Group's stand lacks foundation in fact

As the daughter of émigré parents working as a literary editor, I object to Cornel Rasor and the Bonner County Republican Party’s intention to rename their booth at the Bonner County Fair from “fiesta” to “celebration” just because Mr. Rasor objects to the use of non-English words, and his desire to eradicate immigrants and any suggestion of foreign words from the English language.

Does Mr. Rasor intend to change the name of Lake Pend Oreille, too? Does he aspire to do away with all foreign words that have been incorporated into our rich vernacular? If so, it will severely limit his ability to communicate. If he had bothered to investigate, Mr. Rasor would have learned that the English language is saturated, infused, jam-packed with words appropriated from countless foreign languages.

And, although Shakespeare and Chaucer wrote in English, we still have a difficult time today understanding their speech clearly: Proving that language is fluid and changeable: over the years, every language transforms and appends words from technology, from culture, from medicine, from literature and art and music, and yes, Mr. Rasor, even from foreign languages and immigrants. That’s the flexible nature of language.

What would we call tomato, tortilla, rodeo, lasso or poinsettia? These words came from Latin America. What about the word, television? The French use it, as they have no word to describe this American invention. Think about America’s regional words for common items: “soda” is a soft drink in New York and New England, “pop” is the common term in the Midwest, and “soft drink” is used in other places. In New Hampshire, a “plain” coffee comes with cream and sugar. If you want black, unsweetened coffee, you must be specific in your order.  The first immigrants were all illegal. No Native American invited them, yet they kept Lewis and Clark from starving during their first winter in Idaho. We “borrowed” their words too: Kootenai, powwow, potlatch and tomahawk.

I trust that our rational, conservative-minded friends, neighbors and elected officials will not succumb to such injudicious positions as Mr. Rasor’s that have no foundation in fact or logic.

CHRISTINE HOLBERT

Sandpoint