Crafton: Less posturing, more tutoring
Mike Byrd is right that Councilmember Eric Crafton’s plans for an English-Only ballot initiative are a waste of time and resources:
When immigrants are already learning proper English at faster rates than native born Americans are, Crafton’s ballot initiative is grand-standing designed to further his own political ambitions and ultimately destroy progress in our community.
Crafton, naturally, is claiming different motives:
“The reason it’s so important is because any logical, intellectually honest person would have to admit that English is the success language in the United States,” Crafton said. “If you don’t know English, you’re going to be trapped in a lower strata of society, not having a voice, having menial jobs and no education.”
I agree that fluency in English is a major stepping stone toward success in American society, but I don’t think trying to force people to learn our language will carry them any closer to that goal.
I wish Councilmember Crafton would spend his time tutoring non-English speakers rather than wasting our time on what is, in my opinion, a silly measure likely to embarrass the city (again) and accomplish little else. We need leaders who are looking for ways to create meaningful and positive change in our community, not ones who are consumed with scoring political points.
