The hatred and bigotry so vividly captured in this movie set in 1970s San Francisco (starring Sean Penn as Harvey) reminded me of the sentiments behind the proposed English-only city charter amendment, which would limit all government communications and publications to English unless Metro Council makes a specific exemption.

During the same week that our nation will take the historic step of inaugurating its first African-American president, this city faces a major step backward if this amendment passes — one that wouldn't be treated kindly by historians or future moviemakers.

History hasn't always been good to Nashville, especially in the area of civil rights, where the city is plagued by the embarrassing and painful recollections in books, documentaries and libraries of the mistreatment of people of color. The hatred on the white faces captured in black and white by photographers remains unsettling and unforgettable four decades later.

Of course, this bad reputation wasn't just left behind in history books. Visitors who drive to Music City via Interstate 65 North are greeted by a hideous statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest, who was named the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan — during a convention in Nashville. He was also the Confederate commander at Fort Pillow, where his soldiers allegedly shot and killed surrendering soldiers, the majority of whom were men of color. (Modern consensus among Civil War historians is that a massacre did occur, but his responsibility remains unclear.)

Let's not forget Nashville's current association with the racially offensive parody "Barack the Magic Negro," sent out as a Christmas gift by local resident Chip Saltsman, who aspires to be the national head of the Republican National Committee. During a time when the nation seeks healing and unity, Nashville is associated with divisiveness, and will be again if this amendment passes.

If this happens, we'll gain more national press, and it won't be flattering. (Sunday's New York Times had a big story about this issue.) Is this how we want to be portrayed on the nightly news now and in movies 30 years from now? This small-mindedness and rigidity will look just as horrible as the racist and homophobic attitudes reflected in movies like Milk and Remember the Titans.

Southern cities, including Nashville, have the national reputation of being small-minded and combative toward change, of being communities where women and minorities are supposed to know their places. In this new century, it's time to change that. We've got to face the fact that this country, this state and this city are changing, and stop leaning backward to the whites-only ideal to which too many still cling.

Experts already have explained the dangers this unconstitutional amendment pose to the city's economic and business climates. My position is much more basic: Hate and discrimination are never right — not now, not 50 years ago and not 50 years from now. You will find no kindness at the heart of this movement; indeed, it would make it as difficult as possible for immigrants who have moved here in search for a better life. Instead of a helping hand, this is a push down.

During a recent visit to the Nashville Rescue Mission, I was reminded of Matthew 25:40, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Jesus didn't speak English, so is this the spirit in which Christians would choose to greet him?

The movement's leader has determined that he knows what is best for immigrants — this amendment will help them by forcing them to learn English, he says — in the same manner that racists proclaimed that segregation was in the best interests of African-Americans. As we admire the achievements of Barack Obama, Tiger Woods, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, Halle Berry, Derek Jeter, Alicia Keys and so many more biracial and multiracial leaders, we can almost — almost — laugh at the ridiculousness of those who fought to keep the races from intermingling. History gives us that 20/20 hindsight.

We know better than this; we are better than this. The English-only movement is appealing to the worst fears and frustration over the nation's immigration problem. After eight years of fear tactics in the White House, surely we've learned to put the rhetoric aside, focus on the facts and vote with both our brains and hearts.

You have the chance to help write the script to the new Nashville movie. Will your character embody the spirit of the civil rights foes who viciously attacked those fighting for equality? Will you decide not to vote and be cast as one who stood idly by and did nothing? Will history remember you as a hero or villain? Only you have the power to write your own part in this movie.