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GiGi is is possible that you might be Spanish, if so, I hope that my words and thoughts
have not offended you. I still would like to know more about your law profession, please feel free to e-mail me
posted by
MountainClimber57
on October 6, 2003 at 9:07 PM
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Poet-3
As we have now gone to an electronic system of voting, and a language choice can be made. I feel we have more assurance of an accurate vote than from a 58 year old hispanic who just completed a crash course in English.
Children are the future and now in most schools English and Spanish are taught. That is how it should be. Spaniards settled here long before the Anglos.
posted by
GiGi_04
on October 6, 2003 at 9:01 PM
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GiGi, I would like to know more about your role in the legal profession; however, you
should then know even more what complications that can come from not being able to speak the language, and you definitely don't want that in the most major of all exercises -- voting!
posted by
MountainClimber57
on October 6, 2003 at 8:49 PM
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Poet-3
Working in the legal profession, and in family law, I deal with families everyday whose first language is Spanish. The children are learning English, but as an educator, you should know how much more difficult it is for adults to learn a language than for children. I say the funds would be better spent, in this computer age of offering the ballot in a choice of languages.
I doubt there is any real chance of the United States losing English as its first language. You know, portions of Canada are primarily French speaking. It has not caused that country to collapse and fall into the ocean. We will survive.
posted by
GiGi_04
on October 6, 2003 at 8:46 PM
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No, No GiGi, but they will better understand who or why they are voting. I am an
educator and we teach English as a second language those who need it and they truly appreciate it. It is like we Americans learning the metric system, but not getting rid of ours. California has experimentd with English not being the first langauge, and in many ways it has come back to haunt them, and may do so tomorrow -- we will just have to wait and see!
posted by
MountainClimber57
on October 6, 2003 at 8:40 PM
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So Poet-3
are you suggesting that if we make everyone learn English, then they will not vote for someone whose first language is not English? I don't quite follow your logic.
posted by
GiGi_04
on October 6, 2003 at 8:36 PM
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GiGi, that is an act of courtesy and hospitality, but when it comes to voting, we want those
who know what they are doing, and understand what they are doing to vote. If we don't have that kind of voting structure, then someday someone might be elected who will want to replace the English Language with another language as our # 1 language -- to some degree from an educational perspective that is what is wrong in California.
posted by
MountainClimber57
on October 6, 2003 at 8:34 PM
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Poet-3,
I understand what you are saying, however if it is important enough to put the ingredients to shampoo in Spanish or French or the instructions to a blender, then why not a voter's ballot!
posted by
GiGi_04
on October 6, 2003 at 8:26 PM
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Yes, GiGi, we want to be fair and gracious, but we are talking about voting, and a voter
has to be as educated as possible, and if they are citizens they need to be able to at least read and undertand the English of a ballot!
posted by
MountainClimber57
on October 6, 2003 at 8:12 PM
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Hmmmm. I have very mixed feelings on this issue
Because it seems that we as Americans tend to want to be respected for our customs when abroad, however when foreigners arrive at our borders and shores, they are expected to adapt to our way of life. We want them to learn our language, our religion, and to accept and celebrate our culture and customs. I would be lost without my way of life, if I found myself suddenly on foreign soil.
posted by
GiGi_04
on October 6, 2003 at 8:07 PM
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Gracias, Spitfire, Habla Espanol?
posted by
MountainClimber57
on October 6, 2003 at 6:33 PM
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Ah, Poet3, you're a man after my own heart! (At least on this issue!) 
It's very frustrating when these people come to our country and live here for years, and still can't even get through a simple every day conversation. Many can't even ask, "Do you speak Spanish?" in English! Hence, my recent post... http://www.bloggingnetwork.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/SpitFire703515/42185 It's just very wrong and kind of a slap in the face of America.
posted by
SpitFire70
on October 6, 2003 at 6:08 PM
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