In November 2006 voters in Arizona will address Proposition 103, sponsored by the Arizona Legislature. That measure would require the state to conduct official business in English and promote the use of English statewide. The measure contains exemptions for areas were foreign language use is protected, such as private communications, foreign language learning, and emergency services. Click on "Read more" to see a synopsis of the pros and cons and find more information about this ballot measure.
Poll: Will you vote in favor of Proposition 103?
1) Yes, I think English should be declared the official language of Arizona.
2) No, I don't think English should be declared the official language of Arizona.
Advocates of Proposition 103 say that having one official language promotes unity and encourages immigrants to learn the language of their new country. Proposition 103 is specific in that it relates to the official language of government, without denying anyone's culture or ability to speak the language of their choice in personal communications.
Opponents to Proposition 103 say that since English is the language of Americans, and therefore, Arizonans, there is no need for an "official" language. Although Proposition 103 doesn't specify a language, Spanish speakers are believed to be targeted. Instead of incorporating a requirement to speak English, we should be developing more ways to provide English language education to children and adults.
Arizonans previously passed official English by ballot initiative in 1988. That measure was ultimately struck down by the state Supreme Court. It was too broad. In 2005, the state legislature passed an official English bill which was vetoed by the Governor. More than half the states in the U.S. have declared English as their official language, including six--Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida and Utah--by ballot initiative.
Read the exact language of Proposition 103, as well as officially posted arguments for and against.
Comments
English should be our official language. That’s just common sense. What makes no sense, however, is that the legislature (through prop 300) wants to take away Adult English classes from the people who need them the most. On average, it takes people at least 7 years to learn a new language. We need to expand our current English classes (where we currently have hundreds on waiting lists) not cut them. Cutting English classes does not help the illigal immigration problem. It only gives us more people not able to communicate in English. Yes to English but no to stupidity and Prop 300.
No one is saying you can’t enjoy your culture and speak another language. However, requiring the government to print everything in multiple languages is ridiculous! Tax money is our money… not the government’s… and I don’t want my money spent for that.
having english as the official language would allow the government to exclude spanish or any other language from the MVD county courts, federal contracts(car note), House note. basically a person not understanding english RIGHT NOW will be at a serious disadvantage. If a spanish speaking person cannot communicate in our society i see that as descrimination via exclusion, its racist. its wrong.. im american with common sense btw not mexican
Advocates of Proposition 103 say that having one official language promotes unity and encourages immigrants to learn the language of their new country.
Just like the first American settlers in Arizona went out of their way to learn the languages of the Navajo, Apache and Hopi.
Um, Jim P, the government is *NOT* required to print things in multiple languages. This bill is an unnecessary waste of money. More beaurocrats, more money, all because racist morons are afraid of those with brown skin. Meanwhile, these are the same bigots who hire illegals at slave wages to build their patios and spare rooms, or employ them in their illegals, making it economically attractive to immigrate illegally. Another brilliant move by the closed-minded bigots on the right.
This is a bill that should have gone through years ago! Anyone that thinks it is by racists and bigots is really closed-minded or ignorant.
One good example IS Mexico! How many things do you see that the Mexican government has printed in English? Or any other language for that matter! You go to Mexico, you had better learn Spanish, because you won’t have much help if you don’t! That is the attitude there, and should be here! If you come here, learn English!!!
How many other nations in the world have their home language legally named “official?” France? Mexico? Sweden? Germany? Japan? …. somebody help me out here. It seems to me, our native language is REALLY not English at all, but probably a combination of various American Indian tongues! Let’s all make them “official!” i WONDER why the makers of the Constitution passed on making English “officially” our language. I’ll bet they had good reason.
And I’ll bet the (pretty well educated)
congressmen and women who have voted against such a derogitory messsure also have good reason. Is the average, knee jerk, white citizen of nation smarter than the average congressman?
Please, give me a break. (What we really need is total Emersion in the schools to help young people learn faster, but that is a States issue, not Federal.) Finally, if English is deemed “official,” would that, then, mean all new contracts made up with another language as part of that contract, are invalid?
Mucho-finally: what would such a law tell the rest of the world about us? Aren’t we perceived as arrogant and self-serving enough already?
It’s ignorant to want to make English the official language of the state. English cam to Arizona after Spanish and WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY after any of the other native languages here (there are about 10 native languages here). The US has NEVER had an official language because we needed multilingualism to remain a nation. I could rant on but, I have better things to to.