`English Only' bill attacked at rally in Oklahoma City

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A bill making English the state's official language was decried at a Capitol rally Monday as sending the wrong message to Oklahomans. <br><br>About 50 people, including members

Tuesday, March 4th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A bill making English the state's official language was decried at a Capitol rally Monday as sending the wrong message to Oklahomans.

About 50 people, including members of Hispanic and Indian groups, gathered on the Capitol's south steps to criticize a bill by Rep. Ron Kirby, D-Lawton.

``People don't appreciate that the government is distancing them,'' said Alice Anderton, executive director of the Intertribal Wordpath Society.

She said it was a divisive proposal that is aimed at keeping people from celebrating their heritage. ``I think the symbolism is very ugly,'' she said.

Anderton said the fact that the measure specifically exempts Indian languages is a political ploy.

``If this movement is successful, the next step is to ban all types of languages,'' she said.

Kirby defended his bill and said he did not get the point of the rally or the opposition to the proposal.

He said it only required that official state documents be printed exclusively in English.

``To me, this just makes good sense to have your official documents in one language only,'' he said.

The bill currently is on the House calendar and is expected to be considered on the floor next week.