Heritage, language are destroyed by states' English-only amendments

I would like to thank David Benton for his article on the Supreme Court's decision regarding Arizona's English-only amendment ("Land of the free and home of the brave - NOT!" Tuesday).

My family lost its native language and, with it, much of its culture due to English-only laws in Louisiana earlier this century. Children were beaten for speaking Cajun-French at school, and many families lost their lands. Three and four generations later, the point is still not moot for many Cajun families. English-only laws are not only unfair, they are state-sanctioned cruelty to the people who have to live with them day to day. I, for one, hope that sort of thing doesn't happen to anyone again. I'm saddened at the Supreme Court's inaction and wonder what it will take before it recognizes such laws as violations of rights.

By Cyndy Hammond (letter)
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 31, 1997