Posted on 05/18/2006 8:49:28 AM PDT by poisonivy27
The subway system serving the nation’s capital had a different look and feel yesterday, featuring fare signs and announcements in Spanish to assist with an influx of illegal-immigrant supporters who were lobbying lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Throughout the day, audible announcements that are piped through Metro’s system came through in both English and Spanish. At station entrances, Spanish-language signs explained the cost of a ride. Metro also boosted the presence of Spanish-speaking employees at stations.
The efforts came in response to the April 10 protests in Washington, which drew tens of thousands of illegal immigrants to the National Mall. Operators of the transit system were able to manage the large crowds of people taking the train that day, but this time around they wanted to make sure Spanish-speaking riders were able to understand instructions and fare information.
Joanne Ferreira, who works in Metro’s communications office, helped coordinate Metro’s response to yesterday’s activities. She speaks fluent Spanish and communicates with the Hispanic media on behalf of Metro.
“Little by little, we’re trying to use every resource that we have to not only get the information out in English, but also Spanish,” Ferreira said. “Yesterday, because of the rally, we put everything out there.”
Yesterday’s turnout—about 2,000, according to estimates—was significantly smaller then the April 10 rally. In fact, Ferreira said, it caused little strain on the system.
“For yesterday’s rally, we wanted to make sure customers didn’t have any problems getting their fare cards,” she said. “We tried to put Spanish-speaking employees in the system, but we were expecting a much bigger crowd like we had in April. We don’t have a lot of Spanish-speaking employees who could be out there helping the masses of people who are coming into the stations, so that’s why wanted to put the paper signs there to help get the information out.”
Ferreira said the money for the paper signs came from Metro’s budget for special events. She said there has been some talk of making Spanish-language signs a permanent fixture on Metro, but no decisions have been made about such a plan.
In preparation for the invasion I've gotten out my old spanish book and am practicing so that I'll be able to talk with the prisoners {or captors, depending on who wins}.
Let's put on our white sheets and go tear these signs down.
Actually, this does not bother me. The WMATA is a public-private partnership and is operated to make a profit. Their duty is to their customers and shareholders. Flame away.
"back in the 1920-1960 era, where Cajun children, for example, were forcibly educated in English against the wishes of their parents."
I'm a Louisiana native. We were forced to learn French. That was changed in the '70's.
It's interesting that this is occurring in the face of new debate in Congress focused on making ENGLISH the national language of the US.
The debate would be gathering dust by now had the Senate addressed a bill introduced by CA senator S.I Hayakawa in the 70s to make English our national language. At the time, they virtually laughed him off of the senate floor.
Who's laughing now?
Exactly. I live in the Wash metro area. The ATMs, self-checkouts in grocery stores, automatic answering for municipal services, DMV, etc. all have Spanish language options. The signs in public parks and musuems are in Spanish and English.
Signs aren't free. That's the big deal.
Nothing is stoping foreign-language groups from printing up and distributing materials in their own language on using the Metrorail system, or any other mass-transit system.
"We don't go to other countries and demand that they change everything into English for us"
That's because they pretty much already have.
Same in parts of Texas.
It's fear.
Yeah, well the reality is we have a lot of Spanish-speaking people and we have signs in English and Spanish. Nothing is about to change.
You hit the nail on the head! This is all about fear.
That's a rather arrogant way of putting it, don't you think?
Last I checked, the United States consisted of a representative government, in which "We, the People" had some say in how our Federal tax dollars are spent. And I, for one, am tired of paying double and triple the cost as required to print signs and materials for people who refuse to assimilate into our culture!
Shutting the American people out of the decision-making process, by insisting that "Nothing is about to change," is not going to win any friends in this debate. And that type of strong-armed politics will ultimately hurt your position far faster than you'd ever imagine.
Regards,
~dt~
"We, the People" had some say in how our Federal tax dollars are spent."
LOL - no one asked me if I wanted my tax dollars going to AIDS patients in Africa. Do you really believe we have a say in how our tax dollars are spent?
It's the difference between teaching someone to fish and giving someone a fish. This "spoonfeeding" that society is now doing for the non-English-speaking isn't conducive to assimilation and succeeding in an English-dominated business world.
When given the option, human nature will revert to the easy way out. For example, I visited a foreign country last year. The language there is one I don't speak. I prepared myself by trying to learn a little of the language and carrying a pocket travelers' language book. Did I bother to use it when I found many signs there in English AND the language there? No. Did I bother to learn key phrases when I found that they were available in English? No.
But that's okay, since I was just there as a VISITOR. I didn't plan on staying. If I had planned on staying, it would have been in my interest and would have been a show of courtesy and respect to my new residence for me to learn the country's traditional language.
A friend of mine who works a retail counter was SCREAMED at and obviously BERATED by a man who went to the counter to ask questions in Spanish, and since she doesn't speak it, he became very angry and was very ugly to her. That is neither a show of courtesy or respect.
In the TOURIST places, yes. As a matter of course EVERYWHERE YOU GO, no. But the signs are there as a courtesy for TOURISTS. Not because some special-interest group looking out for new residents who refuse to assimilate is DEMANDING them.
Just jumping the turnstiles that American subway riders won't jump.
I doubt they are refusing to assimilate. It just takes some time to learn another language.
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