Fired & Furious [Because She Can't Speak Spanish]

7 News Miami/Fort Lauderdale ^ | May 1, 2002 06:25 PM | Patrick Fraser

[Dutchy]

Bi-lingualism is now a job requirement in Dade County, Fl. How long before it's nationwide?? I don't think I'm being alarmist!! Just a realist....

[MeekOneGOP]

Si! :O)

[FairWitness]

As long as you're speechless in a foreign language...:-)

Ich bin sprachlos?

[Brownie74]

This is a case of discrimination and harassment. I am against people suing people because of leaves blowing in each others yards or a neighbors dog pooping in their yard.

This is a bit different and as far as I am concerned, the sky is the limit!!

[ClassicConservative]

Likewise, based on my own experience as a government supervisor. It's entirely legitimate for a government agency to make the ability to be bi-lingual a condition of employment, if it's needed to provide services to the population. All other issues aside (which, if legitimate, are an entirely different story), if it's a requirement for that position for staff to be bilingual, and the employee was given ample opportunity to learn Spanish and failed, then what would be your position on keeping a government employee in place who failed to be able to do the job duties?

[ClassicConservative]

This is a bit different and as far as I am concerned, the sky is the limit!!

Oh, but tort reform doesn't make allowances for things that we're in favor of... Or is only OK for governments to have the deep pockets, but corporations (or individual citizens)are off-limits?

[Regulator]

This can't be true. Only White Anglo Saxon Protestants are capable of discrimination.

It's clearly all a fascist fabrication. All other cultures are virtuous, loving and egalitarian, especially those originating in the Middle East.

Yea, Right.

Won't matter if there's another side to the story. If Miami-Dade wants to get this over with, they need to settle now. Or else the civil trial will be a circus.

[stands2reason]

I hate that word! Dammit, I'm white! I'm German, Belgian, Scottish and, yes, Anglo, but the only thing you could tell by looking at me is that I'm white.

[ninenot]

Yes. The story is rather one-sided so far. However, even if this woman were the Wicked Witch of the West, the allegations she makes (if true) could at LEAST substantiate a 'hostile environment' charge. If she's over 40 years of age, somebody's gonna pay...

[luvbach1]

You forgot "the man."

[South40]

Sounds like a familiar story.

I'm regularly called "Houseboy" or "Uncle Tom" by mexicans here in San Diego, simply because I'm a black conservative.

Seems the "all inclusive" demonRAT party has a low tolerance for anyone who disagrees with their warped ideological views.

Lies, obfuscation, denials of criminal behavior, slander, physical threats, the re-defining of basic grammatical concepts, politically corrected language, disinformation, hysterical ravings, revised history, verbal bullying are all pressed into the liberal's service under the rubric of "free speech." From behind this shield, every vile and unethical language crime may be perpetrated on behalf of the leftists' agenda. Bile, venom, vitriol, and even racism are not hate speech if perpetrated by a demonRAT.

I pity them.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

WATCH IT!!! I resemble those remarks!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Ich bin sprachlos?

Ich bin ein Berliner (I am a jelly doughnut)! --John F. Kennedy.

[luvbach1]

My niece, an outstanding elementary school teacher in the San Diego area who knows Spanish, is being laid off because her Spanish skills are deemed insufficient to conduct classes in Spanish. Yes, bilingualism now means teaching in Spanish.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"It's entirely legitimate for a government agency to make the ability to be bi-lingual a condition of employment..."

She's been in that position for sixteen years, based on your experience as a government supervisor, would she have been given that long to learn?

[Luis Gonzalez]

Was she hired to conduct classes in Spanish?

[boris]

"We are called Anglos now?"

I went into a Bank of America branch here in S. California. I noticed that all of the tellers and clerks were oriental. I commented to the teller who helped me, "I see you have an all-oriental staff."

She was insulted. Drew herself up and hissed venomously, "An all-asian staff, sir!"

That was the first time I realized that "oriental" had become (overnight?) a pejorative.

--Boris

[Brownie74]

I would like to know the policy 16 years ago when Zita Wilensky was hired. I believe the article states that the government gave her 60 days to learn Spanish. I don't say it is impossible to learn a foreign language in 60 days but that seems to be a very short time to me.

Or is only OK for governments to have the deep pockets, but corporations (or individual citizens)are off-limits?

Government has already proven that it has deep pockets. $450.00 toilet seats. $187.00 screwdrivers. I am sure you can relate to that with your vast experience as a government supervisor!!

[Icthus]

"..This can't be true. Only White Anglo Saxon Protestants are capable of discrimination.."

LOL!!!!!