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AALARD
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Town makes English its official language
HOMER, Ill., A community in the Chicago area has approved a resolution making English its official language and endorsing Arizona's new immigration law.
Members of the local government in Homer, a township of 30,000 people northwest of Chicago, say the measure that passed this week is not racist or aimed at immigrants from any particular part of the world, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.
"We want the people who come to this country to become official U.S. citizens and to learn to speak English," said Township Clerk Steve Balich, who wrote the resolution. "It's really as simple as that."
Illegal immigration is not a major problem in Homer, and the township government is more ceremonial than functional. Balich and Township Trustee Vicki Bozen admitted that as far as they know no one has ever asked for a municipal document written in a language other than English.
But they hope the council's action will be one of many contributing to a national discussion.
"We would love this issue to explode throughout the nation," Bozen said.
HOMER, Ill., A community in the Chicago area has approved a resolution making English its official language and endorsing Arizona's new immigration law.
Members of the local government in Homer, a township of 30,000 people northwest of Chicago, say the measure that passed this week is not racist or aimed at immigrants from any particular part of the world, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.
"We want the people who come to this country to become official U.S. citizens and to learn to speak English," said Township Clerk Steve Balich, who wrote the resolution. "It's really as simple as that."
Illegal immigration is not a major problem in Homer, and the township government is more ceremonial than functional. Balich and Township Trustee Vicki Bozen admitted that as far as they know no one has ever asked for a municipal document written in a language other than English.
But they hope the council's action will be one of many contributing to a national discussion.
"We would love this issue to explode throughout the nation," Bozen said.