Language leaves justice tongue-tied

TAMPA, Fla. — He was 28. She was 11. Her parents said they gave consent, claiming cultural norms of the Guatemalan highlands. But in Dover, Florida, a little girl with a baby raises questions.

When deputies came, Teodoro Pablo-Ramirez understood only some of what they said, according to his lawyer. He speaks no English and little Spanish — just the Mayan tongue of Mam.

The indigenous language, understood by few interpreters, has stymied court cases across the country. One interpreting service in Washington resorted to recruiting a Mam speaker out of a jail lobby.

In Hillsborough Circuit Court, two cases, both too serious to dismiss, are stalled for lack of a Mam translator. In one, a 4-year-old Wimauma girl was raped. The details are locked inside her mother, who speaks only Mam. And last year, Pablo-Ramirez was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, before the judge granted a motion for retrial.

Yea, it’s all cultural. But we need to set up some rules for immigrants:

Dear Immigrants,

Welcome to the United States. We acknowledge that this is the land of opportunity, and you are here for the American Dream. However, there are a few dreams that we here in America find downright reprehensible, and if you’re idea of the American Dream includes any of these things, then perhaps you would like to return to your country of origin. A few Rules of the Road for successful living in America.

1. We eat with either the right OR the left hands, depending on which hand God made dominant. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO WE WIPE WITH THE LEFT HAND. Please use toilet paper for that.

2. Not withstanding Rule #1, when we eat, we use silverware, unless it’s fast food. Do likewise.

3. In the United States, we only have one wife at a time. Believe us, one’s plenty.

4. Slavery ended her over 150 years ago. Any variants, including child slavery, female trafficking, or child brides have no place here. They have no place in any other country, but the difference is that in the United States, we have the rule of law to end this stuff.

5. Children are gifts of God, not cheap labor. Only have as many as YOU can support. OK, so Hillary wrote “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child”, but the US Taxpayers are a bit tired of paying for so many villagers.

6. The best way to learn about the opportunities in America, learn English. It is the language of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Learn them. It’s why there is an American Dream in the first place. Ever heard of the Guatamalan Dream or the Palestinian Dream? Neither have we.

7. The best way to achieve the American Dream? Work hard and pay your taxes......Then vote for the people that will keep the taxes as low as possible.

8. We operate under the Rule of Law. Learn it and live it.

9. Despite what many politicians want you to believe, the playing field was never level. No poor person ever got rich by penalizing the rich. The poor get rich by learning from the rich and emulating them. Don’t vote for politicians that tell you otherwise.

10. There is actually one place where the level field is level. It’s called the Christian church. Yea, that’s right, the one where they worship Jesus as their Redeemer. Check it out sometimes. You may find more Hope there than in some place that offers Jihad as the answer.

Welcome to America. Please follow the rules.

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