Speaking American

Apparently officials in Terrebonne Parish School District in Houma, La. don't believe that being multi-linguistic is a good thing.

According to the Associated Press, school officials are considering a policy that would require all commencement speeches to be in English.

This comes after cousins Hue and Cindy Vo, co-valedictorians at Ellender High School, delivered part of their speeches in Vietnamese.

Cindy said that her one sentence in Vietnamese was directed toward her parents because they don't speak fluent English. Hue did the same.

According to the Houma Courier, Board member Rickie Pitre didn't agree with them speaking another language and is pushing to make English the only language used at graduations.

"As board members, we get to observe the different ceremonies and there’s some inconsistencies I think the board or administration more importantly needs to address," the Courier reported Pitre saying in committee.

Inconsistencies? It sounds more like Pitre has a bad case of xenophobia.

He suggested that their speeches should have been said in English and then paraphrased in other languages.

And make graduation ceremonies longer than they are already? No, thank you.

Look, this was an homage dedicated to their parents – one sentence to show gratitude to their parents. One.

And as valedictorians, they are entitled the right to do that.

Pitre took what was supposed to be their special moment and turned it into this farce of a campaign against multi-lingualism. And, he's not alone.

"I’m not trying to discriminate against any other language," Board member Roger DeHart said. "We should all know what’s being said."

Uh, I believe that their plan is the definition of discrimination and an attack on their freedom of speech. These young women weren't abusing their time in the spotlight. They didn't say anything lewd or vulgar – they were honoring their parents.

Honoring your parents – when did that turn into something wrong?