We’re seeing a lot of billboards and bus advertising in Spanish in Colorado. It takes all kinds.

Indeed!

No he doesn’t. I understand that Mr.James doesn’t want any non-English-speakers in Alabama, but does he intend to put any funding toward English language teaching programs to help the (often poor) residents of the state actually learn the language?

In addition, will he also require that illiterate English-speakers in Alabama learn to read before taking the drivers’ exam? Some counties in the state have illiteracy rates around 30%, and the whole state performs worse than the national average, clocking in at 37th, iirc. In other words, there are FAR more illiterate Americans in Alabama than non-English speakers.

Perhaps he should get his priorities straight and fix the big problem before tackling the little one.

I wonder if these people also believe that bad humours cause a torpid liver??

The mans got a point

The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder writes, “If the governor changes the rules, the state could lose billions of dollars in federal transportation funding. Conveniently, this allows James to hint at the prospect of a debate against Barack Obama's federal government, too.”
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The North is hardly perfect, but why do 19 out of 20 bigoted, uninformed and just plain stupid laws get initiated in either Dixie or the wild West states?

Really, Abe, you should have let them creep back to their caves.

He certainly does,Mike!

I'm happy to hear that English is spoken in Alabama. It is often difficult for an untrained ear to discern that that is the case.
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Why do you insist on inserting your agenda into the lives of people that you have no idea about?

Next time you are in a foreign country,complain out loud to someone in public that nobody is speaking english and see how it's received.At what point do we draw a line.How many languages should we be offered the next time we call our bank or telephone company etc.,etc.,etc,? English isn't superior.It is however,our official language.

I heard people from Alabama. They don't speak English. They mumble and shout in some derivative of English that makes Ebonics sound like a Harvard accent in comparison.

And people would want to go to Alabama because?

We could boycott Alabama….what is it they produce anyway?

Republican champions like George W. Bush and Sarah Palin speak such gobbledygook that no one not on drugs can figure out what the hell they are saying, and some lowlife from their party starts trying to make a name for himself by saying “English only?” Send someone from England to Alabama, and he'll ask for an interpreter. Send any native speaker of English to a teabagger gathering, and if no subtitles are provided, the casual observer will say, “sorry, I don't speak Albanian.”

Ignorance.

The ad should say, “If you can't understand this, leave the country.”

….English? ” y'all”, “chewin-bakky”, “nahs whaht rahs” (nice white rice), “I h'aint seen him for ages”, “Ah-ite.”, “Ahma”, “git me another play-it of beckon and aigs.”, “I sure hope my brother from Jawjuh puts all in my pickup truck” , “I was drivin' my ol' Dodge pickup about a 100 maul anar” , “How's yer ma?” “Good.” “Anheuser pa?”, “Armageddon sick of all them comet movies” , “get me a balks of matches!” , “Davey Crockett kilt a bar wen he wuz only three” , “Thar are two jobs that a bank duz: barn and lyndon”, “If you don't stop reading these Southern wurds and git back to work, your baws is gonna far you!”, “I'm tarred. I'm gonna bay-uhd”,

Asswipes….

….English? ” y'all”, “chewin-bakky”, “nahs whaht rahs” (nice white rice), “I h'aint seen him for ages”, “Ah-ite.”, “Ahma”, “git me another play-it of beckon and aigs.”, “I sure hope my brother from Jawjuh puts all in my pickup truck” , “I was drivin' my ol' Dodge pickup about a 100 maul anar” , “How's yer ma?” “Good.” “Anheuser pa?”, “Armageddon sick of all them comet movies” , “get me a balks of matches!” , “Davey Crockett kilt a bar wen he wuz only three” , “Thar are two jobs that a bank duz: barn and lyndon”, “If you don't stop reading these Southern wurds and git back to work, your baws is gonna far you!”, “I'm tarred. I'm gonna bay-uhd”,

Asswipes….

Hell is filled?

In New Mexico Spanish is an official language as French is in La.

James is not very bright, so he has to pander to the reactionary among us to have a chance at this election. As an Alabamian, it's pretty damn embarrassing.

I always forget how nasty people can be about the south as a whole and Alabama in particular until something like this happens.

Some of us, do in fact, enunciate. There are educated, progressive people all over the state trying to make a difference. Some of us come to rawstory everyday after we visit leftinalabama.com. It would be nice if people didn't paint us all with the same brush.

Q. What do you call a person who speaks 3 languages?
A. Tri-lingual.

Q. What do you call a person who speaks 2 languages?
A. Bi-lingual.

Q. What do you call a person who speaks only 1 language?
A. American

I've been in Alabama. I'm not sure they -do- speak English there.

Actually, Alabama figures strongly in our national space program. But even Sarah Palin makes sense once in a while.

Another tory-chill-billy with a last name that is a first name, like : “billy-bob.”

This time it's “Tim James.” Perfect……

Two on his forehead.

OK, then “fishy-pants-palin” is a “space-kadet.”

And the gop wonders why they're known as the party of NO, hate, obstruction, regression……………………and the list goes on.

This is the type of ad that turns away people in droves, the gop are just morons!! I knew that already but it's 2010 and these chumps are still back in the 1950's!!

The gop speaks moron, same as Tea Bag.
Morons stick together, vote together, and inbreed together.

I live in New Mexico and can attest to that. Some billboards and street signs are in Spanish with English subtitles. It's all good.

