The Observer Newspapers |

June 20, 2008

Support Foreign Language Speakers, Businesses

To the editor:

It is becoming apparent that the controversy surrounding immigration, both legal and illegal has unfortunately devolved into a substantial amount of plain, know-nothing prejudice against foreigners and all things foreign. A recent letter ("Spanish Requirements Discriminate Against English Speakers," The Observer, June 13) has prompted me to write "Enough is enough!" regarding anti-foreign and anti-immigrant sentiment in this community. The letter berated businesses that provide customer service in Spanish. It leads one to believe that the writer is simply irritated that some businesses in this community seek to cater to a Spanish-speaking clientele.

The letter complained about the hiring of a Spanish-speaking receptionist at a chiropractor's office. "Some of the reasons would surprise you and perhaps change your buying habits or your patronage if you knew local companies are denying employment to English-speaking applicants," it asserted.

Nobody was denied employment because they speak English. The person in question was apparently not the best candidate because of a lack of language proficiency—Spanish—required by the business concerned. The business obviously needed a receptionist who could deal with Spanish-speaking clients, a segment it is interested in cultivating, and the business is free to do so in the United States of America. American and international businesses have chosen to cater to certain segments of the population and are free to make a second or even a third foreign language a condition of employment. Do you want to be a flight attendant or customer service agent with an international airline? Well, you better be able to speak a foreign language or two.

Every time I go overseas and see Americans behaving boorishly and badly by trying to shout in English at French postal clerks or Italian bus drivers and hoping to be understood, it is driven home that we are way behind the rest of the world when it comes to social and business language tools. I recently witnessed an ugly American in a little shop in France, screaming at the clerk "Don't anybody here speak English or take American money?" We don't need to import that sort of stupidity into this community—but we could if we engage in a crusade against foreign language use.

You would think that in Herndon, knowing the international and immigrant-produced commerce that contributes to this community, we would do everything possible to promote and encourage the use of foreign languages and our local linguistic talent.

We are in danger of losing a good portion of our commercial viability and economic engine. If you look at the signage around Herndon—French, German, Japanese, British and other firms have found a home here; immigrant-based restaurants add to the tax base; and international business associated with Dulles Airport is an income and tax spigot for this community.

Herndon, however, could earn a reputation as a place where foreign languages are not welcome. Anti-foreign sentiments and actions in this community could "kill the goose that laid the golden egg" by driving out commerce and educated and talented people of all origins.

Mark A. Carolla

Herndon