What Language Are You Speaking?
A Presidential Action has just made English the “official language” of the United States. Here is a snippet from the proclamation:
“To promote unity, cultivate a shared American culture for all citizens, ensure consistency in government operations, and create a pathway to civic engagement, it is in America’s best interest for the Federal Government to designate one — and only one — official language. Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values and create a more cohesive and efficient society.”
Regardless of how you feel about this new proclamation, it’s evident that even those of us who speak English aren’t speaking the same language. We aren’t communicating effectively. We aren’t coming from the same place. We don’t see eye to eye. There is a significant divide, and insisting that we all use the same language will not foster a “more cohesive and efficient society.” Only connection and communication can achieve that. And that is a choice we each make: are we willing to put in the effort—it’s a hefty one—to communicate with one another?
This is personal for me. Members of my English-speaking family communicate in a language I do not recognize. They might as well be speaking Chinese, Hindi, or Zulu. They have a completely different perspective on what is happening that I cannot understand. It is so different that I wonder if we truly share the same DNA. We do not share the same values. I believe we used to, but now we do not, and this has left me feeling not only confused but also hurt. This is happening all over the country. Even though we are speaking English, we are not speaking the same language; we are not a cohesive and efficient society. How could we be with this level of misunderstanding?
I recognize what I need to do. I teach connection and communication. I understand how to listen, ask questions, and engage in dialogue. The real question is: Am I willing to do this? Am I willing to invest the time? Am I willing to move closer instead of further away? Can I communicate with those who are unwilling to listen? I don’t think so. But what if they are willing? What if we can engage in dialogue? This does not mean that we have to come to any kind of agreement. It means we seek to understand each other. Honestly, I haven’t made the effort, and my attempts haven’t been grounded in sincerity and patience. I have already assumed that they are wrong, and I am right. That leaves us at an impasse with no way forward. This doesn’t feel good; it feels awful.
So, I am choosing to try, at least with those I care about. I will seek understanding. I will listen. I will engage in dialogue. I will search for shared values; there must be some. I will not try to change their minds, but I will listen for ways to connect, and this will only happen if I refuse to back away. It will only occur if I move closer. I hope I have the courage to do so.