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By Juan Miret
Hispano Tulsa
Tulsa, OK — The Oklahoma House of Representatives said yes to the proposal of “English only” to declare English as the only state language. Another crushing vote of 70 to 28 slapped reason and tolerance in the face.
Days prior to the ill-fated vote, several organizations started calling the legislators to inform and warn them of the adverse consequences such a project would produce.
Tulsa’s Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, directed by Francisco Treviño, published an official position of absolute rejection to the new project by Republican Terrill.
In addition, letters were sent to all the legislators’ offices at the state capitol.
However, the offensive was not enough and just two minutes before ending the session on April 23, the Lower House turned its back to the community again and submitted the project known as SB163 to the Senate.
Now, it is the turn of the 48 senators to make a decision of continuing or not the path to backwardness and isolation.
What do the supporters of the proposal say?
Republican representative Shane Jett surprised many by giving his support to Terrill’s project due to his recent closeness to the Hispanic community. In fact, he was getting ready for an event to collect funds for his campaign; however Jett decided to support the “English only” proposal, showing where he stands in this matter.
Through an electronic message, Jett expressed: “I choose to spend my energy trying to make a real change on the immigration issue, instead of deliberating on a dumb and ridiculous issue such as language.”
It is true that Jett tried to add an amendment to establish a program for employee registration, however his suggestion was rejected, and that makes it even more difficult to understand his vote.
One other time Jett has disappointed the community, he did it in 2007 when he abstained to vote for (bill) 1804, he did not vote in favor of it but he did not vote against it.
In the same e-mail, Jett says that “he is committed to fight for those families who don’t have voice and live in fear for the grotesque excess of 1804.” However, it seems that this time the voice of the immigrants was not heard by the Republican but maybe because they were asking for help in Spanish.
Another opinion of the opposition clan was uttered by the Republican Sue Tibbs, who expressed to the Hispano de Tulsa, five days prior to voting during the opening of the Prenatal Care Clinic of the Medical Connection, that she would like to receive more information to be able of make a decision in reference to the proposed SB163.
Some days later, Tibbs voted in favor of the segregating bill, not without previously sending an electronic message in appreciation for the information provided.
What is being said by those who rejected the proposal?
“I will always oppose the abuse and discrimination of people, we Americans, have a history of mistreating other races; the Native Americans, women who wanted to vote, later after World War II it was popular to hate Japanese people, and we treated Afro Americans like animals… Please accept my apologies; I am ashamed of this entire process”.
These are the emotional words that Democrat Glen Smithson sent to Francisco Treviño. Another democrat who rejected SB163 was Ed Cannaday, who expressed that “even though my district supports 90 percent of this resolution, I can’t do it, this is an unfair bill.”
And what can YOU do?
On November 4th, use the most effective tool of the democratic system, your vote. Review and find out which legislators have supported the community, remember that one vote does make a difference.
To obtain the House of Representatives voting list in reference to “English Only” go to:
http://www.okhouse.gov/51LEG/Leg_Votesxx.aspx?include=okh02438.txt
(Article translated by Rosario Guerra)
