Signs in Spanish? No Way!

[oldpaths1611]

We're getting out of NYC and moving up to New Hampshire this week. Reading this article just helps confirm that we're making a real good move. Too bad elected officials like these are the minority these days.


http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Request+to+have+park+rules+i n+Spanish+gets+a+cool+reception+from+councilors&articleId=66a6dbf4-ba70-497c-a308-aa1d9479b21e

[Mesogen]

Wasserman Park, a free park with beach access at Naticook Lake, is drawing as many as 100 people on the weekends. Spanish speakers can exceed half of those visitors, said Jessica Chase, 28, who is the waterfront director at the park.

Half of the people that go to the beach are Spanish speakers. If it doesn't cost a lot to put a Spanish sign up, then what's the problem?

[kylejack]

I think they ought to put up the sign. It will help them to make sure that the rules of the park are enforced.

[ShaneC]

grumble grumble grumble.

Should they have to? No.
Is it a good idea? Maybe. No excuse of "not knowing" the rules, etc.

grumble grumble grumble.

[fluoridatedbrainsoup]

Incrementalism. It only starts with one sign by one lake.

And its a further incentive for the immigrant to avoid learning English. And if we subsidize something, we get.. , we get.. (fill in the blank)

If these people could get licenses, purchase or rent a car, and obey traffic laws all the way to the lake, then hey, they're makin' it.

This article comes on the heels of the bigger "debate" this election cycle, which is "Should English be the Official Language of the U.S.?" Incrementalism. This all ties with the N.A.U., with the U.N. putting up signs on all of our natural treasures (Mt. Mitchell, for ex.) claiming them as "Global" treasures.

But it all boils down to this: We don't need anymore God-****ed signage in this country, because we are polluted with signage, and it gets worse every day. /tangent.

[oldpaths1611]

Follow up article to the original one. The Merrimack Town Council voted no to Spanish signs.

Every generation of immigrants, including my grandparents and parents, had to learn English when they came over. More than that, they WANTED to learn English. It was a necessity, but also something to be proud of. To speak English....to be an American! Many of today's immigrants have no such ideals.

No one catered to every wish and whim of past immigrants. They were expected to assimilate and integrate. They were here to change and become Americans, not to change America.

Today it's the signs at the beach, tomorrow it's what? How many other languages should we put signs up in? We already have to press 1 for English...in our own country! We already have Spanish subtitles on just about everything we buy. There are even Spanish commercials here in NYC on English channels! WHY? The sellout of our country, that's why.

Here in NYC, many foreigners won't have anything to do with regular Americans. Some even get upset when you don't speak their language! Unbelieveable!

Immigrants used to come over for a better life, but also to contribute to their new country. Today most just come over with hands extended out expecting to get, and a civil rights legal team behind them to make sure they do. Who winds up footing the bill and carrying the load? We do.

Not all immigrants today match the description above, but a great many do. And we're only talking about the legal ones here! I liked Tancredo's idea. A complete moratorium on ALL imigration for at least 10 years. Cut off the flow, and let this country come up for air.


http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=In+Merrimack%2c+English+wins&articleId=e9eda5a1-d4db-4fb2-a746-f6c8d4dacb87

[Mesogen]

There are a LOT of Chinese in my neighborhood.
I mean, damn, a lot. There is a park two blocks from my house where most of the day Chinese families are out there playing with their kids. There aren't many signs out there in the first place, but there is a small one saying "Park Closes After Dark" or whatever. IF they put a Chinese version of that sign under the English one, what the hell is the problem? Big deal. IMO, it would help.


But let's get into something else.

Let's say there is a huge Chinese neighborhood. Let's call it Chinatown, but let's not put it in New York or San Fran. Let's put it at, oh, the outskirts of Tulsa, OK.

Now, just about everyone in this huge neighborhood is Chinese and speaks Mandarin Chinese. There are signs all over in Chinese, even the street signs. Chinese is on top and English is below to help anyone passing through.

There is a large private school in this neighborhood and it teaches all its classes in Chinese. Most people living and working in the area have primarily Chinese-speaking business contacts and Chinese-speaking customers. In other words, there is very little practical need for these people to speak very much English. If they have to do something, like file taxes, etc. then they get by well enough to fill out the forms, etc.

It's pretty much people getting by in their own community, speaking a language that isn't English, and living a different culture than the predominant one in the state.

I see no problem with this scenario.

Does anyone see a problem with this? If so, please explain.

[Wendi]

Put up the sign. Then, when rules are broken anyway, no one can pretend to be ignorant of the rule.

[Tsoman]

It's not that big of a deal

[LibertyEagle]

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

[Bradley in DC]

It's less a question of "immigrants learning English" than public health and safety. Definitely not a Federal issue no matter what. I do genealogy and many (German immigrant) localities didnt have any English-speakers until WWI. Besides, I've lived and traveled abroad and always appreciated signs in English. If not for immigrants, for tourists!

[Phil M]

Many other countries have signs with more than one language, and it doesn't hurt them at all, because they have large communities that speak another language. Guess what? In America there are large communities that speak another language, too. There's nothing wrong with admitting that.

[LibertyEagle]

This is also the same kind of multi-culturalism BS that tore some other countries apart.

[Mesogen]

So, Liberty Eagle, you agree that collectivism works? It's the way to go?

All immigrants should assimilate into one culture and be productive members of the collective. Is that what you are saying?

Like you said, THIS IS AMERICA, and you can speak whatever damned language you please. It's either the land of the free, or it's not.

If some park thinks it's a good idea to have a sign in two languages, then who cares? If they don't want the sign, then who cares? Take the sign down, what will it matter?

[LibertyEagle]

Yes, it's the land of the free and I should be free not to pay for signs for someone who does not choose to learn the language of this country. Add to that any government publication.

[Mesogen]

You don't live in this small town and you wouldn't pay a dime for the sign.

And you say there is a "language of this country" as if it was always that way and always should be that way.

Once upon a time it was Arapaho, Algonquin, Pawnee, Navajo, etc. Then it was those mixed with Spanish, French, English, and Dutch. Now, it's pretty much English. That was done with force. In the end, collectivism won.

[Phil M]

I seriously don't get why everyone in this country gets so uptight about other languages. Most people in this world are at least bilingual, and the US really has a lot to learn about that.

[Revolution9]

Why learn English? It is the international language of business. All contracts for commodities and under UCC are in English. If you want to succeed in business, The American thing, then you must know English or have a good interpreter if you enter into any contracts...and do not want to get screwed..

Best Regards
Randy

[Mesogen]

Before about the 60s or 70s the language of science was German. If you were in science, it behooved you to learn German because so much of the best stuff was written in it. German was usually a required course, or at least "german for scientists." But now the language of science is, of course, English.

And now there are papers online and you can just copy and paste them into babelfish. Ah! Computers!

So some non-English speaker could do that with an English paper or business publication and get by easier.