Here in New Mexico, there is a constant battle regarding the use of the English language. Many people here consider it their right to speak Spanish to each other, including when they are around coworkers and customers who do not speak Spanish. This has caused a series of episodes recently, where high school athletes and employees have insisted on speaking Spanish, even when they were disciplined or penalized for doing so by supervisors or officials. In each case, the use of language was limited by rules already in place.
The basis I have heard stated for this is that the Constitution of New Mexico allows them this right. The basis for that is the Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty of 1848. This treaty allowed residents of certain territories to speak either English or Spanish.
What is ignored in this issue is that 165 years ago, New Mexico was an isolated agricultural area with little contact with the outside world. There were few schools and little need of formal education. Most people who lived here spoke some level of both languages. Many others spoke Native American languages.
On a side note, it should also be noted that New Mexico is the most racist place I have ever lived. Spanish descendants consider themselves superior to Mexican descendants. Mexican descendants consider themselves superior to Native American descendants. Members of one tribe consider themselves superior to other tribes. Some white people consider themselves superior to all the above. Jewish residents consider themselves superior to Christian people and vice versa. People of other races kind of float in between. This is in addition to the economic stratification.
Education is largely held in low regard here. One can attain higher social status via tattoos than education, even more so if some of them are gang or prison tattoos. This is not uncommon in the US these days but quite prevalent here because it was set in place as part of the culture long ago.
New Mexicans have a strong attitude of territorial views, coupled with a highly invasive behavior. It seems unthinkable to New Mexicans to have property and not have a fence surrounding every inch of every side of that property. Illustrations of this are rampant. My own property has two fences on each side of the back yard (except the side with the house). Most of these were here before I moved in. I tore down a decrepit wood fence in the back yard on one side at one point. There was still a low chain link fence there. In response, my neighbors built a wood fence on their side of the chain link fence. So, there is a chain link fence and a wood fence on every side of the yard. The wood fences all belong to neighbors. In front of the house, I tore down a falling down block fence. This apparently gave the neighbors permission to drive into my front yard and allow their dogs to shit in my yard. When driving along the Continental Divide in western NM, I noted something odd. Each side of the road has a fence. Along the entire length of the US Continental Divide.
All of this is reflected in the social mindset. Relationships, both personal and professional, are based on isolationism, possessiveness, stratification and invasive behavior.
All of that is reflected in the use of language. Language, rather than being a form of communication, becomes a fence to form further separation.
Of course, attitudes such as this are far beyond ration, reason and logic. You can outline, list and illustrate the benefits of using English to the individual, to their employer/workplace and to society. It will be to no avail. This form of thinking responds only to force in some form. If you even bring up the subject, it will instantly be met with false claims of racism, accusations of lack of reason (with nothing the least bit cogent to counter your rationale) and attempts to gain backing of numbers by likewise irrational minds. The worst part is that in recent disputes, the governor (who is Hispanic) has sided with the "right" of students and employees who did not challenge rules but simply disobeyed them. The end result is to encourage this behavior.
The only hope for change is if proposals currently being considered for immigration reform result in an amendment to the US Constitution, naming English as the official language of the USA. So, I have been doing a lot of writing to rally support as best I can for this proposal. A fairly recent poll showed that about 88% of Americans support this amendment. Hopefully, it will be passed soon. Any amendment to the US Constitution will trump the state constitution.
The basis I have heard stated for this is that the Constitution of New Mexico allows them this right. The basis for that is the Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty of 1848. This treaty allowed residents of certain territories to speak either English or Spanish.
What is ignored in this issue is that 165 years ago, New Mexico was an isolated agricultural area with little contact with the outside world. There were few schools and little need of formal education. Most people who lived here spoke some level of both languages. Many others spoke Native American languages.
On a side note, it should also be noted that New Mexico is the most racist place I have ever lived. Spanish descendants consider themselves superior to Mexican descendants. Mexican descendants consider themselves superior to Native American descendants. Members of one tribe consider themselves superior to other tribes. Some white people consider themselves superior to all the above. Jewish residents consider themselves superior to Christian people and vice versa. People of other races kind of float in between. This is in addition to the economic stratification.
Education is largely held in low regard here. One can attain higher social status via tattoos than education, even more so if some of them are gang or prison tattoos. This is not uncommon in the US these days but quite prevalent here because it was set in place as part of the culture long ago.
New Mexicans have a strong attitude of territorial views, coupled with a highly invasive behavior. It seems unthinkable to New Mexicans to have property and not have a fence surrounding every inch of every side of that property. Illustrations of this are rampant. My own property has two fences on each side of the back yard (except the side with the house). Most of these were here before I moved in. I tore down a decrepit wood fence in the back yard on one side at one point. There was still a low chain link fence there. In response, my neighbors built a wood fence on their side of the chain link fence. So, there is a chain link fence and a wood fence on every side of the yard. The wood fences all belong to neighbors. In front of the house, I tore down a falling down block fence. This apparently gave the neighbors permission to drive into my front yard and allow their dogs to shit in my yard. When driving along the Continental Divide in western NM, I noted something odd. Each side of the road has a fence. Along the entire length of the US Continental Divide.
All of this is reflected in the social mindset. Relationships, both personal and professional, are based on isolationism, possessiveness, stratification and invasive behavior.
All of that is reflected in the use of language. Language, rather than being a form of communication, becomes a fence to form further separation.
Of course, attitudes such as this are far beyond ration, reason and logic. You can outline, list and illustrate the benefits of using English to the individual, to their employer/workplace and to society. It will be to no avail. This form of thinking responds only to force in some form. If you even bring up the subject, it will instantly be met with false claims of racism, accusations of lack of reason (with nothing the least bit cogent to counter your rationale) and attempts to gain backing of numbers by likewise irrational minds. The worst part is that in recent disputes, the governor (who is Hispanic) has sided with the "right" of students and employees who did not challenge rules but simply disobeyed them. The end result is to encourage this behavior.
The only hope for change is if proposals currently being considered for immigration reform result in an amendment to the US Constitution, naming English as the official language of the USA. So, I have been doing a lot of writing to rally support as best I can for this proposal. A fairly recent poll showed that about 88% of Americans support this amendment. Hopefully, it will be passed soon. Any amendment to the US Constitution will trump the state constitution.
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