Ohhhhh…is *that* what they speak in Alabama? LOL….

My husband is Salvadorian and speaks English and has wanted me for years to learn Spanish so I can get a job quicker by speaking it. I have stood my ground by saying “I live in America” I understand that there are many different cultures here and they should be able to speak their languages,however they all need to learn English as this is America and English is OUR language! If I go to Mexico, El Salvador, France etc… I have to learn their language they aren't go to learn English so I can fit into their country I need to learn theirs to fit in. My biggest pet peeve are people who have lived here for 20+ years and still know no English! Think about how much money we'd save if we didn't have to have “12″ different language speakers in government service oriented business.

On this, I agree w/ the Republican. I would rather that people learn the language that our constitution was written in and in which the laws of this nation are spelled out.

Just because I strongly disagree with most of the things I hear modern-day Republicans spouting, doesn't mean that I am willing to disagree with everything they say. Whether one agrees or disagrees with Tim James's party platform one should consider each issue separately and on it's own mertits. Governing this nation should not be considered a team sport.

English is not the official language of America. Why do you hate America so much you refuse to learn anything about it?

El Salvador, Mexico and France all have official languages. Why do you hate America so much you refuse to learn anything about it?

Señor Tim James es una vaca con tennis.

English the official language? No creo yo.

looks good on the ballot

chilly billy timmy jimmy

that makes as much sense as telling a blind person if he can't read something to go to an institution and live there

Nothing wrong with being speaking more than one language, but the right wingers hate smart people so no wonder they hate bilingual Americans.
Spanish is an important second language for Americans, it was spoken here long before English was.

I hope your comment was in jest.

I never said it was our official language!!! But it is the dafacto language of the US. Unfortunately our higher up are to scared to actually make it official as it may upset others If other countries can have an official language why cant we? As most Americans I love many things about the US but there are all things I don't like and when I don't like something I have this legal right and the ability to disagree and do everything in my power to Legally change it such as vote etc… If i l lived in Al I'd be voting for this candidate because like many I'm tired of us bending over backwards to help theses people pass test. If you can' t read English to pass a driving test how can you read signs when driving?I believe this is where he was going with this. Benefit off doubt on this one.

According to Hack it isn't! But as Americans born and raised It sure seemed that way to me growing up! And it should be obvious to others as well. I again say you dont have to give up your language to live in America but please learn English.

Spanish was spoken here long before English.
Hack just hates history!! And facts.

All countries have different dialects in the one main language, why can't we have the same its still all English.

That's us we are America we try and cater to everyone. Don't worry about learning the common tongue, we'll bow down and cater to the 1% of you that speak only (insert language here). Try living in another country once like Spain and see how far you get by not learning the language. We don't have an “Official” language but we do have a common one and that is English. Maybe this explains all these drivers who don't understand what MERGE means, or STOP, or LEFT LANE CLOSED AHEAD. Of course none of that is important, it's ok when some none English speaking immigrant doesn't understand and kills someone, that's fine. I mean after all he passed his driver's exam in Latin.

MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show — 26 April 2010:

The Arizona “immigration” bill was written by Kris Kobach — a birther running for secretary of state in Kansas — who is an attorney for the legal arm of FAIR, an “immigration reform” group whose founder, John Tanton, argued that whites are being out-populated by non-whites. FAIR has been funded for the past nine years by The Pioneer Fund, an American “think tank” founded in 1937 with ties to Nazi Germany, that conducts studies for the advocacy of eugenics.

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He brought up this trivial issue in order to stir up all the xenophobic rednecks in Alabama in order to win their votes.This is exactly what George Wallace and the rest of the Good Ole Boys used to do in the 60s, only with Blacks instead of Hispanics. He's running for governor and will play any and all racist cards in his shameful hand in order to achieve his own election. That's all this is about. After the election you won't hear a damn thing about this issue again- until the next election, and the next and the next and you'll never catch on that you're being played over and over.

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The message will reach them indirectly.

Explains why we haven’t left near earth orbit for over 30 years.

Explains why we haven’t left near earth orbit for over 30 years.

re: variable message signs – I do agree that it is confusing for someone who can’t read can have problems with certain signs, most especially street names and information signs (eg, “Left Lane closed 1 mile/ Merge right now” – Is that what you mean by “variable message sign”?).

However, the question still stands: if we are going to require foreigners to take the test in English to address this problem, will we require the same thing of illiterate US citizens who pose the exact same sort of problem on the road? I don’t necessarily have a problem with the requirement, I just want to make sure it’s a requirement expected of all drivers equally and not being used to single out a class.

re: variable message signs – I do agree that it is confusing for someone who can’t read can have problems with certain signs, most especially street names and information signs (eg, “Left Lane closed 1 mile/ Merge right now” – Is that what you mean by “variable message sign”?).

However, the question still stands: if we are going to require foreigners to take the test in English to address this problem, will we require the same thing of illiterate US citizens who pose the exact same sort of problem on the road? I don’t necessarily have a problem with the requirement, I just want to make sure it’s a requirement expected of all drivers equally and not being used to single out a class.

Here here!

Here here!

No, you speak AMERICAN. Ask any Englishman if we in this country speak English. They will tell you no, we do not. As it's always been said, England and America are two countries separated by a common language.

BTW, I have been to Alabama. Spent over a year down there. LOTS of you folks down there HARDLY even speak American, let alone English.

