America is and always has been a predominantly English-speaking country. But in recent years multiculturalists and their allies within the federal bureaucracy diligently have worked to undermine the use of English as America's common language. Next month, the dispute will reach the Supreme Court in a high-stakes case that could force every government agency, from town councils to those in Washington, to operate in hundreds of languages other than English.

At issue is whether the 1964 Civil Rights Act's prohibition against discrimination based on national origin may be invoked regarding language as well.

The facts of the case to be heard by the Supreme Court on Jan. 16 are as follows:

In 1990, Alabama voters overwhelmingly approved what is known as the "English Language Amendment," requiring the state government to conduct its business in English. Five years later, Martha Sandoval, a non-English speaking legal immigrant from Mexico, filed a class-action lawsuit claiming that the state's English-only driver's license test discriminated against her on the basis of national origin.

The case made its way to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and in an expansive ruling the court declared that by accepting federal highway funds the state opened itself up to federal multilingual requirements for contractors.

If upheld by the Supreme Court, the 11th Circuit's Sandoval decision most likely would have three effects, none of them in the national interest: (1) increase lawsuits based on national origin claims; (2) vastly expand federal agencies' powers; and (3) undermine states' rights by forcing agencies to function in hundreds of languages.

View Comments

In a friend-of-the-court brief, three groups — English First Foundation, Pro-English and the Center for American Unity — argue persuasively that the above is not a Chicken Little scenario.

There are early warning signs of what would come if the Supreme Court fails to overturn the 11th Circuit. Earlier this year, for example, the federal Department of Health and Human Services forced the Maine Medical Center to conduct its business in no fewer than nine official languages.

The United Nations uses only six! But practicality is a minor consideration next to the effects on American unity itself. America is a melting pot — but the "ingredients" melt and meld together because of the common bond of English language and civil traditions. It is one thing to engage in modest efforts to accommodate non-English speaking immigrants, but quite another to erect a huge legal barrier to assimilation by making it illegal for states, local governments and businesses to conduct themselves in English.


Art Linkletter is a spokesman for United Seniors Association, a senior organization with more than 675,000 members.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.