Dallas Suburb Passes Landmark Anti-Illegal Immigration Laws

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas — This Dallas suburb became the first Texas city to pass tough anti-immigration measures, prompting fears they could lead to sanctioned discrimination and racism.

City Council members unanimously approved fines for landlords who rent to illegal immigrants, making English the city's official language and allowing local authorities to screen suspects in police custody to check their immigration status.

The church Lezlie and I have been attending for the past year recently posted a sign on their new property (which is in our neighborhood). This sign is written entirely in Spanish and I have no idea why, but it is a serious misjudgment by the leadership of the church. This inflammatory sign has put a bad taste in the mouth of those who live in this neighborhood and caused some to wonder just what kind of neighbors this church will be.

What’s the big deal you may ask? This is America! Why place a sign in the front lawn written in a foreign language, especially when there isn’t a significant Hispanic population here? Why do this when illegal immigration is such a political hot topic?

Facilitating those that do not speak English in a country that English is the primary language does nothing for unification. In fact, it is quite divisive. It enables people to live in and claim ignorance because of language barriers on so many different levels.

This isn’t really about racism or prejudice as much as it is just being able to understand each other. What purpose does it serve to use Spanish in America? Do you ever see signs or hear prompts to direct you to German, Dutch, or Russian interpretations? No, because English is the language in America. I have nothing against Hispanics or any other nationality and if I have left you thinking I do, then you have misunderstood the point of this posting. I am sick of seeing Hispanics waving American flags and hearing them declare their loyalty to the US, yet they refuse to learn our English. I especially have a problem with it if and when those same people have violated our laws to be here in the first place.

This sign has disgusted me enough that, along with other reasons, my family and I are most likely going to be looking for a new church home. I wrote a brief, pleasant, but to the point letter to the church leadership and they simply thanked me for the letter and offered no explanation. Much the same way we’ve been disregarded on other fronts.

So if you’re wondering about the sign on Mt. Zion road in Florence, Kentucky it belongs to Florence Baptist Church. I hope if you’re considering a new church home that you’ll remember this inflammatory display and keep right on looking.