In the recent midterm elections, Oklahoma passed a gutsy initiative that made English the official language of the state. With the passage of the bill, all state matters and actions would be conducted solely in English, thus alienating all non-English speakers. However, composed of individuals with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, the United States is doused in diversity and multiculturalism. Despite the persona we have adopted as a melting pot for different cultures, the message being sent to non-English speakers with this bill is clearly one of exclusion and intolerance. Instead of passing this bill, Oklahoma, as well as the other 26 states that have adopted English-only statutes should have opted to install programs to help educate their non-English speaking populations to help them learn the language.

The passage of the Oklahoma bill can be expanded to the much broader issue of the English-only movement, an organized political movement supporting the imposition of English as the official language of the country or a state.

As it has come to be known, the English-Only movement has drawn criticism for its motives in promoting the establishment of a single language.

Supporters of the movement argue that with the continued influx of immigrants, English will be threatened. However, Ruben Rumbaut, a sociology professor at University of California, Irvine, co-authored a study that shows Spanish, Chinese and Russian are the languages that are fighting to survive.

Although some proponents believe that the prominence of English is waning with the large number of immigrations the country has had over the years, others take the stance that it will be a unifying agent for the country or for individual states. Far from bringing Americans together, though, the movement encourages language intolerance.

Considering the fact that the second-most prevalent language spoken in the United States behind English is Spanish, as reported by the most recent census, Hispanics would be the ones most affected by this bill and the movement in general.

According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, fewer than one in four Hispanics in the United States is able to speak English well. The main issue with the English-only movement and, in accordance, with the passage of this bill in Oklahoma, is the elimination of essential services to those who don't speak English. Without the ability to even take Oklahoma's driver's test in another language, these individuals are going to be significantly disadvantaged. According to proponents of the bill, one of the benefits of the initiative is to reduce the costs of having to print government materials in multiple languages and versions.

Although Representative Randy Terrill of Oklahoma has considered the costs and burdens of producing several versions of government documents, he has yet to provide a solution for the disconnected non-English speakers. The message reiterated here is one of exclusion and apathy: The Oklahoma government is failing an entire population by passing this bill. However, if Oklahoma's government is reducing costs by not printing extra versions of documents, then the unused money can be utilized to send non-English speakers to programs that teach them how to read, write and speak English.

For states that have yet to approve English-only initiatives, rather than imposing a language on immigrants, state legislatures should pass bills to fund programs that help children and adults learn English, thus eliminating the need for additional material in other languages.

Local programs such as English Language Learners and English as a Second Language are institutions that educate non-English speakers. If citizens are unable to afford these programs, it's the Oklahoma state government's responsibility to compensate every non-English speaker, having passed this bill and deprived an entire group of citizens to the benefits available to every American.

A recent study conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center found that 92 percent of Hispanics believe that teaching immigrant children English is extremely important. A corresponding Pew survey found that many nations showed almost unanimous agreement on the importance of learning English. Considering that English is the key to economic success and social mobility in this country, non-English speakers are at a glaring disadvantage in being unable to compete with native speakers.

I understand this isn't an easy argument to win. People can argue that we live in America, so everyone should learn how to speak English. Individuals are certainly free to return to their lands of origin if they choose to not learn English, which would make their lives here infinitely more difficult.

However, is this the attitude we want to assume? Is this the message we want to send to a body of our citizens one of silent indifference and resolute intolerance?

If we consider ourselves a "melting pot" and a country that prides itself on diversity and cultural sensitivity, then we should be willing to take the steps necessary to live up to the responsibilities accompanying this label.