The land of Babel

Congressmen and Senators alike are pushing for the English Language to be revived as America's primary language, among business. This has been coming and going in the news for some time now. It is a very strong social issue that should be pushed more so, especially now. 

“English is under attack,” Crafton said in campaigning for the measure. “The fact that making English our government’s official language is even controversial should give us all pause.”

A notable point to be sure. A city council member who disagrees with the bill shockingly called the idea of English being the primary national language, racist.

But City Council member Jerry Maynard called the proposal “mean-spirited,” adding, “It smells of racism.”

By claiming that the bill teeters on racism, holding true to the definition of the word, this man is claiming that the fight over a national language is only about racial superiority. This is not he case at all. Americans just want to find 1 out of 10 employees in the Newark Airport that speaks English; he wants to understand the person reading his order back to him for a happy meal at McDonald's; he wants to call a toll free customer service line without getting Jubar in some Michigan call center; so he wants to talk to Jubar's supervisor, Jose in San Diego, because he quite literally can't understand the first; he wants to understand how he is being snookered at the car shop for a new "johnson rod"; he wants his children to be able to talk amongst children at a play park without being confused by harsh language and 20 different languages.

Realistically, I know some things can't change, but having English used in schools, business, government, etc. That is our national right, as Americans. 

This city council member who hurls accusation of racism is referring to the fact that the population of Nashville holds 100,000 immigrants who can't speak English. Thank you for reminding us to not offend these. There does seem to be a national push for this as you can see on the link. At some point America will decide if they are going to speak English. Language carries it with it, a proper distinction. 

Just to show you how far we have come, Noah Webster, who gave us the great 1828 dictionary, the absolute best out there, was called into question by John Quincy Adams about his changing of many English words. President Adams called some words, "local vulgarisms", and questioned whether or not Harvard would even accept it. I find this fact extremely unnerving that our standard for our language was looked at with hesitation. 

Harvard accepted the dictionary as well as every other early college, and grade school, etc. Dictionaries that are revised and updated may change the words, or the pronunciation. Where we have fallen into snares as a society is when the meanings, and concise definitions of words are changed.

Websters 1828

EDUCA''TION, n. [L. educatio.] The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties. (Do not count on the system to teach them, it is ultimately your responsibility)

Merriams

EDUCA''TION, a: the action or process of educating or of being educated ; also : a stage of such a process b: the knowledge and development resulting from an educational process education>

Talk about lost in the translation. It will only get worse