Why Judge Soloman Signed 'English First' Petition
It’s Nashville’s new parlor game, poring over the “English First” petition to see who’s signed up for xenophobia. One name that sticks out? Judge Carol Soloman. Why would the judge who presides over Nashville’s family court, hearing cases involving scores of immigrants, favor such a Charter amendment?
We asked Soloman to explain her petition signature, and here’s what she said:
“It’s my philosophy that democracy is strong and everybody ought to have the right to vote on issues that are important. A dear friend of mine asked me to sign it. I thought, well, you know, if it’s on the ballot, the people are good. We have a good city. It’ll be defeated handily.“I wouldn’t vote for it. I think it’s a terrible initiative. It’s misleading. They call it English First. They mean English Only.”
Soloman says she wouldn’t sign a second petition to hold a special election on “English First” because it would cost $350,000.
"We have higher priorities," she says. When “English First” supporters sent her a postcard to sign for the special election, she says, “I tore it up in many pieces. Our priority is not to be mean-spirited. Our priority is to have a good community.”
Comments
Special elections are a bit like putting a fur coat on a seal: may look good to somebody, but not hardly necessary.
Posted 10/02/2008 at 12:27:56 PMHopefully, one day this TN "elected Judge," and other officials will begin to read the law and cease governing by personal opinion and wasting voter time and resources with parlor games.
English only is already TN State law.
From the Tennessee Code Annoted:
Posted 10/02/2008 at 01:02:40 PM4-1-404. English — Official and legal language. —
English is hereby established as the official and legal language of Tennessee. All communications and publications, including ballots, produced by governmental entities in Tennessee shall be in English, and instruction in the public schools and colleges of Tennessee shall be conducted in English unless the nature of the course would require otherwise.
[Acts 1984, ch. 821, § 1.]