You're in America, Speak English

[Redlands Saints]

Originally Posted by Cosmic201

I saw that it was available in those languages through a PDF files, which takes less then a thousand for a translator. I see no information on them spending hundreds of millions to print them up.

gee would you like me to dig through the state budget to pull you an exact number. try going into any state office and ask for a form. the school district I work for has the enrollment forms in 16 languages and we are considered a small school district. and if you think the great state of California would pay as little as $1000 for some one to translate and create those PDFs you obviously dont know crap about this state.

[Bayouman007]

crazy I feel like I saw every post after mine before it actually appeared...

[wamland]

Banging the drum for war with Iran = Check
English the official language = Check
Claiming that religion is being infringed upon = Check

Looks like it's almost election time.

[Charlie Brizzown]

You're in America, you can speak whatever language you choose.

[bozoka45]

Originally Posted by Charlie Brizzown

You're in America, you can speak whatever language you choose.

Without a doubt. But why should America be forced to speak your chosen language?

[El Caliente]

I can testify that we have every language printed up in our DMV's. Our walls are covered in at least 13 languages. I wouldnt be surprised to see us spending millions knowing how wild we are with money out here. I could sell an ice cube maker to the city of Santa Monica for $13k and find 5 government agencies willing to buy.

Learning English is a must to live here if you want to excel, and being the son of Cuban immigrants I know just how important it is to get on board with English, but seeing as how the birth rate among inner city Latins and African Americans is what is keeping the country near the 2.1 birth rate, give it a couple of decades and people will be forced to learn Spanish if they want to open themselves up to more opportunities.

[bozoka45]

The article explaining the ordinance helps in understanding the ordinance.

This is what the ordinance says: “The use of a common language removes barriers of misunderstanding and helps to unify the people of Frederick County, the state and the United States, and helps to enable the full economic and civic participation of all its citizens, regardless of national origin, creed, race or other characteristics, and thus a compelling governmental interest exists in promoting, preserving and strengthening the use of the English language.”

This is what the ordinance means: Official county documents and business will be written and conducted in English, but matters of public safety can still be conducted in other languages.

If the WP interpretation is correct, and entities such as the DMV won't change, then the ordinance does nothing but turn custom into law. Do we really want government functions such as city council proceedings, court decisions, and laws in a non-English language?

[gavinj]

England doesn't even have English established as its "official language." The idea is pretty ridiculous imo.

[redlandssaintsson]

I, for one, hate that I'm all but forced to learn Spanish to work in my chosen field, where I then get to treat people who couldn't be bothered to learn one word of English, but could steal/falsify a social security number to receive "free" (read: paid for by taxes) health care in non-emergency cases. I realize there's many white, English speaking people who do the same thing, but at least I can talk with them when I treat them on my dime.

[Charlie Brizzown]

Originally Posted by bozoka45

Without a doubt. But why should America be forced to speak your chosen language?

It shouldn't, and it's not. I'm a first generation American, never once have I ran into a situation where a public employee spoke to my parents in their native tongue.

[grunattitude]

So, no more Mardi Gras but a Fat Tuesday?

[harschman]

Originally Posted by Redlands Saints

the DMV handbook is printed in at least 9 languages including tagalog and punjabi. you can check their website if you'd like.

This one is hilarious. I've been back from the Philippines for a week, where I had spent the last 30 days. While I was there I got a Philippine DL and guess what language the application is in? That's right, English. Every word on my license is in English.

They also do the coolest thing when you apply for a license, you go next door, pay for a drug test, pee in a cup and then get the results in about 15 minutes before you can get your license.

[drob8785]

Originally Posted by Cosmic201

Speek 'merican. This is 'merica damn it.

Fixt

[drob8785]

Originally Posted by El Caliente

I can testify that we have every language printed up in our DMV's. Our walls are covered in at least 13 languages. I wouldnt be surprised to see us spending millions knowing how wild we are with money out here. I could sell an ice cube maker to the city of Santa Monica for $13k and find 5 government agencies willing to buy.

I don't mind the DMV printing things in other languages. You don't need to be a citizen to get a driver's license, only a legal resident. And you don't need to speak english to be a legal resident.

[drob8785]

Originally Posted by gavinj

England doesn't even have English established as its "official language." The idea is pretty ridiculous imo.

I used to work in the House of Commons, and much of our paperwork was duplicated in Welsh. Depending on where you are in the UK, the minority regional languages (Scots, Welsh, Cornish, etc) are often, by law, given the same status as English.