[MartZubok]

Yay, xenophobia in action... pressing 1 for english is SO HARD, cry me a river.

[Zhgrlpil]

We have an idiot in the state legislature. This is news?

[icedrakona]

I wouldn't be suprised if this guy's motivations are dubious, but he is right nonetheless.

[FrereeDoulley]

Because we are defacto an English speaking nation. Now seeing where he is from I, like you, think his "it will help them" line is a cover for some other motivation.

But the point stands, immigrants should learn English. Most legal ones do actually, so why is our government spending money to make the lives easier for law breakers?

[Cnbaapuy]

"Immigrants should learn English" doesn't entail "Immigrants should have to learn English before they can receive any government services". Perhaps you missed the part where the basic services still get language assistance?

[PoideAdelereX]

Oh, you think that those materials are for CITIZENS? Interesting...

[Escamsrasiush]

Originally posted by Patroklos
Perhaps you missed the part where the basic services still get language assistance? It just shows that the rep isn't completely insane. However, there's still no reason to forbid local govts from offering resources in spanish.

[QqJamxqP]

Originally posted by snoopy369


1. I haven't seen any one mention citizens yet. not even my post?

[Maserati]

1. I haven't seen any one mention citizens yet. ?

Regardless of your opinion on people needing to speak english... disenfranchising the poorest of the poor is inhumane and wrong. You sort of have to have a franchise to be disenfranchised.

[Jjfotqse]

Originally posted by Patroklos


?



You sort of have to have a franchise to be disenfranchised. Disenfrachised does not explicitly mean 'voting', it can be used generally to mean 'taking away access to government' in the sense of removing their say in some matters (ie, if you don't know you have the option to talk to a lawyer before you're deported... ).

[JulieSmithdccd]

Disenfrachised does not explicitly mean 'voting', it can be used generally to mean 'taking away access to government'. If your not a citizen, my give a **** is broken.

ie, if you don't know you have the option to talk to a lawyer before you're deported... Obviously portions of the government created to talk to non-citizens on behalf of citizens should have the tools to do so. VDOT is not one of those

[clorkergo]

Originally posted by Patroklos


If your not a citizen, my give a **** is broken. Perhaps unfortunately from your point of view, we have a moral and ethical obligation to not ignore non-citizens, particularly the legally present ones of which there are quite a few ...

Disenfranchising the poor and underclass - of which the immigrant population of a state is typically a large element - is just another step on the way to enhancing the status of the ruling class... and encouraging the poor citizens to have an 'enemy' to focus their fears on makes it muhc easier for the ruling class to continue their domination over these poor citizens. When you don't have a useful external enemy, find an internal one ...

[fuesquemill]

Is that the point where I mention Hitler or something

[iOqedeyH]

"I cannot tell you how many times people asked me [...] ‘why do I have to press 1 for English?"

Classic. People and their problems.

[Edisesyethisp]

Virginia is ridiculous in terms of views on Hispanics. When I went there for college, the first day one Virginian said "wow, check out that Mexican chick."

I then explained that she was Asian.

He insisted I was wrong because she had a "J-Lo" ass.

He had never seen an Asian or a Hispanic person in person.

[Enrivaanonock]

Originally posted by Patroklos


If your not a citizen, my give a **** is broken. What about legal residents?


My Father in law never learned English, somehow he managed to obtain govt services, despite the lack of govt materials in Yiddish, Hungarian, biblical Hebrew, and Aramaic.

He had relatives and others who knew English, who acted as interpretors. Thats what folks have done for a long time. So? I also bet there are a whole Hell of a lot more native Spanish speakers in the country with poor English(who are citizens or legal residents) than folks in your Father-in-law's situation.

Such much more, in fact, that it makes sense to provide the documents in that language.

[TessUnsonia]

VA = virginia, silly. You know, that state a bit east and north of you?

Government documents = documents the government produces to give out to people, not like meeting minutes or actual laws.

[ZESINTERS]

Oh. Virginia is on their own.

[AutocadOemM]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Oh. Virginia is on their own. You know, Sam Houston was a Virginian.


Virginia Republicans are being especially bigoted this year. THIS year? Last year we nearly elected George "Macaca" Allen!

[staisacic]

Furthermore, it is Hoodbridge and not Woodbridge.