Once again, an English-only bill has been approved for debate in the Iowa House.

The new bill would require that state and local government documents be printed in English and government proceedings be conducted in English, with certain exceptions.

Communications needed to promote public health and safety would not fall under the blanket of this bill. Furthermore, the teaching of foreign languages and documents needed to protect defendants’ rights in court would also be exempt from this legislation.

So with the exceptions outweighing the inclusions, there’s a question to be asked: What’s the use? The need for an English-only bill is a ludicrous idea at best.

In an age where diversity struggles every day as an important and unavoidable issue, legislation of this nature limits, rather than embraces, the ideologies and opportunities other cultures have to offer.

Let’s face the facts: Iowa is becoming a diverse state made up of a number of ethnic backgrounds and now has the opportunity to open itself to a new swell of diversity.

The Hispanic population is growing in Iowa and is currently the largest represented minority within the state with about 82,473 (2.8 percent) members, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

If a bill of this nature is passed, it will send a strong message to the nation that immigrants are not welcome in Iowa. Debunking the popular slogan, “Iowa, a state of mind” and perhaps replacing it with, “Iowa, a state of the closed-minded.”

A recent poll taken by The Des Moines Register has reinforced this notion of closed-mindedness. In December, the Register’s results showed that 81 percent of 826 Iowans wanted English adopted as the state’s official language.

Note to the public: English is already the recognized language of communication and commerce in the state of Iowa and, quite frankly, is in no danger of being taken over or replaced by another language. There aren’t Spanish-speakers flooding the Capitol begging for Spanish to be put on an equal plane with English.

It just won’t happen.

Non-native speakers of English have historically shown a strong desire to learn English to help ensure success in Iowa communities. And the idea that immigrants would choose not to learn the local language is about as ridiculous as if an American chose to relocate to Mexico expecting to survive without learning Spanish.

For those who come to the conclusion that English skills will be necessary to succeed in America, fine. They will learn English. Others may not do so. And why should the government say otherwise?

The only thing this bill will accomplish is a large waste of time, money and resources. And it doesn’t make our state look particularly welcoming, either.

editorialboard: Andrea Hauser, Tim Paluch, Michelle Kann, Charlie Weaver, Omar Tesdell