Bangor Daily News

Thursday, March 4, 1999

Harsh Reactions Greet Sponsor of English-Only Bill in Augusta
By A. JAY HIGGINS, Of the NEWS Staff

AUGUSTA — As the sponsor of a bill establishing English as the official state language, Rep. Tom Shields has been amazed by the number of Mainers who are repulsed by his legislation.

The harsh reactions — particularly from those of French-Canadian descent — were felt personally Tuesday by the Auburn Republican during a public hearing on the bill before the Legislature's State and Local Government Committee.

"So now I've been labeled a racist, a bigot and other names,'' he said. "Is it an act of bigotry or is it a practice of common sense that the U.S. government, the state of Maine government and the major media in this country express themselves in English? The only opposition I have had publicly for this bill is based on name-calling and unbased fears. I have not heard any substantive objections.''

The objection that seemed to crystallize those objections for the committee came from John Cleveland, a former four-term state senator from Auburn who is also of French-Canadian ancestry. When committee member Rep. Randy Bumps, R-China, appeared momentarily baffled at how anyone could be offended by the practical application of the bill, Cleveland commanded the collective attention of the committee with his response.

"Perhaps you need to be on the side of discrimination to know what it feels like,'' Cleveland said. "It feels like other people, whether they be English or Yankee, are somehow saying you are valued less. That's not what the bill says. No words in there say that. The original sponsor doesn't say that. But I can guarantee to you that there are many people, particularly in French-Canadian households, that certainly read it that way.''

Shields maintained his bill would only codify the English language's existing status as the official language in Maine. The legislation includes exemptions for the "English only'' law specifically addressing education, highway signs, negotiations with Quebec Province and those facing court arraignments who cannot speak English. But to opponents such as Sen. Judy Paradis, D-Frenchville, and Rep. John L. Martin, D-Eagle Lake, Shields' bill recalls a 50-year era in Maine that ended in 1969 when children would be punished by their teachers simply for speaking French on the school playground.

"The lack of respect and horror for what was the fate of many Maine children for 50 years left me absolutely frustrated that we didn't learn anything from that awful experience,'' Paradis said.

"I'm concerned because I think that this bill sends a very bad message,'' Martin said. "Its purpose may be glorified in every manner, shape or form that you want to, but it is basically a message that is aimed against someone.''

Shields said that since 25 other states have adopted English as their official language and that since English is already the most commonly spoken tongue, he saw nothing onerous in establishing English as the official language of Maine government. But some wondered whether Shields was simply carrying water for the U.S. English organization, particularly when he mentioned that the problems with not having an official language are more apparent in states with large Hispanic populations.

Todd A. Bennett, a representative from the national pro-English group, U.S. English Inc. of Washington, D.C., told committee members they needed only to look at the divisive consequences of bilingualism in the Province of Quebec to get some grasp on the consequences of not having an official state language.