| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
As Arizona's new immigration law has sparked criticism that it would target illegal and legal immigrants alike, one Alabama candidate for governor is betting he can win votes by bringing immigration-related issues to the forefront in his own state. Republican Tim James last week released an ad calling into question the state's practice of printing driver's license exams in 12 different languages. "This is Alabama," James says. "We speak English. If you want to live here, learn it. We're only giving that test in English if I'm governor. Maybe it's the business man in me, but we'll save money. And it make sense." -From CBS News | ||
| Patches |
""This is Alabama," James says. "We speak English. If you want to live here, learn it. We're only giving that test in English if I'm governor. Maybe it's the business man in me, but we'll save money. And it make sense."" Tim James for President!  | ||
| Hootowl |
If you're a legal immigrant, and you just moved here, and you don't speak English yet, what are you supposed to do? I think this is a bad idea. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
learn it like all our ancestors did before us. i totally agree though, political correctness has warn out it's welcome. of course you could be englands prime minister brown right now with that comment he made about the woman concerned about the immigrants. (Message edited by nevrenuf on April 28, 2010) | ||
| Patches |
"If you're a legal immigrant" You don't have nothing to worry about. | ||
| Drkside79 |
It's not only a bad idea its ridiculous Tim James is a jackass. That piece to parchment from the late 1700's gives people the right to speak whatever they want. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
OK,so you get a drivers license because the test is available in Spanish............but how do you navigate when all the road/traffic signs are in English? ? ? ? | ||
| Guell |
Why dont we just charge extra for people to take the test in different languages? Seems like we could actually be making more money off this. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Ok...so someone "fresh off the boat" so to speak doesn't speak english....ok, fine...they need to start learning the instant they step on american soil...visitors and tourists...fine...they have to cope....I've been to europe and did not EXPECT everyone to speak my language...I practiced a few relevant phrases and words before I went... If you want to live here...learn the language.....if I moved to a foreign country, I would learn the language first...wait i have been to a foreign country....Miami... | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
Patches, learn English or get out.  Double negatives are not proper English. But anyway if anyone has their "P.C." panties are in a bunch then take a different perspective. If you were going to move to France (permanently, not just visiting) wouldn't you learn French? Hell for that matter wouldn't you learn Spanish if you decide to become a Mexican citizen? Would you you be so upset if they wanted you to speak to them in their language when in their country? If you're visiting, fine just learn a few common phrases. However, if you're going to be living in a country then you really should either speak or be in the process of learning the official or common language. Also check out all the insensitive countries with official languages. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_official_lang uages | ||
| Buellkowski |
English has been the official language of Alabama since 1990. If they're still offering drivers license exams in other languages today, no one's forcing them to do it. I'll bet the revenues generated by issuing more drivers licenses to folks who pay state taxes buying cars, gas, and parts and driving to their jobs so they can pay state income tax more than outweighs the cost of publishing the exams in additional languages. I think Crusty's right: this guy is baiting for the election. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
If you're a legal immigrant, and you just moved here, and you don't speak English yet, what are you supposed to do? I think this is a bad idea. I'm sure the 16 legal immigrants to Alabama will cope with the inconvenience. | ||
| Sifo |
If you're a legal immigrant, and you just moved here, and you don't speak English yet, what are you supposed to do? I think this is a bad idea.
Seems he anticipated that question in his remarks. | ||
| J2blue |
The right to free speech guaranteed in the constitution has nothing to do with requiring the government to only conduct business in a single official language. You can speak pig latin because you are free to do so, but don't demand that the government hire interpreters to rewrite documents just for your convenience. Within certain ranks of government bodies, local to federal, there may be specific needs for multi-lingual communication, but they would be the exception rather than the rule. Obviously, the federal immigration office would be one such entity. However, a state driver license program shouldn't be! The right to drive is not guaranteed in the constitution, hence the reason why people are LICENSED to drive. It is a privilege. And if you are in this country legally(or not) but still wet around the ears and speaking Polachinesian but not English then taking English classes should be one of the first things you do to prepare your self to be a fully participating American Citizen. And if you are on vacation, I still say you should have to pass a drivers license test in English before you can drive any vehicles on our roads. I really don't care how they do it in Europe! | ||
| Firebolt32 |
I'll stay out of this one.... | ||
| Patches |
what is next? Ebonics? Ebonics remained a little-known and little-remarked term until 1996; it does not appear in the second edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, published in 1989, over a decade after the word was coined, and it was not used by linguists. In 1996, the term became widely known in the U.S. owing to a controversy over a decision by the Oakland School Board to denote and recognize the primary language (or sociolect or ethnolect) of African American children attending school, and thereby to facilitate the teaching of standard English. Thereafter, the term Ebonics became popularized, though as little more than a synonym for African American Vernacular English, perhaps differing in the emphasis on its claimed African roots and independence from English. The term is linked with the nationally discussed controversy over the decision by the Oakland School Board, and is avoided by most linguists. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Ebonics, the linguistic equivalent of Kwanzaa. | ||
| Bobbuell1961 |
I already sent for my tapes to learn Chinese, they are going to own us(or maybe do) soon  | ||
| Oddball |
Don't mess with the Kwanzaa-bot.  This string will incite passions. Would likely only be a fruitful discussion in a direct live talk. Blake will have to send in the hypno-toad eventually.   | ||
| Aesquire |
