Pledging Ignorance

Recently I came across an article online by the Washington Post telling the story of one mother’s upset that her child was subjected to hearing the Pledge of Allegiance spoken in Spanish at her school in Fredrick’s County, Maryland. The mother called the act of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish as: “offensive and disrespectful to our country.” [1] The story is two years old but it is not unique nor is it an isolated incident. According to WBTV in January of this year at the Charlotte Mecklenberg school’s mid year graduation ceremony, the Pledge was recited first in English and then in Spanish. During the Spanish version of the Pledge it was reported that: “Many people sat down while it was read in Spanish and did not clap.”[2] As an immigrant in this great land called America, I find myself disturbed by such articles and the current narrow perspective of many Americans towards their diverse and growing immigrant population. The current defensiveness appears bred on ignorance and a lack of understanding of America’s founding principals. Many are quick to forget that their families came to this country speaking a host of languages including French, German, Italian, and Dutch (to name just a few). It was only due to the dominating British influence, the same influence fought against in the War of Independence, that the use of English became so prevalent. So is reciting the Pledge in another language besides English an insult to this country or is it rather an insult to this country that the Pledge is often only recited in English?

According to the Census Bureau there are just over 300 million people residing in this country.[3]As of the 2000 Census 71.6% are classified as ‘White non Hispanic’,12.8% are classified as ‘Black’, 4.4% are classified as Asian or Pacific Islanders, 0.9 % are classified as American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut, and 11.3% are of Hispanic origin.[4] These numbers and categories of diversity however inaccurate and ethnically confused as they may be, do tell us that America is a community of many nationalities, cultures, and opinions and currently the majority are still of European descent. 2000 Census statistics show that 82.1% of American households speak English in their own home. That means 17.9% (or 14 million households) speaks in a language other than English.[5]

Many of us have heard on numerous occasions that English is the language of America. And yet, contrary to this popular assumption, in America, there is NO official language. Is that because this is America and representatives of all nations are welcome here? Or is it rather that those of European descent (the offspring of generations of immigrants) assume their majority will last forever and there is no reason to claim English as our official language?

If we look into the early history of America, we find reports of the “journals and official documents” of the Continental Congress being reported in both German and French.[6] During the 19^th century, many states printed official documents in a host of European languages in order to communicate policy to their diverse inhabitants.[7] In 1981, a constitutional amendment was proposed to make English the official language of America but this proposal never came to a congressional vote.[8] There have been numerous attempts to legislate English as the official national language, but all have so far failed.

Current estimates contend that over 311 languages are spoken by America’s citizens. And: “Of these, 162 are indigenous, and 149 are immigrant languages. An indigenous or autochthonous language is a language that is native to a region and spoken by indigenous peoples.”[9] And yet people become upset and defended when one of those many languages is utilized to express the liberty and unification of this country.

Of course, it is easier to print official documents in one language but that does not mean it is disrespectful to what America represents to translate these documents into the languages of the many peoples of this land in order that assimilation and unification can occur. I am not an American but the Constitution of this country, whose words first brought me to these shores, hangs with hope on the wall of my study. How can one have tears of pride in their eyes as they read the Constitution if they are unable to read it? How can one express respect for the Pledge of Allegiance if they do not have the tools to understand it? Is it not a better representation of America’s principles when all the languages of its residents are embraced? Why are so many in fear of the introduction of another language into our daily lives?

When I was child growing up in rural England, it was compulsory for every student to begin learning a second language at age 11. I never had any problem with this requirement as it seemed both logical and interesting to me to learn the language of our neighbors, France and Germany. I will be eternally grateful to my teachers for introducing me to both languages and cultures. My language studies have broadened both my perspective and my ability to communicate in a multicultural world. And although forever the language of Shakespeare will haunt my soul, the ability to view the French Revolution through Voltaire’s eyes or to read Kant in the original is a gift I shall always cherish. So why are so American parents up in arms at the fact their children are learning a few words of Spanish?

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) explains on their website the advantages a child has by beginning foreign language studies at an early age:

· Has a positive effect on intellectual growth.

· Enriches and enhances a child’s mental development.

· Leaves students with more flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to language, and a better ear for listening.

· Improves a child’s understanding of his/her native language.

· Gives a child the ability to communicate with people s/he would otherwise not have the chance to know.

· Opens the door to other cultures and helps a child understand and appreciate people from other countries.

· Gives a student a head start in language requirements for college.

· Increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another language is a real asset.[10]

So it seems the introduction of another language into the lives of America’s children has only positive effects and helps prepare them for the world they will encounter as adults. Learning a second language helps one to understand their first language better. In fact, the ACTFL also reported that: “Graduating high school seniors with two or more years of foreign language study showed significant superiority in performance on achievement tests in English when compared with nonforeign [SIC] language students.”[11]

The Census Bureau projects that by 2050, the ‘white’ majority will fall from 71.6% to 52.5% of the U.S. population.[12] It would be a fair prediction to say this number will continue to decrease. One day, not far in America’s future, there could be a time when the majority becomes the minority and has to fight for the Pledge of Allegiance to be spoken in English so that ‘we’ can relate to the articles of liberty in this country.

So is there a solution to this argument regarding the speaking of the Pledge of Allegiance in other languages besides English? Of course there is. In order for America’s founding principals to represent the people the Pledge should be available to us in every language spoken by every person in this beautifully diverse country. America’s students, whether of European, Asian, African, or Native descent should have the opportunity to hear these words in the languages of their culture; that is, in the languages of the American culture. The children of this nation should have the opportunities to know their classmates and their neighbors better. Perhaps then our neighbors and newer residents would want to understand our predominant language as they would feel included, welcomed, wanted.

So it seems to me, everyone who sits down during the Pledge of Allegiance just because it is spoken in another language stands against American ideals. Every person who states that there are too many immigrants in this country should take a second look at their family tree. And every person in this country who believes English is the language of this country should tell that to the Native Americans.

It’s time to start embracing what this unique land of immigrants really stands for; that is diversity, equality, opportunity, and freedom. We must give our children and our children’s children the tools to thrive in America’s future. So let’s accept reality, stop pledging ignorance, and start pledging American ideals.

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[1] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50421-2005Mar19.html

[2] http://www.wbtv.com/news/topstories/5421951.html

[3] http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html

[4] http://www.census.gov/population/www/pop-profile/natproj.html

[5] http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/months/november/USlanguages.html

[6] http://www.internationalcollege.edu/pdf/ICDC_Vol_2_1.pdf

[7] ibid

[8] http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jwcrawford/langleg.htm

[9] http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/months/november/USlanguages.html

[10] http://www.discoverlanguages.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3653

[11] http://www.discoverlanguages.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3653 “Bastian, T.R. (1980). “An investigation into the effects of second language learning on achievement in English.” (pp. 6176-6177). DA, 40,12-A, Pt 1. Boise, ID: University of Idaho.

[12] http://www.census.gov/population/www/pop-profile/natproj.html

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 27th, 2007 at 5:49 am and is filed under Society And Culture Writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.