Now, if you'll pardon me, I have to call a bobby. Someone has gotten into the boot of my auto. I'll have to catch a lorry to get to work. (THAT'S English!)

Maybe I missed it, but it sounded like he is referring to people driving. What is wrong with requiring people to know the language that the road signs are printed in? What's next a pole with 12 different stop signs on it? I was in an accident a few years back where a man failed to yield, luckily the only thing hurt was sheet metal. The man knew zero English but had a license. He was sited for failing to yield. Seems to me we did him a disservice. Had we required him to know some English in order to obtain a license perhaps he would have yielded, avoided the accident, not been ticketed, PLUS pay higher insurance rates. While I don't agree with what appears to be a good ol'boy approach to campaigning, I do have to agree he has a valid point about the language.

Of course if he wins it will just confirm what we all know, that Alabama is full of racists, rednecks, and pickup trucks. :D

Yeah, right. The French are about the ONLY country out there that makes sure that it's language is not perverted with English. The Chinese have large groups of people who get together every Sunday to speak nothing but English. The Dutch speak English, German, French and Dutch. The Swiss have both German and French as their “official” languages. The Canadians print EVERYTHING in both English and French.

This is the only country that won't even TRY to educate itself as to the rest of the world. It's an incredibly selfish and immature attitude that EVERYONE ELSE has to speak OUR language. Speak it slowly and clearly enough, and EVERYONE can understand it, right? We have become the laziest, most immature people on the planet, not even willing to learn how to COMMUNICATE with anyone that doesn't kiss our asses.

When I was a kid, we used to teach kids Spanish in the 4th-6th grades. We stopped doing that in Colorado then I came long, and it's really annoyed me that I lost out on that opportunity. I did study German, but that was years later, when it is REALLY hard to learn another language. It would be SO much better if we just allowed others to be who they are, and did a little bit of learning ourselves. It just amazes me how people in this country can think that they can fight to stay as stupid as hell and have some reason for pride. If ANY of these “English only” types would use their brains to do anything buy keep their heads from imploding and actually LEARN something, then they might be worthy of emulation. But as it is, they are nothing but selfish, childish people who just embarrass the hell out of the rest of us.

Reading street signs without being able to read English isn't much of a problem, by design. This is intentional; the signs are meant to be understood independently of what's written on them, which is why they come in different shapes and colors.

Plenty of illiterate Americans get by more or less just fine without being able to read English; likewise, I do more or less ok in countries where I don't speak the local language. One might get lost more often, but the driving itself is quite manageable.

There may be other defenses “English Only” laws, but driving isn't one of them.

No, pinhead. The native language(s) of Alabama are Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Shawnee, Tuscarora, Sewee, Tohome, Chine, Congaree, Keyauwee, Nottoway, Natchez, Muscogee, Ocale,…

You, Tim James, are an unwelcome foreigner.

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Why not use universal signs, like they do in Europe. No language necessary.

Agreed 100%. I'll also add that the actual process of learning another language has a lot of benefits. It obviously improves communication between people, which is instrumental for tightening communities. It improves an English speaker's own ability to speak English.

It's also fantastic exercise for the brain: learning another language make a person “smarter”. I suspect multi-lingual Americans would be less likely to vote for yahoos like the one in the article.

Many illiterate English-speakers– who can't read English, by definition– drive with little problem.

Requiring English to read street signs is a false argument. Take your example of stop signs, for example: they are all red octagons, so why do we need 12 of them? Yield signs are all the same; the guy who hit you almost certainly understood that an inverted red-and-whit triangle means “yield”. I'd even bet that you yourself don't actually “read” hazard and rule signs because you know at a glance what it means.

Such signs are universal symbols across North America for a reason; and as smallbear points out, Europe has been doing the same thing for ages since so many different languages are crammed into such a small place.

One might have other reasons to require English language in the US, but driving safety isn't one of them.

Too funny. Unemployed ditto-head troll working from home selling accessories online to make ends meet by posting to liberal websites. The sure-tell is the hilarious lack of understanding of correct punctuation, grammar, and usage … which they they didn't even bother to fix (“If you Click on The following web, I can through this day”. Duh.)

And the really funny part is that as a Faux Noise watcher they likely blame libruls and immigrators for their unemployment and need to phish online, rather than placing the blame where it belongs — with the fascist republican corporate shills who've deregulated our economy into a middle class recession and multi-trillion dollar windfall for the corporate rich.

How's it feel to be trickled on by the scum you vote for, shape-us? Remember, there are only two kinds of Republicans — millionaires and suckers.

Too funny. Unemployed ditto-head troll working from home selling accessories online to make ends meet by posting to liberal websites. Same joker as “shape-us”.

And the really funny part is that as a Faux Noise watcher they likely blame libruls and immigrators for their unemployment and need to phish online, rather than placing the blame where it belongs — with the fascist republican corporate shills who've deregulated our economy into a middle class recession and multi-trillion dollar windfall for the corporate rich.

How's it feel to be trickled on by the scum you vote for, handbagsonlinesale? Remember, there are only two kinds of Republicans — millionaires and suckers.

Information signs yes, goto wikipedia search variable message signs they have some nice example pics. They come in various shapes and sizes. Also Google HOV lane signs and tell me that sign will make sense if you do not read English.

