Gwinnett Buzz

On the way home tonight, I stopped a fast food restaurant near my house to grab a drink. As I sat in drive-thru line, I noticed a sign in the unused, first drive-up window that rubbed me the wrong way. The sign asked you to pull forward to the next window. The part that bothered me was that the same request was repeated in Spanish.

Illegal immigration is often discussed on a national level. The politicians in Washington can talk about amnesty, border fences, and guest worker programs all they like, but at the end of the day they show little desire to address an issue that is important to Americans. I recognize the matter is not as simplistic as many would like it to be: “Round ‘em up and ship ‘em back where they came from!” From economics to family dynamics to law enforcement logistics, illegal immigration poses many complicated questions. I welcome those who come to America legally, who want a better life for themselves and their family, who want to assimilate into our country. I even have some sympathy for illegal aliens who are living their lives otherwise legally and contributing to society. However, what really bothers me from immigrants, legal or illegal, are those that do not seem to have the desire to truly become Americans, who seem more attuned to having America resemble their home country. Not learning English is the most glaring manifestation of this refusal. As we allow Spanish to establish itself as a de facto second language in America, we are putting our American culture at risk in a way that has not been done with other immigrant waves in our history.

However, why should immigrants make the effort to learn English when our country makes it unnecessary for them to do so? You call a company’s customer service line and you are asked to press number “ocho” for Spanish. You pick up packaged consumer goods in Home Depot - where the signs on each aisle include Spanish - and the packaging has Spanish right next to English. You visit the ATM and you are presented with the option for English or Spanish. Business is doing far more than government to hasten the dilution of our culture.

So what does this have to do with Gwinnett County aside from the fact that there is an immigration issue here as there is in communities across this nation? Regardless of legal efforts to establish English as our official language (an action most politicians of both parties are unwilling to take due to their preference for votes versus protecting the American culture), nothing will change so long as we, in our local communities across America, do not take action. Besides, laws can only do so much. Businesses are private entities that are free to act as they choose within legal limits. If we are to salvage our American culture and send the message that America welcomes people from different countries but that we expect them to respect our culture and learn our language, we have to act within our sphere of influence. That means, we have to act locally.

I believe in the power of the free market. If we as citizens do not want to leave this issue to the self-serving politicians, we have to vote not only at the ballot box but with our wallets. When we encounter businesses that have little regard for our culture by conducting business with people
in languages other than English, we must be vocal with our displeasure and, if necessary, vote with our pocketbooks. Businesses exist to serve their customers and return value to their owners and shareholders. If doing business in Spanish serves that goal, that, understandably and reasonably, is what they will do. However, if the free market places a value on a business protecting English as our American language such that not doing so negatively impacts profits, we will see a change in the business practices. If the citizens in local communities across America demand this respect from local businesses, more can be done to protect the American identity than any politician can do in state legislatures or the Congress.

In this vein, Gwinnett Buzz has initiated an English, please! list. You can access this list from the menu at the top of this site. There, I will list businesses that I observe empowering the use of languages other than English in their business activities. I also intend to include a contact form where you can submit information on Gwinnett businesses that you encounter behaving in similar fashion. Because this has become so common, not patronizing these businesses may not always be practical. However, expressing our concerns about their business practices to their local and corporate management may be more a realistic way to express our displeasure. I am not suggesting destroying businesses but rather am encouraging them to think about our American culture as well as their profits, making them realize that encouraging the use of English is the most profitable route for them. Together, we can work to preserve our American heritage and ensure that the America to which many immigrants are attracted today remains as strong and as appealing for future generations of established Americans, new Americans, and future immigrants. We can take the first step toward this by insisting in Gwinnett County for “English, please!”

(Note: I would hasten to add that our responsibility as neighbors does not end at placing barriers to the use of languages other than English. We must assist the members of community in learning English by developing and offering classes or sponsoring individuals to attend classes to learn English. Our churches and civic groups can play a significant role in helping our fellow man while protecting our American culture. Again, if we pull together, we can accomplish things on own without relying on government to act for us. As such, I encourage you to submit information businesses, churches, civic groups, or other organizations that are assisting Gwinnett residents in learning English. I will post this information - perhaps in Spanish! - on the English, please! page.)

Tags: business, English language, government, Immigration, politics

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