2008 Woodie Awards
Councilman hopes to make English city's official language
Brady Holt
To Jack Perry, English has long been the de facto official language in College Park and the rest of the United States.
But as the city offers translations of documents and looks for bilingual staff members, the nonconformist District 2 councilman thinks it's time for English to become the city's official language. Perry is preparing to introduce legislation asking the city to study the issue, he said.
"I think that if you come to College Park, as far as you're concerned, the official language is English; if that's not good enough for you, you need to work out something else," Perry added. "It's a shame that we have to do this. I'm sick of kowtowing to minority factions."
Although Perry acknowledged most of College Park's translation requests were for "the Hispanic language," he is concerned about a slippery slope that would make the city responsible for speakers of every language and dialect.
"If I have to sit around and say, 'Well now, I'm going to have to translate that into Tagalog,' whatever the hell that is, why does the government have to do it [and] bear the expense?" Perry said.
Perry pointed out College Park's website is already available in five languages.
But Kimberly Propeack, advocacy director for the Latino rights group CASA de Maryland, said in an e-mail that English-only legislation "tends to be read as cultural declarations about who is welcome in a community."
"I would ask Councilman Perry if he really wants to send a message to his neighbors that he doesn't want them living in College Park," she said.
Perry said, at this point he is only looking to hear the pros and cons of making English the official language of College Park, requesting the city staff investigate what sort of experience other English-only municipalities have had. But his idea might not make it that far.
"I'll probably be in the minority because of the liberalness of my co-councilpeople, and we have to bend over backwards" to speakers of other languages, he said. "I'm sure that everybody's going to tell me I'm wrong. I've been there before."
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 35
P. Myers
posted 7/24/08 @ 12:29 AM EST
I hope the Diamondback takes the opportunity to translate that whole article into "the Hispanic language" and post it online, with a special delivery to Councilman Perry. (Continued…)
M. Dale
posted 7/24/08 @ 9:38 AM EST
As a registered Republican in Councilman Perry's district, I can vouch that it's not just the liberals that believe English-only laws are thinly-veiled racism. (Continued…)
KAT
posted 7/24/08 @ 9:38 AM EST
I am in support of Jack Perry. It took courage for him take a stand on this important and growing issue. If those who continue to stick their collective noses up to our city, county, state and country then they need to go back from where they came. (Continued…)
Mo
posted 7/24/08 @ 10:05 AM EST
This is disgusting yet I am not surprised to see this coming out of College Park. This city is so behind it depresses me and undoubtedly, many of it's more educated residents. (Continued…)
jimbo
posted 7/24/08 @ 10:38 AM EST
What a tool. Jack Perry wants no police and no tax increases to pay for police. BUT he is apparently surprised when the aforementioned policies lead to a shift in demographics that he appears to dislike(ie,white folk leave). (Continued…)
J.
posted 7/24/08 @ 10:51 AM EST
This article contains amazing instances of ignorance on both sides of the debate. First off, I should state that I do believe that English should be the official language of the United States. (Continued…)
apple
posted 7/24/08 @ 11:37 AM EST
*** "Well now, I'm going to have to translate that into Tagalog,' whatever the hell that is" ... shows how intelligent he is.
Jose
posted 7/25/08 @ 1:31 PM EST
I think Perry is 100% correct. Although others might read and speak in another language it doesn't mean that everyone around them has to do the same. Can you imagine "a university priding itself on multiculturalism and diversity" teaching math in 9 different languages to accomodate everyone? No, they teach it in one. (Continued…)
SA
posted 7/25/08 @ 3:04 PM EST
Good for Mr. Perry. I'm an alum from back in the 90s, and to read the elitist, liberal comments of today's students opposed to something so basic as preserving our native language is truly disturbing. (Continued…)
future terper
posted 7/25/08 @ 3:06 PM EST
This guy is a major toolbag. He's a blanket racist and idiot. I find it funny, racist politicians like Perry find it difficult to accommodate immigrant workers and tax-paying community members the city hires to perform under-paying menial jobs. (Continued…)
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