Everyone should have to take the same test in the same language, period. If LANGUAGE DOESN’T MATTER then WHY is there different tests for different languages? A drivers license is a privilege not a right. In order to obtain that privilege you should be required to pass an exam in the language that is used.

Information signs yes, goto wikipedia search variable message signs they have some nice example pics. They come in various shapes and sizes. Also Google HOV lane signs and tell me that sign will make sense if you do not read English.

Everyone should have to take the same test in the same language, period. If LANGUAGE DOESN’T MATTER then WHY is there different tests for different languages? A drivers license is a privilege not a right. In order to obtain that privilege you should be required to pass an exam in the language that is used.

Well, you can't really blame the guy for being a moron living in moron land, ok I guess you can. But unlike other countries, the U.S. isn't really interested in teaching it's citizens a foreign language because it's the nature of the American empire to export English as the language that will be used by the rest of the world as a second language as our populations become more homogenous.

That being said, they don't speak English in Alabama by any stretch of the imagination.

I've been to Alabama—-do they speak English there?
hmmm
Of course the British don't think we speak English anywhere in the USA.
I sure hope I don't have to learn Alabamese to live in the USA, I found it hard enough to learn Kentuckonian.

lol right, i thought they spoke hick there. lol.

Your logic is seriously flawed. You should calm down stop taking things personally and read what I wrote.

First, who brought up anything about illegal immigrants?
Second, what do immigrants legal or illegal have to do with any of this?

You don’t have to be an immigrant to be illiterate. We graduate kids from our education system every year who can’t read or write. Why do you think the government funds adult basic literacy programs?

Now here is your chance to show me YOUR brilliant logic. Please explain to me how requiring everyone to take the same test in English is penalizing or discriminating?

My two friends who were killed on their motorcycle where hit by a Ukrainian man going the wrong direction on a one way street. I do not know if he spoke English or not.

If you don’t think being able to read is important to drive go look up HOV signs tell me those symbols make sense. Check out the wiki article on variable message signs.

Quoting mildly funny movies from the 80s doesn’t make you funny.

Your logic is seriously flawed. You should calm down stop taking things personally and read what I wrote.

First, who brought up anything about illegal immigrants?
Second, what do immigrants legal or illegal have to do with any of this?

You don’t have to be an immigrant to be illiterate. We graduate kids from our education system every year who can’t read or write. Why do you think the government funds adult basic literacy programs?

Now here is your chance to show me YOUR brilliant logic. Please explain to me how requiring everyone to take the same test in English is penalizing or discriminating?

My two friends who were killed on their motorcycle where hit by a Ukrainian man going the wrong direction on a one way street. I do not know if he spoke English or not.

If you don’t think being able to read is important to drive go look up HOV signs tell me those symbols make sense. Check out the wiki article on variable message signs.

Quoting mildly funny movies from the 80s doesn’t make you funny.

What does it matter to you what other people speak? Why must you insinuate your beliefs onto others? What does it matter to you?

Here in New England we have lots of French speaking people. Generally they are tourists from Canada and we welcome them with open arms. We put up road signs with kilometres on them so they feel more at home. It's all good.

We owe billions of dollars to strangers all over the world and we had better be willing to let them come look at what THEY own or else the world is just going to get more messed up.

Most road signs consist of arrows or place names and are quite understandable by anyone. Stop signs are universal and understood by everyone.

Really just go to Quebec to understand the problem. You can't read the road signs but somehow you can get where you are going just fine. It is NOT a problem.

Do you have a real issue or are you just making something up to try to be clever?

Actually Timmy boy, Alabamians speak a dialect of English, not proper English. Regardless, all the foreigners I know speak English in addition to their native tongue making them bilingual. So Timmy, how many Alabamians speak two languages? The ones I've met don't even speak English correctly. Idiot.

Sounds reasonable to me, last time I checked this WAS America!

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I understand what you’re talking about. Got it. (Though honestly, there are a lot of construction signs and so on that confuse me, despite the fact I read English reasonably well ;)

I certainly agree that driving is a privilege. It should be limited to people who can demonstrate an understanding of the rules of driving– which is why the exams are administered in different languages.

In all fairness, though, I’m actually not focusing on the language. I’m focusing on the reading of the language. As I recall, somewhere around 14% of all adults in America can’t read, but a lot of them can drive with little problem. Which leads me to ask:

Should illiterate people– those who can’t read English– be allowed to drive?

and

If illiterates are allowed to drive, why shouldn’t non-English speakers be allowed to, as well?

I can think of a couple justification myself, but they’re weak, and I seriously doubt they’re sound enough to base the inevitable court case on– which is, I guess, ultimately how a question like this would be settled, unfortunately.

I understand what you’re talking about. Got it. (Though honestly, there are a lot of construction signs and so on that confuse me, despite the fact I read English reasonably well ;)

I certainly agree that driving is a privilege. It should be limited to people who can demonstrate an understanding of the rules of driving– which is why the exams are administered in different languages.

In all fairness, though, I’m actually not focusing on the language. I’m focusing on the reading of the language. As I recall, somewhere around 14% of all adults in America can’t read, but a lot of them can drive with little problem. Which leads me to ask:

Should illiterate people– those who can’t read English– be allowed to drive?

and

If illiterates are allowed to drive, why shouldn’t non-English speakers be allowed to, as well?

