AT STAKE: ENGLISH — AS A PRIMARY LANGUAGE ($20 million for school document translation)

NY POST ^ | 1/28/06 | EDITORIALS

[Liz]

**** I thought school was where we were supposed to learn English. Joseph DePascale Brooklyn

**** I can't believe the dumb moves the Department of Education is making in the name of political correctness....... If you want your children to speak nothing but Spanish and whine that you can't get a job because you can't speak English, I have no sympathy for you. If I were to move to Mexico, you can bet the first thing I would learn would be the language and not expect Mexicans to speak English. Thomas Latina Winsted, Conn.

**** Talk about wasting taxpayer money. Councilmen David Yassky and Hiram Monserrate have not demonstrated that children whose parents only speak Korean, Russian, Chinese, Arabic or some other foreign language are failing at school because of a document-translation deficiency......The city is wasting money so politicians can make a name for themselves, albeit negatively...... Elio Valenti Brooklyn

**** As a bilingual social worker in a NYC public school, I protest the City Council's plan to translate school-related documents..... The schools already translate many documents for parents. In addition, a bilingual staff is available to help parents.....non-English-speaking parents are able to get jobs, apply for welfare, make airline reservations and obtain apartments, they are clearly able to function in NY City. Kate Kane Centerport

[RLM]

"If I were to move to Mexico, you can bet the first thing I would learn would be the language and not expect Mexicans to speak English."
And, if you move to my hometown of Palmdale, CA, you'll want to do the same so you can conduct business and order lunch at a fast food restaurant.

[MillerCreek]

Moral Absolutes Ping List.

DISCUSSION ABOUT: "At Stake: English As a Primary Language (and $20M For School Document Translation)"

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To be included in or removed from the MORAL ABSOLUTES PINGLIST, please FreepMail either MillerCreek or wagglebee.

[Sangey]

It is very important for American to learn ENGLISH. I am American American, not Asian American. When I first came to the USA they did not have all of these special things for non-ENGLISH speakers. It was the best thing for me and it is good now it forced me to learn ENGLISH. Learning ENGLISH is a powerful help to people who want to become Americans.

I know that my ENGLISH still needs work but I am able to communicate in written and spoken ENGLISH and more I am still working to improve my ENGLISH at the community college. I made sure that my children learned ENGLISH at school. (he also learned ENGLISH from the talk radio shows like RUSH. I made sure that my son learned ENGLISH because it makes a better education possible. My son is now going to college and he needs no help to understand. He helped me to learn to use the computer because he was able to learn computers because he learned ENGLISH at the public school. It is better to learn ENGLISH because that puts me on an even level with other Americans.

Who wants to hire someone that they cannot communicate with?

Another reason for all of us who come here and love this country and become Americans is that we all have a common language we can talk to each other.

Bi-lingual Education places children in a permanent sub-class because they will become communication impaired adults who cannot get a better education and the better jobs. This bi-lingual education movement is a means to keep many people out of the main stream of America and to keep them as a permanent under class that will not become a true part of America. Not learning ENGLISH makes people not completely American (Indian American, Mexican American, etc, not American American)

From the very first immigrants up to now, successful immigration depends on LEARNING ENGLISH!!
We all learned ENGLISH to become Americans and now they are bringing in a whole new generation that we cannot communicate to because they have made it easy for them to not learn ENGLISH.

I write ENGLISH in capitol letters on purpose because it is that important!!!

To not learn ENGLISH and not become American is like saying that you are only coming here for yourself and to take from America without giving.

If you come here, learn ENGLISH and become American.
If you do not come here to become American, then you are a tourist.

Buddha Bless the USA

[jiggyboy]

I've lived in San Jose for 15 years and have never, not once, seen a Mexican pull out a phrase book to try to communicate.

[Dane]

Most non-English parents want their children to be taught and immersed in English. Guess who doesn't, that's right the teachers unions.

[Bigoleelephant]

Great post! I wish more people thought like you.

[Nea Wood]

Your English is excellent, a lot better than some people who were born here!

[Vaduz]

Do business with people who speak english only that way you know the job will be done right.

[sportutegrl]

I went to Cancun last year for vacation at one of those mega all inclusive hotel/resorts. There was a row of front desk clerks, all professional looking. There was a German couple in line in front of us that the desk clerk spoke perfect German to while she checked them in. When we stepped up to check in she switched to perfect English. It was such a flawless transition. If they can speak English in Cancun, why do they not learn English before they come here?

[hispanarepublicana]

What resort was it and what's your review? (We're big into all inclusives, but not the ones for the college-aged crowd and not the ones with topless beaches for swingers; conversely, I also don't like the ones with lots of 5 and 6 year olds running around, crowding the swim-up bar).

[Sangey]

They do not want to be Americans. They are just illegal tourists and should go home.

When you see those who leave Mexico come here legally learn English and earn citizenship and work and pay taxes and serve in the military they are not mexicans any longer. They are AMERICANS.

There are a lot of NRI who want only to come here and work here and make money and be safe and take from America. I see them all of the time. They are not Americans. I am American I live came here to stay here. I learned English. I will not leave because of elections like the actors. I pay taxes I served in the Army I went to war. I am proud American citizen. I am not 'something else'-American. I am American American.

There are a lot of us here from India, China, Mexico, many countries.

Every country has people who come here and leave their old country behind and become Americans. They take the responsibilities as well the benefits.

We need more of them and less of the illegal immigrants and those who will not be Americans.
Buddha Bless the USA

[Loud Mime]

Legislation addresses this: HR 997 It would make English the official language of the US and has 144 cosponsors, yet is bottled up in committee.

You can get more info at thomas or at my website, www.thotline.com

[RLM]

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. You are the kind of immigrant American citizen that I would be proud and pleased to count among my friends and neighbors. Although Buddha is not the name of my God, I respect and will defend your belief as I'm sure you would mine. That's what being an American is all about.

[MillerCreek]

And God Bless you, too! America seems to have, is what's also important. Glad you are among us.

[sportutegrl]

Actually it was in the Rivera Maya area. Iberostar Palacio del Mar I think was the name. It was a resort that allowed children.

[MillerCreek]

I share in your experience. Not only do they not engage a phrase book or translation pilot, they immediately change the car radio to Spanish music and start yelling at one another in Spanish whenever the "Anglo Saxon" is among them or even walking a block away.

[MillerCreek]

Thanks very much!

[BlessedBeGod]

Thank you for coming to America. We're very glad you're here!

[upchuck]

Teddy Roosevelt said it best [emphasis mine]:

... if the [legal] immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American ... There can be no divided allegiances here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag,... we have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.