Bill Ketron, a Tennessee state legislator from Murfreesboro, has sponsored a bill in the Tennessee legislature that would only allow driver license tests to be given in English. His reason: it's "the first step in protecting the sovereignty of our country."
Yep, nothing threatens our nation like Mexicans driving to work!
Via R. Neal
Actually, if you think about the outrageous costs of providing it in not only spanish but also in the other languages that follow, then the stupidity of using any other language becomes obvious. In addition, research has shown that many accidents among immigrants, particularly in the construction industry, come from their inability to read the cautions, warnings, and instructions of machinery, etc. that are in English. So, you missed the point of Ketron's statements (big shock).
ReplyDeleteok anonymous, so preventing accidents is a big step in protecting America's sovereignty?
ReplyDeleteit's a lose, lose scenario to not have one official language. it is the glue that holds us together and allows us to communicate and function across regions. if you want to speak an additional language, ok, but know English if you live here. i can't think of any other reason other than anarchy and an unpatriotic spirit for a resident to not learn English. and do you want drive along with and work in a dangerous environment with people who can't read the signs or speak the same language? it's just a stupid argument altogether.
ReplyDeletelet's not do a dis-service to our immigrants and to America, promote English as the official language
ReplyDeletehttp://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=19394
Anonymous, you seem so big on promoting English, yet what service has the English language done to the majority of Black Americans whose ancestors have been speaking English for over two hundred years, and find themselves still relegated to the ghettos and seen as second class citizens? You’re using language as an excuse to cover up bigger prejudices that you have and can't do anything about so you attack language. There is no valid argument for English only unless your argument accepts it roots in a racist and classist ideology. The English only argument is just an extension of the assimilationist policies held by the founders of this country up to the reactionary politicians of the present. And you!
ReplyDeletemj,
ReplyDeleteI honestly and sincerely don't know what you are talking about by regarding my rec that English as the official language of America is racist. I can't imagine trying to make it here without learning the language. Those who don't speak English must be perpetually relegated to low wage labor as being unable to communicate is necessary for success anywhere.
Example: My Asian co-workers complain about not advancing beyond a certain level in the banking industry, and it mostly stems from the inability to communicate in English. Speaking the native language raises all boats in the economic ocean. I gueess if I really wanted to be racist, I would keep quiet and not let the immigrants know that one major way to success here is to speak English.
You seem to not have read what I wrote. You say that not knowing English is going to relegate people to low wage labor, yet you don't take into consideration my example of African Americans whose ancestors I pointed out have been speaking English for a long time. They way this society is structured is to have an endless supply of cheap labor, this is regardless of whether people speak English or not. I doubt you have these people interest at heart, that is why I see people attacking language as a cover up for an inability to deal with diversity.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of the above comments. I don't agree with the legislator for Tennessee. Speaking English shouldn't be a requesit for driving a car. Passing the test should be. Immigrants are going to drive anyway, in places with crappy mass trans, they have little choice, so why not ensure they can pass a test and are aware of the local traffic laws until they do learn english?
ReplyDeleteI do believe that all people living in the US should learn Englsih though. Why wouldn't one want to? However, this is the land of the free. There is nothing in the constitution that says one must.
look at this way mj, any class of people that hasn't enjoyed economic success here certainly would have been either worse off or no worse off for learning English. but the overwhelming vast majority have benefitted from learning the language. And I don't see how you can pass a test without learning the language, unless the test isn't a good test.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Anonymous is too dumb to know he's a racist or is just not openly admitting it to us.
ReplyDeleteDL gets to the crux of it--these people are going to drive anyway. So this kind of legislation is not only racist but irresponsible. Not that I'd expect anything different from the Republican Party of Tennessee.
Also, anonymous says, Actually, if you think about the outrageous costs of providing it in not only spanish but also in the other languages that follow, then the stupidity of using any other language becomes obvious."
Uh, no. The outrageous costs? How much does it really cost to provide these tests in other languages? Give me a break. If you want to be a racist, just admit it.
And yes, wanting to make English the official language of the United States is in fact racist. Just because you don't understand something doesn't make it wrong. There's much you don't understand.
"DL gets to the crux of it--these people are going to drive anyway. So this kind of legislation is not only racist but irresponsible." - So let me try and grasp your logic: We should have no laws because some people are going to commit crimes anyway, therefore, laws are inappropriate. You're right, there's so much I don't understand about you.
ReplyDelete"Not that I'd expect anything different from the Republican Party of Tennessee." - What's this supposed to mean? For someone who purports to be tolerant, you sure have an a$$holish way of showing it.
"How much does it really cost to provide these tests in other languages?" - I don't know exactly, but let's be logical. You would need to pay people to translate/design a form for each of let's say 300 languages for arguments sake. Then you'd want to provide staff that could answer questions and assist individuals for each language for every DMV location. CA alone has over 150 locations. The printing costs of these forms wouldn't be outrageous but it wouldn't be insignificant either. Yeah, the incremental costs would be outrageous when the immigrant could just learn to speak the language for a win-win scenario of helping both the immigrant and taxpayer. Yeah boy, I'm such a racist b@astard...
When I have purported to be tolerant?
ReplyDelete"Yeah, the incremental costs would be outrageous when the immigrant could just learn to speak the language for a win-win scenario of helping both the immigrant and taxpayer."
It's just so goddamn easy to learn another language, especially when you are working 12 hours a day at hard physical labor.