I can think of a couple justification myself, but they’re weak, and I seriously doubt they’re sound enough to base the inevitable court case on– which is, I guess, ultimately how a question like this would be settled, unfortunately.

I understand what you’re talking about. Got it. (Though honestly, there are a lot of construction signs and so on that confuse me, despite the fact I read English reasonably well ;)

I certainly agree that driving is a privilege. It should be limited to people who can demonstrate an understanding of the rules of driving– which is why the exams are administered in different languages.

In all fairness, though, I’m actually not focusing on the language. I’m focusing on the reading of the language. As I recall, somewhere around 14% of all adults in America can’t read, but a lot of them can drive with little problem. Which leads me to ask:

Should illiterate people– those who can’t read English– be allowed to drive?

and

If illiterates are allowed to drive, why shouldn’t non-English speakers be allowed to, as well?

I can think of a couple justification myself, but they’re weak, and I seriously doubt they’re sound enough to base the inevitable court case on– which is, I guess, ultimately how a question like this would be settled, unfortunately.

Firstly, historically, the USA is a country peopled by immigrants – which is one of the reasons why American English is different from British English (and all the other varieties). English is the first language of the majority of Americans, but not the first language of all Americans. It is the language of American TV, but that is a business decision, not a constitutional one. The vocabulary and pronunciation of the varieties of English spoken in the USA differ from region to region, so in a sense, it is not a single language.
How many languages are spoken in Mexico? Around 30, the most important being Spanish, but that is not the only language that textbooks are printed in. How many languages are spoken in France, Spain, Switzerland … ? In every country that I can think oif, the answer is more than one, but that is not something I would expect an “an Alabama Republican gubernatorial candidate” to know.

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You are correct MOST are easily recognizable, but what about variable message signs? The only symbols I've ever seen on a variable message sign are those of the alphabet. How are they suppose to read those if they don't know English?

My issue is I drive a lot, I also ride my motorcycle a lot. I lost two friends because of a careless driver, I lost another friend who was killed by a motorist speeding through a construction zone. Does knowing English make anyone a less careless driver no, but does it add to people's safety on the roads, I say yes! That is my issue and why I agree with it.

I have better things to do then be clever for your amusement.

See my reply above it applies to you too.

Variable message signs.

Sounds like something you would use to “pry” yer door open on yer pickup , when you’ve been drinkin’ moon and locked your keys inside while draining your “OldAtlantic.”

Sounds like something you would use to “pry” yer door open on yer pickup , when you’ve been drinkin’ moon and locked your keys inside while draining your “OldAtlantic.”

Sounds like something you would use to “pry” yer door open on yer pickup , when you’ve been drinkin’ moon and locked your keys inside while draining your “OldAtlantic.”

Another illiterate candidate for office who does not know that we have no legal language in the US, and that a court case is likely to be brought. France has a legal language. The US never had one and probably is not going to have one. That means the guy wants to run on a platform based on his ignorance of the laws of the land.

Poor, uneducated people are not pleasant to be around if you're someone who's neither. Unfortunately, a lot of illegal immigrants are both. No one likes to be glared at while you're outside watering your lawn. No one likes to deal with screaming, unruly small children, or have people jabber through movies incessantly, or with people yelling at the top of their lungs in a department store until it sounds like they're always screaming, or with people who put on way too much perfume etc … And when they're illegal immigrants who don't seem the least bit interested in assimilating to the culture a targe it makes it all the more annoying. T

Pero sin sintas.

Well, let’s see, now. First, YOU were the one who brought up people whose first language isn’t English being a danger on the road. You brought up 2 friends who were killed on the road, and implied that it was foreigners who had done so and then you state later that ONE was a foreigner, and you don’t even know if the person even DID speak English or not. So that is TWO strikes against you.

As to it being discriminatory to make people take a driver’s test in English, this is NOT a country like in the rest of the world, we have more people here from EVERY country in the world. To not allow for that is to deny a HUGE part of who we are as a country.

Let me clue you in on a little fact about immigration, illegal or not. When people come here, and it’s ALWAYS been this way, the first generation, the one that traveled here, generally DOESN’T learn the language. There are huge sections of nearly every large city in this country where people do NOT speak English. Their KIDS do, and they tend to be the translators. They know both languages, and teach their kids English, and most of the time those kids don’t know their grandparent’s language at all. Some do, but most don’t see the point.

It’s kind of funny, but in Europe, where they have ALL kinds of languages and the countries are about the size of our states, they have managed to come up with a way for everyone to know what the signs mean. It’s really fairly elementary, but apparently it’s beyond us. We, with people from all over the globe, can’t even do that much to keep OURSELVES safe.

And I wasn’t trying to be funny. I was trying to point out the lack of actual logic behind your thinking. Sorry it skimmed right over you.

BTW, I TOTALLY agree with you on this country graduating all kinds of people who can’t read. They can’t think, either, and a huge number of them go on to run for elected office, and a surprising number of them win. And I’m not taking this personally at all. I was born here and I’m sure I’ll die here, and I would have really appreciated a chance to learn another language back when it would have been easier to do so. But this country got xenophobic a long time ago and took away the opportunity to actually GET an education. Thank God I came along and graduated before Reagan came along. Education went right down the toilet in preference to brainwashing at that point.

