Language, Belonging, and the Heart of a Nation: A Call to Protect Our Shared Humanity

“Belonging is not granted by law, nor erased by decree. It lives in the voices that refuse to be silenced, in the hearts that refuse to shrink, and in the unshakable truth that every human being deserves to be seen, heard, and honored.” - Mary Coughlin

Maria’s newborn was struggling to breathe. Her voice trembled as she tried to explain in Spanish, but no interpreter was available. The nurse, kind but rushed, gestured toward a clipboard with English-only forms. In that moment, Maria was not just a mother—she was invisible.

This is not a hypothetical scenario. This is the reality we are inching toward with policies that seek to erase linguistic diversity under the guise of national unity. The recent executive order declaring English as the official language of the United States is not just about language—it is about who belongs, who is heard, and who is left behind. And now, with efforts underway to codify this order into law, we must recognize the warning signs of what comes next.

The True Cost of Erasing Language Access

There is no greater marker of human dignity than the ability to communicate—to be seen, to be heard, to be understood. In healthcare, access to communication is a matter of life and death. When language assistance is stripped away, the consequences are dire:

• Medical errors increase when patients cannot communicate symptoms or understand treatment plans.

• Health outcomes worsen as individuals avoid seeking care for fear of being dismissed or misunderstood.

• Families suffer when they cannot advocate for their loved ones in moments of crisis.

This is not just about preference; it is about safety, respect, and fundamental human rights.

Trauma-Informed Care and the Imperative of Inclusion

As clinicians, caregivers, and advocates of Trauma-Informed Developmental Care (TIDC), we know that trauma is not just about the events that happen to people—it is about the environments that fail to buffer them from harm. When language access is removed, we create a landscape of stress and exclusion, reinforcing the very cycles of trauma we seek to disrupt.

The B.U.F.F.E.R. framework reminds us that to be resilient, people must experience:

• Belonging: The assurance that they are part of the community, not an outsider to be silenced.

• Feeling Understood: The ability to communicate without fear, without shame, without barriers.

• Equanimity and Respect: A healthcare system that recognizes their inherent worth, regardless of the language they speak.

This is not just a matter of healthcare; it is a matter of justice, equity, and human connection.

The Dangerous Path Ahead

When policies like this are introduced under the language of “unity,” we must ask: Unity for whom? At what cost?

History tells us that erasing linguistic diversity is often a precursor to erasing other forms of diversity. When we decide that only one language is valid, we make way for policies that dictate whose voices deserve to be heard at all. This is not just a bureaucratic shift—it is a direct assault on the very fabric of a pluralistic, democratic society.

And now, with calls to enshrine this executive order into law, we are watching the first stones being laid on a path toward something far more dangerous. If language access is expendable today, what will be expendable tomorrow? Who will be deemed unworthy of recognition next?

A Call to Action: Protecting the Soul of a Nation

As caregivers, leaders, and citizens, we have a responsibility to stand against the silencing of voices. We must refuse to let trauma-informed care be reduced to a hollow talking point while policies that foster exclusion, fear, and harm take hold.

Here’s what we can do:

• Healthcare Providers: Continue offering interpreter services and multilingual care, regardless of federal directives. Your commitment to patient-centered care must remain unwavering.

• Community Advocates: Raise awareness about the dangers of this policy and its potential long-term impact on marginalized communities.

• Everyday Citizens: Contact your representatives. Demand that language access remains protected in healthcare, education, and public services.

Love, Belonging, and a Reimagined America

America’s strength has never been in uniformity—it has been in our ability to make space for one another, to honor each voice, and to build a future where no one is erased.

Unity is not about forcing everyone to speak the same language—it is about ensuring that every person is heard.

If we truly believe in a world that is trauma-informed, healing-centered, and just, we must act now. The time for passive hope is gone. The time for bold, compassionate resistance is here.

Language is life. Language is belonging. Language is power. And we must protect it.

We are not separate threads. We are the weaving.

Mary