I missed this story when it was first posted on the Friendswood (TX) Reporter News website, but earlier this year the city council rejected a move to have a referendum regarding whether English should be the official language of the city of Friendswood.
Proponents of the measure argued that the measure would increase unity and ensure that emergency officials would be able to adequately communicate with residents. But a healthy opposition was concerned that the measure would sanction "exclusion and bigotry."
The vote was 5-2.
Considering that an undercurrent of racial hostility seems a part of the immigration debate, could this vote signify that a reaction to that hostility is evolving? Or is this just Friendswood, or Texas? It was founded by Quakers, maybe this is a residue of the cities beginnings and is not likely to spread. The same point might be made about Texas. Given our history as a part of Mexico, is there a comfort level here that does not exist elsewhere?