Well, let’s see, now. First, YOU were the one who brought up people whose first language isn’t English being a danger on the road. You brought up 2 friends who were killed on the road, and implied that it was foreigners who had done so and then you state later that ONE was a foreigner, and you don’t even know if the person even DID speak English or not. So that is TWO strikes against you.

As to it being discriminatory to make people take a driver’s test in English, this is NOT a country like in the rest of the world, we have more people here from EVERY country in the world. To not allow for that is to deny a HUGE part of who we are as a country.

Let me clue you in on a little fact about immigration, illegal or not. When people come here, and it’s ALWAYS been this way, the first generation, the one that traveled here, generally DOESN’T learn the language. There are huge sections of nearly every large city in this country where people do NOT speak English. Their KIDS do, and they tend to be the translators. They know both languages, and teach their kids English, and most of the time those kids don’t know their grandparent’s language at all. Some do, but most don’t see the point.

It’s kind of funny, but in Europe, where they have ALL kinds of languages and the countries are about the size of our states, they have managed to come up with a way for everyone to know what the signs mean. It’s really fairly elementary, but apparently it’s beyond us. We, with people from all over the globe, can’t even do that much to keep OURSELVES safe.

And I wasn’t trying to be funny. I was trying to point out the lack of actual logic behind your thinking. Sorry it skimmed right over you.

BTW, I TOTALLY agree with you on this country graduating all kinds of people who can’t read. They can’t think, either, and a huge number of them go on to run for elected office, and a surprising number of them win. And I’m not taking this personally at all. I was born here and I’m sure I’ll die here, and I would have really appreciated a chance to learn another language back when it would have been easier to do so. But this country got xenophobic a long time ago and took away the opportunity to actually GET an education. Thank God I came along and graduated before Reagan came along. Education went right down the toilet in preference to brainwashing at that point.

Your logic is BRILLIANT! “I have had friends killed by careless drivers”, but you don't mention EITHER of them being killed by illegal immigrants, or even by immigrants at all. So you're saying that since AMERICANS can't be bothered top use their eyes while driving we have to penalize and discriminate against those from OTHER countries.

So if she weighs the same as a duck, she's made of wood. BRILLIANT LOGIC!

It isnt “full” of them. I live in Alabama but I was born in Minnesota and was raised in California. I am Liberal, Democrat, and Pagan. I still have a northern accent. Lets not become the hypocrisy that is the right.

Some businessman.

The translations have already been done, as noted in the video. If the cost of translation is so freaking burdensome, what kind of businessman would throw away that entire investment?

It's a sunk cost. That year's budget is long closed out. All you can do now is maximize the return on investment.

And he promises to chuck it all once he's in charge. What an unprofitable idiot.

Sorry, if you go to Mexico or many other Spanish-speaking countries you may not get to learn any Spanish because many of them have learned English.

Well you are the only one though, right?. I mean that isn't some ignorant, racist hillbilly who CAN”T speak English or Spanish or anything else that is decipherable to anyone with an IQ above 75.

As it has been throughout our history, immigrants may have difficulty learning the American language. Their children speak English first, and at least understand the old language. The third generation speaks English exclusively. The fourth generation discovers that something has been lost by becoming so thoroughly American.

What an insult to pickup trucks everywhere.

Go fuck yourself you liberal trash! In america, it must be trequired to speak English ONLY!!!!!

Whether its Alabama or gutter drawl english of Boston or NY, or any Northern state the requirement os being an American citizen is ENGLISH!!! Spek it or get the hell out!

the requirement os being an American citizen is ENGLISH!!! Spek it or get the hell out!

Maybe you'll take your own advice?

Make English the legal, official language if you will but do not tell me about de facto…that is not law. It is merely what many spoke before the nation became what it now is. In fact, Franklin way back wanted to make German our official language!

Please do not insist that we all speak the language that many do speak. Show me a law that says we must speak that language.

Also, the correct word is it's. There's an apostrophe.

It's called “fast typing”. But is this what you want to share from your illegal alien anti gringo courses?

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Give a man religion and he will starve to death praying for a fish

Hey! Some of my best friends are gringos!

The point, of course, is that you shouldn't type faster than you can think.

If you insist on making an inflammatory “English Only” statement, you ought to be extra careful in writing it– because it only makes you look silly when you show off poor English skills. And that hurts your credibility.

You call that Alabammy Speak English?

The money saved by printing the test in only one language will have to be spent by the state to fund its education programs to teach upcoming English language learning (ELL) students. This is not a savings for the state budget, and it is not a sensible reform to encourage safer driving. This is a blatantly xenophobic battle cry. Just because we're far enough removed from our country's most significant periods of widespread immigration to forget that our forebears were once immigrants doesn't mean we need to repeat prejudicial mistakes.

If you hate Alabama and its policy on non liberal bs, then keep your gutter drawl accent ass OUT!

Says the deaperate liberal nut that's the grammar police! Build your own country if and force it to accept any and every language as official!

A coherent, intelligent response to a well-thought-out post. [coughs loudly] Sherri, slinging insults doesn't make you sound good or as though you know what you're saying. What it does do is diminish your credibility, particularly when you are incorrect: there is no official language in the US.

That was indeed humorous, Druthers. I liked it but I do like the southern drawl too.

I am quite happy already to be living in a country that's full of many kinds of people and many kinds of languages. We can only hope that narrow-sighted “English Only” rules will never see the light of day, and everyone– regardless of race, color, creed, yadda, yadda, yadda– will continue to be welcome here.