It was, and is a great disservice to children to teach them a dialect that will make sure they are second class subjects. While here in the U.S. our speech does not mark us quite as much as it does in the U.K., it still is a part of the impression people have of you. And the only impression over the phone. A rational person would think that teaching Ebonics in school, as a "bridge" to "real" American English is a deliberate attempt to keep those children enslaved by class. I have no reason to believe otherwise. We all know what road is paved by good intentions. I'll make only a passing sneer at the "self esteem" mythology and it's shackles on our children's minds, and note that in the Rochester School District the "self esteem czar" "earns" $126k. Sarcasm fails me. While I understand the urge to react to the millions of criminal trespassers who have moved here to find better lives, a language law is as insane as the existing madness of requiring the holy state to have a translator for every tongue on the planet. Honestly, there are dialects that have the majority of their living speakers here, and not the native land. That is a sort of praise for our nation that some would not understand. The irony may drown out the honor of the desirability of..... here. You'd be surprised where some fine people who live in Alabama come from. Hint, if it's a hell of war and murder, some people from there have been lucky enough to escape, to here. The facts that illegal's take jobs Americans won't do....for less than minimum wage, that after Oil, money sent from Mexicans here is the second largest source of wealth in Mexico, that drug smugglers both smuggle and exploit people, that evil people exploit illegals, that illegals are a major drain on our health system, schools, and law enforcement, Does not mean that we should try to ban the second most popular language in this hemisphere. Don't let anyone make you hate without reason. ( I usually blame leftists for that tactic, but they did not originate it nor are they alone in it's use.) Oh, and if you can't read this....learn the language dummkopf. ( they'll only know I insulted them if you tell them )  | ||
| Drkside79 |
Some of you are quite the Hypocrites. You rant about the constitution until it doesn't suit you than poof its ignored. WE HAVE NO NATIONAL LANGUAGE SO THEREFORE YOU/THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO FORCE OTHERS TO SPEAK ENGLISH. | ||
| Paw |
I agree 100%...If they can't read the test how in Gods name will the be able to read the street signs...It won't be long they will be bitching they can't read the street signs and will want one in their language next to the English sign...Get real speak and learn to read English or get the F out!!! I think I'm moving to Alabama. (Message edited by paw on April 28, 2010) | ||
| Hex |
http://www.secedefromtheunion.com/ | ||
| Reindog |
Drkside79, Once again, you act from emotion and not logic all the while being disrespectful to people you disagree with. You are correct that there is currently no national language as that would require a Constitutional amendment. At the same time, there is no requirement for businesses, governments, and individuals to not use English for communication. Immigrants to this country have historically learned English as one of their highest priorities as this gave them pride in their newly adopted country. This attitude is slowly eroding away with the Democrats desire to Balkanize people into controllable groups. You can read about what happens when people can no longer speak the same language. It is the story of the Tower of Babel in the Bible. We are headed down that road, amigo. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
WE HAVE NO NATIONAL LANGUAGE SO THEREFORE YOU/THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO FORCE OTHERS TO SPEAK ENGLISH No, but we don't have to pay money in order to facilitate the refusal of "others" to learn to speak english. Come to the country legally but refuse to learn english? No driver's license. No employment. I wouldn't expect the French to provide everything in English for me. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
The local paper publishes traffic violations. Guess what nationality the names appear to be? Hint,it's not John,Bob or Fred. Nope, I don't see a problem........... | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Heres my idea of Amnesty. If you are here illegally, you have 90 days to leave of your own will. After which you will be subject to incarceration, deportation, asset forfeiture, fines, and taxation.... I figure if they want to shove it down our throats in a true EEOC manner the illegals should get to participate in the HOPE and CHANGE too. | ||
| Slowride |
I have a friend that was born and raised in Mexico City. He is a very learned man, an Internal Medicine Dr. An avid shooter and a Corvette guru. During one of our weekend tactical shooting practices we had a discussion about Mexican immigrants coming to the states illegally. He gave us a history lesson on the Spanish influence on Mexico and the taming of the natives. He spoke of a class distinction between the Spanish decendents and the natives. His family goes way way back and is a direct line from Spain. He spoke about how Mexico saw illegal immigration as a pest control operation, since the natives were nothing more than rats and contributed nothing to the prosperity of Mexico. Needless to say I sat in disbelief as he was speaking. Oh yeah, he also mentioned a long term plan by the Mexican Governent to force the natives out of the country so they, the Spanish decendents could transform the country into a more prosperous and civilized culture. Hmm, I know I have heard or read about this somewhere else recently. (Message edited by slowride on April 28, 2010) | ||
| Paw |
Anyone who disagrees. This is just a thought. Lets say the USPS has hired a lot of legal aliens who can't read English to drive their mail vehicles. They send you a notice that you have to put your name on your mail box in their language...would you do it or would you demand they learn your name in English? This would also cause. street signs to be added or changed to their language. Would you want 2, 4, 6 or even 12 street signs on your corner so they could find your street. Your house number might need updated as well because sometimes they have a package that will not fit in the box. Not every language uses digits for their numbers. Would you want several different types of numbers on you box and house? We could go on and on about even more changes but I have better things to do. You know something maybe BadWeb will need to add postings so they can read what is typed on here. OK I made my point...Peace and have a wonderful day. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Los Angeles City now wants to boycott Arizona businesses because of the 'new' law. I think I am going to send the governer of Az a donation to show my support, and in return boycott anything from LA. and including HollyWood. If you are an illegal immigrant; there is not protection for your 'civil rights' under the 4th Amendment for search and seizure because....wait for it.... you aint a citizen and are not afforded the protections of the letter of that law. Its the same terrorist bullzhiate again. Spies, Terrorists, Subversives are not Enemy Combatants and are not afforded any protection under the Geneva Convention; in fact in black and white clear text it gives you the authority to execute them where you find them. Did I just equate terrorist to illegal immegrants ?!?! somebody alert the media; its racist. |
