-profit fair housing agencies in conjunction with immigrant social service agencies.

Providing these materials in native languages profoundly increases the awareness of fair housing law and how the US government works in immigrant communities.

Actually, as you pointed out, it’s totally unclear what the practical impact of this is going to be, because there hasn’t been any resolution as to what the powers that be want. However, as you pointed out millions of immigrants (including South Asian immigrants) under one version of this will lose the “right” to get materials in language. So, for example, the Census (whose guides are apparently distributed in multiple languages)? Possibly social services? Etc. The federal action, in turn, deepens a trend at the state and local levels.

Basically, this is a reaction to the demographic anxieties fears of English-speaking America–it seems likely that at some point, this is going to become at least a bilingual nation (English and Spanish) and they don’t like that (yet). So Congress throws a hissy fit that will adversely affect people.

Of course, the broader point, which I had hoped you would get to, is that the whole bill is very bad for those that care about immigrants or labor rights. Even erstwhile pro-immigrant supporters of the bill are now making this argument: because among other things, it calls for building a 370 mile wall along the border, ratifies the 6,000 military troops at the border that Bush proposed, allows for indefinite detentions, expands grounds and funding for deportations and jailings, leaves millions of people undocumented, and has a backdoor provision to make a lot of them criminals (it’s a technicality about the statute of limitations on entering the country without inspection). And the House hasn’t had a chance to destroy it even further.

Some legalization.

Thanks, yaar.

–Sen. Cheap Ass Desi

Here you go…

The English Language Debate Bob Schieffer Says This Country Has More Pressing Issues … And while they’re at it, maybe senators could declare the U.S. Capitol to be the national monument to wasting time and avoiding responsibility. Link