Because only in America are you free to call me “deaperate”, and I am free to laugh at you!

Not in Alabama you rednecks don't. Not proper English, that's for sure.

You speak redneck pidgin.

I speeka SEEX lanwadges, but I speeka da inglees de best!

Better than you inbred, retarded Alabama rednecks.

“Why do our politicians make us give driver's licenses in twelve languages?”

In the heart of Banjoland, few speak English. Including the candidate.

Does Alabama give driver's licenses in twelve languages or driver's license tests in twelve languages?

Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle.

SEND THEM ALL BACK!!!! Just as soon as they finish my roof, round them up and ship them out…….

FYI, when you insist on one speaking the language of your American culture, one can only imagine what the Navajo, Apache and other American Indian tribal councils were wondering. When you really think about…………they were speaking Spanish over most of North America before English. Slip that in your Tea and see how it goes down.

Well, I guess the Republican Party of No has by their desires against a certain element in our Society closed their doors to allowing non speaking English voters to vote Republican. The Party of No is becoming more and more segregated from American Life by comments like this to be read by a growing number of white bigots.

Right I did, and my opinion is they pose a greater risk than an English speaking person. My point was that the roadways are a dangerous place and not to be taken lightly as most people seem to do. I brought up these two tragedies to illustrate my point that people die because of other people’s carelessness. That driving can be very dangerous regardless of what language the driver can read, but adding a language barrier makes it that much more dangerous. Like you said skimmed right over your head. Hope your not an Umpire.

I look at it as purely a safety issue. I feel requiring a minimal amount of English in order to obtain a drivers license makes myself and my family safer while on the road. There are many signs out there with nothing more than English written on them and the only shape being a square. If you can’t understand this perhaps your great Pre-Reagan education has failed you.

You’re right, there are people here from every where. I feel if they live here, want to call America home, they should make an effort to learn the common tongue, not just speak it but read and write it. Call me backwards whatever, that’s my opinion and I feel being illiterate and or ignorant of the common tongue will make it tough to have a decent life regardless of the country you life in.

Since I like backing my thoughts up with real life examples. I was out with my cousin and his wife who is from Peru last night. She speaks Spanish and has learned English since moving here. I asked last night what they thought about this, they both stated it would have been hard her not being able to drive but jokingly stated the roads would have been a lot safer. She said her first year here she had lots of trouble with word only signs especially the big flashing signs that say CAUTION!! She could read caution but be unable to read the message that followed. She said there were many times, she cut people off or made dangerous moves in traffic because of trouble reading/translating signs. My cousin attests to this saying it’s been 3 years since she moved here and he is just now comfortable with letting her drive, kind of.

Now had she made a mistake, caused an accident, killed someone she would have to deal with that the rest of her life. They would have probably ended up being sued in this litigation society and lost everything. All because someone “feels” requiring some basic English to drive is being mean? Give me a break. Public transportation needs customers too.

How come everyone thinks Europe is so much better then the US? Try living there for a while once. I’m willing to bet your commenting on something you have ZERO idea about. It’s a nice place to visit but 2 years was enough.

That’s it blame it on the government for your lack of education. It’s the country’s fault I didn’t learn another language. When I went to school during the Reagen era I could choose Spanish, French, German, or Latin. Seems that Pre-Regan edumacation has failed you again. Plus last I checked the public library is still free and full of books? Had you REALLY wanted to learn a language you could have found a way. My father’s wife went to school in the Pre-Reagen era, she recently retired from her job as a multilingual air traffic controller. So what’s your excuse? Had you REALLY wanted to learn you would have. That last paragraph proves you are a moron! It also proves I am also a moron for wasting my time explaining myself to a person who wants to blame their laziness on society.

Do everyone a favor, pull your lip up over your head and swallow, and please stop wasting our time with your nonsense.

Right I did, and my opinion is they pose a greater risk than an English speaking person. My point was that the roadways are a dangerous place and not to be taken lightly as most people seem to do. I brought up these two tragedies to illustrate my point that people die because of other people’s carelessness. That driving can be very dangerous regardless of what language the driver can read, but adding a language barrier makes it that much more dangerous. Like you said skimmed right over your head. Hope your not an Umpire.

I look at it as purely a safety issue. I feel requiring a minimal amount of English in order to obtain a drivers license makes myself and my family safer while on the road. There are many signs out there with nothing more than English written on them and the only shape being a square. If you can’t understand this perhaps your great Pre-Reagan education has failed you.

You’re right, there are people here from every where. I feel if they live here, want to call America home, they should make an effort to learn the common tongue, not just speak it but read and write it. Call me backwards whatever, that’s my opinion and I feel being illiterate and or ignorant of the common tongue will make it tough to have a decent life regardless of the country you life in.

Since I like backing my thoughts up with real life examples. I was out with my cousin and his wife who is from Peru last night. She speaks Spanish and has learned English since moving here. I asked last night what they thought about this, they both stated it would have been hard her not being able to drive but jokingly stated the roads would have been a lot safer. She said her first year here she had lots of trouble with word only signs especially the big flashing signs that say CAUTION!! She could read caution but be unable to read the message that followed. She said there were many times, she cut people off or made dangerous moves in traffic because of trouble reading/translating signs. My cousin attests to this saying it’s been 3 years since she moved here and he is just now comfortable with letting her drive, kind of.

