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.
Wether it is easy or hard has ZERO to do with it. That choice was made when they decided to come here.
The more spanish that is in our everyday life at stores, on food, on goods, at banks , voting machines, everywhere....the less they need to actually learn the english to function.
Seems you simply deny that reality based fact. Gee i wonder if agenda has anything to do with your choice to go there?
They also take up alot of space.
Imagine having even 10 languages on 1 sign/set of signs; try finding as you drive by exactly which 1 will tell YOU in YOUR language in a timely manner how to proceed!
Lots of Americans who get tickets do the same thing. But speaking from my experience with Mexicans, they show up for court.
And this is the crux of the matter.
Other groups of immigrants are expected to at least learn the basics of English before they are allowed to enter the country. They are screened for infectuous diseases which could pose a risk to Americans—who have not been innoculated for diseases such as Smallpox in at least a generation.
For some reason, though, we are expected to cater to every last need of the Spanish-speaking immigrant. We put signs up. We look the other way when they blatantly ignore Loitering and Public Indecency laws. We provide education for their children, and are told to "understand" that they "have a need" to drive, and it's "unfair" for us to deny them the "right" to drive (even though WE HAVE NO SUCH RIGHT ourselves).
THIS is what I mean by the "unfairness" of illegal immigraiton, mlc. To just brush off these concerns with a "We're hear, deal with it" attitude is irresponsible, and ignores a vast portion of the argument. You catch my drift, friend? :)
*This brings to mind that maybe I should be grateful when Spanish is shown on the signs.....
.....instead of the imbecilic and often impossible-to-understand photos and SYMBOLS so prevalent everywhere from our cars to McDonald's cash registers!
I don't have an agenda any more than you do.
With the attitudes I see on here, I am surprised that any immigrants would want to come to America. What ever happened to the big American heart?
I live there and living in a bilingual metropolitan area is pretty cool, especially for me, who's married to a legal Colombian immigrant. We're raising our kids truly bilingual. Their proficiency in both Spanish and English (as opposed to just the kitchen Spanish some English-speaking Hispanic offspring learn) will create a lot of opportunities for them.
When I moved down to Florida from NYC 14 years ago, the only Spanish I knew was La via del tren es muy peligrosa. Si el tren se para entre las estacciones, no salga afuera. Siga las instrucciones de los operadores del tren o la policia. This used to be on every subway car, and I had it memorized because I rode the subway everyday. Now I speak fluent Spanish after living down here. Y que???
Xenophobia is not an attractive trait.
YOU SIR, may think this issue is a joke. I guess you are not seeing that the vast majority of Americans think otherwise.
The choice to be proficient (or not)in government and or history is afforded to those lucky enough to be born here to legal parents. Sorry but if you are not from here then something different applies to you.
You see when you grow up here you leanr the ropes as you go and our culture is with you everyday. That is not the case for someone not born and raised here. Accept that there is a difference between being naturalized and being nothing BUT an AMerican born here to Legal residents.
For the record one of my very best friends has been dealing with USCIS for well over three years trying to get his philipino fiance here. She is eager to learn the things that are required of her and THEN SOME. She has a great handle on the English language. What she has, that the folks you are trying to defend do not, is a GREAT RESPECT for this nation and its culture. Part of that culture being the adherence to the RULE OF LAW.
These two have jumped thru every hoop asked of them and still they wait. All the while I watch as people DISRESPECT our nation and our people while gathering up a whole bunch of freebees.
It makes no sense to disallow someone following the rules and allow someone who breaks them over and over and over.
When you can square that for me, go ahead and make the case for why illegals should be catered to again. OK?
And I condemn any American that does so. I can promise you, however, that "lots" fewer Americans do it than illegals.
(Dunno where you are, but here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, it's commonplace to see accidents where one driver is missing—after fleeing the scene. And even though we have a rigid system of auto inspection setup to "protect" us, you still see quite a few cars which can be considered nothing less than dangerous. Our police, overworked as they are, can't be bothered to deal with these kinds of offenses. Which, of course, means that THE LAW IS NOT APPLIED EQUALLY, and that illegal aliens end up with more "rights" than naturalized or native-born citizens.)
I don't know what percentage do show up for court, but it's not that high over here.
I would like them all better if they followed the rules set out in our immigration policy. One of those rules just happens to be the demonstration of their proficency in the english language.
What a breath of fresh air! Truly! I think fear is the biggest problem here and I keep trying to reassure people that Miami and So. Fla., actually all of Florida now, went through some rough times but survived and actually thrived because of immigrants.
I sure miss those Cuban sandwiches and Cuban coffee!
And we see how that underscores the fact that multiple language = ethnic/societal tension.
I have made my thoughts on the subject clear over the past several days and many, many threads. The fact that Filipinos have a hard time getting into the US hasn't been part of the debate. I don't know what is required of them, therefore I have no opinion on the matter.
The Mexicans are here, most contribute to the US. I doubt anything I can say will change your mind about Mexicans.
Don't drag me into any discussion on "attitudes." I'm being as courteous as is humanly possible, am I not?
Do you think that "The big American heart" should imply that we shut off our brains? That we shouldn't consider our safety? That we should allow for anarchy to reign? That's the net result of what you're advocating, as we would have to completely open our borders (to terrorists as well as "the needy") in order to satisfy your demand for "higher immigration."
America is not the welfare line of the world. If you need "warm and compassionate," go to Europe. They've got more than enough to spare.
My office represents quite a few Mexicans and they have not missed a court date that I am aware of. So yes, I typed it with a straight face.
The whole "we are hear and you have to deal with it" mentality was addressed by our founders. They came up with a policy that could umbrella just this type of attitude from our government and foreign invaders.
It is called the second ammendment.
This issue will be "dealt" with one or the other, I just hope it is dealt with before it comes to the point of being "dealt" with.
Even the most politically correct liberals will become fed up at some point. That fact was demonstrated right after 911. (even if they did lose their resolve soon after)
My agenda is the protection of my country thru the rule of law and the enfrocement of it.
What is yours?
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