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.
"to achieve such an understanding of English and such a knowledge and understanding of the history and government of the United States."
Good thing that isn't necessary to graduate from high school in the US!
How exactly is teaching in Spanish accomplishing teaching them English?
I said learning English benefits them. Are you saying learning English doesn't benefit them?
They have separate classes to learn English. In the meantime, they are taught in Spanish. I'm sure it isn't easy for them and probably leads to a lot of them dropping out. You think it's easy to learn English as a second language? I don't think it is.
It was a joke. And most high school graduates aren't too proficient in US government.
I understand that much of the problem with our immigration system stems from problems in the way our government handles it. I also understand that immigration is not the only area where vast numbers of people believe we can just blithely ignore the law. I do NOT think, however, that either of those points justifies telling Americans that they have no say in the matter.
I am not the only American who is frustrated at not being able to order things in English. I am not the only American who is upset at people being allowed to drive on our roads illegallypeople who have more rights than I do, as I would be incarcerated for driving without a license.
You're not the only person here with a grievance, my friend. I sympathize with your getting hammered on these threads, but this is definitely an issue which affects quite a few of us. The feeling of being invaded by a people who don't wish to become Americans (by culture and language) is a very powerful oneand it's a feeling that's very difficult to argue in an orderly fashion. :)
If you ever feel like hammering back on me to get some stress out, just keep an eye open for the next Periodic Confederate Thread! I'd be happy to oblige my turn as a whipping post.
Warmest regards,
~dt~
When I walk into my local Wal-Mart, I can go for an hour without hearing one word of English. Rather, I hear nothing but Spanish in every direction.
I don't think that's illustrative of a people who are "willing" to learn English, frankly. It may not be this way wherever you're at, but I can promise you that the suburbs of Washington, DC feel like Mexico City.
I rather liked the road signs in Ireland. Gaelic, English, French, German. (LINKS FAREN!)
Of course with Spanish an official New Mexico language since statehood, many of the signs are in Spanish and English. (The metric didn't last too long.)
Those signs should read, " Learn English, you Illegal Alien!"
And unlike immigrants from OTHER non-English speaking countries, these classes are paid for by local taxpayers. Is it fair to Russians, Asians, Bulgarians, Greeks, and Swedes who come here to have to spend their own money to learn English, in addition to paying for other people as well? Is it "fair" for us to bend over backwards at every level to accomodate people who cut in line to get here without following any of the processes that these other groups have been forced to go through? I THINK NOT.
If they want to learn English, that's extremely admirable, and I support it wholeheartedly. Please don't construe my statements otherwise!
Where I disagree is with the notion that our government, at any level, should be forced to subsidize it (after all, "these people are here, and that isn't about to change"). This type of education is something which should be paid for by churches, charities, and other organizations that supposedly want to help Spanish-speaking people. (After all, if groups like MALDEF, ACORN, and CASA have so much money, why can't they host ESL classes themselves, rather than burdening we taxpayers with the cost?)
Mexicans driving without a license face the same consequences as any one else.
Would you like them better if they all spoke English?
This reads like a satire.
That's a tricky question. Many of the Hispanics I knew in school told me that they spoke only Spanish at home, but learned English from playmates. At ages 4-8, its easy for children to learn a language (or several). Later it's much harder. The political fights are interesting but do little to help kids (anglophone or hispanophone) learn English.
I understand what you're saying. I grew up in So. Fla. and heard Spanish everywhere. I just thought of it as a cosmopolitan city and thought it was pretty cool.
Alot more are German. We need German!
If you check the French, it won't tell either.
Not surprised. They're marching or rallying every other week here.
How can be the hardworking immigrants they keep claiming to be when they are ALWAYS off protesting?
No they don't. Most of the time, they flee the scene of the crime and are never found. Even if they are arrested for a crime, as soon as they post bail, they flee to another area, and serve no punishment for the crime committed.
Would you like them better if they all spoke English?
No, I wouldn't, as I dislike any group which blatantly ignores the lawbe they Democrats, Contractors, or illegal immigrants.
Fair is fair. Either we're a nation "OF LAWS," or we are nothing at all.
Please allow me to correct myselfThis statement applies to illegal immigrants at large, not to Mexicans in particular. I'm very well aware that other ethnic groups exhibit the same behavior, and know of illegal Vietnamese people who have done the same thing. I condemn the act no matter who commits it, as it does nothing but raise the insurance rates paid by the REST OF US who choose to follow the law.
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