Posted on 07/08/2006 3:02:49 AM PDT by Liz
The mayor of a small Bergen County, New Jersey town is calling for a McDonald's boycott if the fast-food chain does not take down a Spanish-language billboard.... Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan said the advertisement is "offensive" and "divisive"......"The true things that bind us together as neighbors and community is our belief in the American flag and our common language," Lonegan said. "And when McDonald's sends a different message, that we're going to be different now, that causes resentment."
Representatives for McDonald's and CBS Outdoor in New York, the company that owns the billboard on River Road in Bogota, defended the advertisement....said Jodi Senese, executive vice president for marketing for CBS Outdoor.
Jennifer Nagy, a marketing manager of McDonald's NY Metro Region, stood by the advertisement.
Lonegan was dismissive of the statement yesterday. "I think that their boilerplate press release is totally meaningless," Lonegan said. "It shows their utter disregard for this community."
Martin Perez, president of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey, an umbrella group of 250 Hispanic organizations, said there is an "anti-Latino" sentiment behind the opposition to the advertisement.
Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, said McDonald's has a first amendment right to advertise in Spanish.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
I know nothing about Porterville, but I wonder why you assume that because of his self-proclaimed ethnicity that he's not American but an immigrant? And, what responsibility is it of his (or hers - as I said, I don't know Porterville) to encourage other hispanics to learn English?
This confusion of ethnicity and nationality is the biggest problem I have with the illegal immigrant debate. In fact, I've been asked a few different times if I spoke English, just because some idiot assumed that my brown skin meant that I probably did not. There are concrete national and economic security reasons for wanting to control the borders; "heritage" is an emotional one and lessens the quality of the debate.
I am going under the assumption that his ancestors came to America, and that he is an American. It may not be his responsibility to encourage immigrant Hispanics to speak English, but it would be to everyone's advantage.
No one is saying that legal immigrants are unwelcome, but that when they do come to America, at least be part of America and speak the language.
Those of us who are also descendants of immigrants, or Native Americans, certainly understand. The sooner they become full-participation citizens, including speaking English, the sooner they will succeed. This is for their own benefit, not for those who don't want to hear their language. Drop the labels and become Americans!
That's why we're called the United States of America.
And not the Separate States of Foreign-Speaking Immigrants.
I saw that commercial when it first ran and all I could think was, "I hope it comes with a side of penicillin..."
Really unappetizing.
Thanks for that added comment!
I would expect Paris is innoculated against pretty much everything (sncker).
All-American.
Great picture!
:-0
thanks...
You talk abour beef quality...
What I find ironic is their stock symbol: MCD
It is also used at times for MAD COW DISEASE...
Update:
http://www.nj1015.com/absolutenm/templates/?a=4014&z=1
Legal Experts Question Bogota English Only Vote
Some legal experts are questioning a proposal by Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan to make his borough the first in New Jersey to adopt English as an official language. In November, voters will decide a non-binding referendum. If they say "yes," the Borough Council will then be able to enact the "English-only" ordinance.
"I think it would raise serious legal questions about whether or not the town would have the authority to enact such a regulation because it is probably something that requires uniform state action," says Frank Askin, Rutgers Law School professor and founder of the Rutgers Constitutional Litigation Clinic. "The challenge would be does the town have the authority to do this or is this the kind of regulation that requires uniform, statewide rule."
As a matter of policy, Askin says the proposal is a bad idea.
"It's going to very divisive. It's going to split the town terribly. It's going to make some people feel like they are second-class citizens," says Askin.
Mayor Lonegan tells Millennium Radio requiring all borough business be conducted in English would serve a practical purpose. He says borough clerks are unable to process the growing number of requests for borough documents to be translated from English to a foreign language. Those requests, says Lonegan, are routinely turned down.
The nonbinding referendum was approved for the November 7th ballot by the Borough Council in a 4-2 vote last Thursday. At that time, Lonegan told the Associated Press, "Ultimately, this is for our children," adding it would help people assimilate. "It's about what we're going to do for our culture."
No New Jersey town has an official language.
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