I am not racist, white supremacist, or anti-immigrant in any form (and I realize by stating that I am setting myself up to be accused of all of them). What I am is pro common sense. And that of all institutions, government entities should operate under the assumption that our laws are either worthwhile and effective and operate under them or seek to change them.
Private companies have the right to operate and set standards based on a variety of motives that may contradict certain rules and standards (i.e., if a restaurant wants to print its menu in a variety of languages, have at it.) But I am not sure government entities have that same flexibility.
And that is why I posit this thought. One of the laws regulating application for citizenship is that applicants must “demonstrate basic literacy in English.” Why then do I continue to see , receive and hear communications from government entities(most recently a mailing from the Salt Lake City government) printed in both English and Spanish? And why are we all paying for that? (And why isn’t it also printed in Swahili, German, French and the dozens of other languages of the planet?)
Presumably, if the recipient of the information cannot read it, they are not a citizen and as such have no legal input in the issues presented by the flyers.
(Another one of my pet peeves is the signs on the doors of post offices stating that only assist animals for the blind are allowed in the post office. The only people it applies to can’t read it!)
I know I am setting myself up for ridicule and expressions of hatred and suggestions of harm raining down on me. But again this is not anti-anything or anyone, but just a question asking for common sense.
Bob Barr, Salt Lake City
