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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda Report - April 15, 1981 (28)April 17, 1981 Ms. Alice M. Reimche 221 West Pine Street Lodi, California 45240 Dear Ms. Reimche: Thank you for your comme-nts about the use of bilingual ballots I have introduced legislation to repeal the sections of the Voting Rights Act which require the use of bilingual election materials. Thirty-nine counties in California are affected by the bilingual requirements, and many of them have voiced strong complaints about the financial hardships caused by the act. They -a-re concerned that the costs of comp) i-anc-e outwe t gh the benefits that may be gained. The intent of the Voting Rights Act Amendments was to bring our non-English speaking -populati.on into the ma-instream of Amer- ican society .by allow-ing them to vote in a- language they could read and understand. The effect of the Act, however, is to strengthen the communications. barrier between English speaking and non-English speaking residents of the United States. The requirement for bilingual election materials conflicts with the intent of two of our federal statutes. First, our bi- lingual education program specifies that English be one of the languages used in bilingual schools, so that minority language students will become proficient in the language spoken by the vast majority of Americans:. Second, our naturalization laws demand that a knowledge of spoken and written English be dem- onstrated to become an American citizen. rhe requirement for a bilingual ballot actually contradicts the pertinent provisions of our naturalization law and implies that the English language requirement is an unnecessary formality. I appreciate having your comments on this matter, and hope you will continue to share your opinions with me. C�Sincerely, _ A 44, -'�'�/W �w S. I. Havakawa SIH:bms Enclosure APR 2 8 1981 M �� - on rtS51oHa d 4 Anwift PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES Oil THR 97146 COhORESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 127 VASHINGTON, TUESDAY. JANUARY 6. 1981 No. 2 Senate written that they an incomprehensible In any language, so those who do not understand English are totally de- pendent on information received from. foreign language television programs and newspapem and discussions with Wends and relatives. They are excluded from the broader perspective obtained trom English-lsr4ruace newspapers. magaxines. and television programs. They cannot listen to an English -speak - ins candidate present his or her own views. While the non -English-speaking citizenhas been provided with an easier means to express his views. a ballot In his own languaM he has been discouraged from abtainin -the wide range of in- formation necessary to develop those views. At -some point the person who does not speak English will realizethe political limitations. As a- member of a, minority - language group. he will find It impossible to run for an office that serves a con- stituency whose majority speak English. He cannot effectively address his views to those who do not understand his language. so he surrounds himself with those who do. This political polarization can lead to a separatist movement. especially among our growing Spanish- speaking population. There an those who argue that bi- lingual ballots are necessary for those citizens who. In years past. were denied the opportunity to learn English. These people are dependent upon. and have available to them. the assistance of for- eign language newspapers. television programs. and friends and relatives. It may be unfortunate. but with or with-, out a bilingual ballot that dependence will remain. I am introducing legislation to abolish bilingual ballots because I believe that our country's greatness is directly related to our unique ability to merge -a multi- tude of foreign ciatures Into one. The key to this ability Is the acceptance of a common language that allows each new culture group to communicate and share Ideas with those who have been here. longer. We cannot as a nation afford to ignore the value of the American melting pot. By Ur. MAYARAWA." 53. A bill to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to repeal certain re- quirements relating to bilingual election requirements: to the Committee on the or VOTOM Zlowf* ACT Mr. HAYAKAWA. Mr. President. to- -dlW I am Introducing legislation to anwnd the Voting Rights Act by delet- ing the prwitsions, added In 1975 which require that bilingual election materials be provided in certain States and counties. When the 94th Congress amended the Voting Rights Act to require the use of bilingual ballots. the Intent was tobring our nonEnglish-speaking population Into the m2inatream, of American society by allowing them to vote in a language they can read and understand. The effect of that act however. Is to faster the fallacy among Immigrants to the United States that it is not necessary to learn That fallacy can lead to trouble for all of us In the years ahead. As a semanticist. I must point out that language Is a means of communication. If You speak one language and I speak another and we need to communicate either I must learn Your language or Yoc; must learn mine. It I decide not to learn your language and you decide not to learn mine. we have established a barrier to communication by which both our -4 cultures an Impoverished. Throughout our history our Nation has been enriched because our Immigrants have eliminated communications barriers with the use of a common language—English. With the use of bilingual ballots. how- ever, we are saying to our non -English- speaking citizens that they can fully participate in the political process with- out overcoming the language barrier. That simply Is not true. Suppose. for instance. a Spanish- speaking citizen wants to vote for a Presidential candidate or one of the various State propositions being offered. While the Individual may have a ballot printed in Spanish. It will not help illu- minate the differences between the can- didates: it will not enlighten him on the effect the proposition will have on his life. Voter information pamphlets which are supposed to explain the issues In question are often so bureaucratically written that they an incomprehensible In any language, so those who do not understand English are totally de- pendent on information received from. foreign language television programs and newspapem and discussions with Wends and relatives. They are excluded from the broader perspective obtained trom English-lsr4ruace newspapers. magaxines. and television programs. They cannot listen to an English -speak - ins candidate present his or her own views. While the non -English-speaking citizenhas been provided with an easier means to express his views. a ballot In his own languaM he has been discouraged from abtainin -the wide range of in- formation necessary to develop those views. At -some point the person who does not speak English will realizethe political limitations. As a- member of a, minority - language group. he will find It impossible to run for an office that serves a con- stituency whose majority speak English. He cannot effectively address his views to those who do not understand his language. so he surrounds himself with those who do. This political polarization can lead to a separatist movement. especially among our growing Spanish- speaking population. There an those who argue that bi- lingual ballots are necessary for those citizens who. In years past. were denied the opportunity to learn English. These people are dependent upon. and have available to them. the assistance of for- eign language newspapers. television programs. and friends and relatives. It may be unfortunate. but with or with-, out a bilingual ballot that dependence will remain. I am introducing legislation to abolish bilingual ballots because I believe that our country's greatness is directly related to our unique ability to merge -a multi- tude of foreign ciatures Into one. The key to this ability Is the acceptance of a common language that allows each new culture group to communicate and share Ideas with those who have been here. longer. We cannot as a nation afford to ignore the value of the American melting pot. bsl3ot i Ong to �� } f Wsrh►roz�t.� RRai� pg3ltfc.�3 psr- %%P 0. ; ;snatts�+ec4 of Amer ira+ r few �annoi `��be ischiew{e�� t i6d- t �}� r aaa�idnE citiuths truth: They aced a. • r. t S Alice M. Re the City Clerk AR:dq