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Crafton's English petition is a big waste |
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Written by Gail Kerr
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It isn't very nice, but hardly a surprise. People have begun referring to Eric Crafton as "Councilman Crapton."
The term also applies to his latest effort. That blue card Nashvillians are getting in their mailbox may look like an innocent little petition drive. But it is not.
It is unconstitutional. It is racist. It is wrong. And it will cost your tax dollars when it ends up in court, as it inevitably will.
He could spend his energy trying to accomplish things in his district, like doing something with the giant empty shell called the Bellevue mall, or building a neighborhood library that holds more than three children. But instead, Crafton is once again leading the breathless charge to outlaw the use of any language except English by city officials.
Because holding those Metro Council meetings in French can be so time-consuming.
Bill vetoed last year
Crafton, backed by anonymous sources, is trying to get enough signatures so there is a referendum on the November presidential ballot on whether we want English as the official language of Davidson County.
Oh, the irony. That ballot will include the first African-American nominated for president in history, a man who is the child of a biracial marriage. Such unions were the subject of exactly these kinds of laws just four decades ago.
Crafton tried this last year, and the council passed it. It made international headlines. Nashville looked like the home of ignorant rednecks. Former Mayor Bill Purcell bravely vetoed it. Apparently Crafton cares little about how his hometown is portrayed. Because he's at it again. He knows the council won't pass it. And he knows Mayor Karl Dean and city attorneys have said it is unconstitutional. So he's trying to do it this way. And if it costs your property taxes to pay attorney fees? He doesn't appear to give a rip about that either.
Law would be harmful
It is not a simple "English first" law. It goes way beyond that: "… all official government communications and publications shall be published only in English. No person shall have a right to government services in any other language."
So the Korean man trying to enroll his child in school? Tough beans. The Hispanic woman calling the police because her husband is beating her? Too bad, so sad. And how about murderer Paul Dennis Reid, who sits on death row thanks to the testimony of a Spanish-speaking man? The lone witness almost bled to death in the Hermitage McDonalds as he played dead until Reid left. He crawled to a phone and dialed 911.
Thank goodness this law didn't exist that night.
Here's the truth, y'all. Crafton is appealing to the lowest common denominator to get his name in the paper. If anyone thinks this referendum is going to stop illegal border crossings, he or she is truly naive.
This law is not necessary. It is cruel. It is unconstitutional. And it is racist.
Put the blue card in your garbage can. Because that is where such trash belongs.
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