By Luis Valdez
How interesting it is to read a letter to the editor (“Don’t be rude, learn the language,” Dec. 14) rationalizing a desire for the exclusive use of English in our melting pot, multi-ethnic nation. One would think that because of the polyglot make-up of our population, hearing a language different from one’s own would be something taken for granted. After all, in most advanced countries, people are not offended or paranoid when a language they do not understand is spoken in their proximity.
All over the European Union, different languages are spoken and the reaction is not “they are talking about me.” That is a U.S. thing. We are still living with the heritage from our era of slavery. Slaves were severely punished for speaking in their own tongues. Not only did the slave owner feel the slaves prone to make uncomplimentary comments about the master, but that they could be plotting a revolt. Slave rebellion was always a present danger and bloody possibility, and slave owners took any steps they deemed necessary to nip such a possibility in the bud. Consequently, “English only” was mandatory. This was described to house slaves as simply bad manners to speak in a language the master’s family did not understand. Whites rationalized they were only teaching proper manners to their slaves.
Today, when slavery and the fear of slave rebellions are long gone, the fear and paranoia of foreign languages is still alive and well. When will we be able to rid ourselves of the down deep psychological scars of slavery that breed fear and distrust among us? Wake up, America! It’s 2007. The world has changed.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 19, 2007. Read the original PDF.