Now had she made a mistake, caused an accident, killed someone she would have to deal with that the rest of her life. They would have probably ended up being sued in this litigation society and lost everything. All because someone “feels” requiring some basic English to drive is being mean? Give me a break. Public transportation needs customers too.

How come everyone thinks Europe is so much better then the US? Try living there for a while once. I’m willing to bet your commenting on something you have ZERO idea about. It’s a nice place to visit but 2 years was enough.

That’s it blame it on the government for your lack of education. It’s the country’s fault I didn’t learn another language. When I went to school during the Reagen era I could choose Spanish, French, German, or Latin. Seems that Pre-Regan edumacation has failed you again. Plus last I checked the public library is still free and full of books? Had you REALLY wanted to learn a language you could have found a way. My father’s wife went to school in the Pre-Reagen era, she recently retired from her job as a multilingual air traffic controller. So what’s your excuse? Had you REALLY wanted to learn you would have. That last paragraph proves you are a moron! It also proves I am also a moron for wasting my time explaining myself to a person who wants to blame their laziness on society.

Do everyone a favor, pull your lip up over your head and swallow, and please stop wasting our time with your nonsense.

It’s strictly a safety issue in my opinion, I see the inability of the driver of a 6000lb wrecking ball to read English as a safety hazard. That’s all. It’s not an immigrant issue at all. If you were born here and are unable to pass what I would call a “standard” driving test in English (because that’s the language they use on the roads) then you better buy a bus pass. Maybe while on the bus they can buddy up with Achmed and both learn some English.

It will be decided by a court case that’s how we operate! The sad part is the court case usually comes after someone has lost their life in an accident.

It’s strictly a safety issue in my opinion, I see the inability of the driver of a 6000lb wrecking ball to read English as a safety hazard. That’s all. It’s not an immigrant issue at all. If you were born here and are unable to pass what I would call a “standard” driving test in English (because that’s the language they use on the roads) then you better buy a bus pass. Maybe while on the bus they can buddy up with Achmed and both learn some English.

It will be decided by a court case that’s how we operate! The sad part is the court case usually comes after someone has lost their life in an accident.

OK, I think I fully understand your point now, and safety is certainly a valid concern. I’d point out, though, that excluding all non-readers from the driving means excluding the 1-in-8 illiterate adults in America. That includes immigrants, of course, but also native-born English speakers who can’t read, as well as people with learning disabilities such as dyslexia.

As I recall, most states have mechanisms to provide driving tests to all these groups: foreign language exams (as the article discusses), as well as oral exams for those who can’t read. The state, at least at this point in time, seems to be of the opinion that reading isn’t truly a prerequisite for driving.

For these reasons, I’ll simply agree to disagree with you :-) Anyway, sorry to belabor the point; illiteracy and reading are issues that are quite important to me. Thanks for a nice discussion.

OK, I think I fully understand your point now, and safety is certainly a valid concern. I’d point out, though, that excluding all non-readers from the driving means excluding the 1-in-8 illiterate adults in America. That includes immigrants, of course, but also native-born English speakers who can’t read, as well as people with learning disabilities such as dyslexia.

As I recall, most states have mechanisms to provide driving tests to all these groups: foreign language exams (as the article discusses), as well as oral exams for those who can’t read. The state, at least at this point in time, seems to be of the opinion that reading isn’t truly a prerequisite for driving.

For these reasons, I’ll simply agree to disagree with you :-) Anyway, sorry to belabor the point; illiteracy and reading are issues that are quite important to me. Thanks for a nice discussion.

Point taken, I would think, well I hope anyhow that a fully capable illiterate adult would want to take the steps to go forward in rectifying their illiteracy issues. If not just to get their license but to improve their quality of life. But it’s the old you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. Learning disabled, physically challenged etc. are special cases no doubt. I still feel they should be held to the same standard/requirements. Lowering your standards because of this or that especially when peoples lives are involved is just not a good idea.

The one thing to keep in mind, as tax payers we spend a decent amount on public transportation. It’s not as if not having a license means your doomed. During my college years I had a license but I was too poor to afford a car, maintenance, insurance, etc. etc. I spent what money I made/had on important things like books, food. Biking was fun, cheap, and good exercise. Riding the bus gives you time to relax, work on your studies and a chance to see your surroundings from a different perspective. You miss a lot when your driving, because, well, your driving.

Thanks for the discussion! It’s nice to discuss with someone intelligent that can bring up valid points without reducing the conversation to name calling. :D

Point taken, I would think, well I hope anyhow that a fully capable illiterate adult would want to take the steps to go forward in rectifying their illiteracy issues. If not just to get their license but to improve their quality of life. But it’s the old you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. Learning disabled, physically challenged etc. are special cases no doubt. I still feel they should be held to the same standard/requirements. Lowering your standards because of this or that especially when peoples lives are involved is just not a good idea.

The one thing to keep in mind, as tax payers we spend a decent amount on public transportation. It’s not as if not having a license means your doomed. During my college years I had a license but I was too poor to afford a car, maintenance, insurance, etc. etc. I spent what money I made/had on important things like books, food. Biking was fun, cheap, and good exercise. Riding the bus gives you time to relax, work on your studies and a chance to see your surroundings from a different perspective. You miss a lot when your driving, because, well, your driving.

Thanks for the discussion! It’s nice to discuss with someone intelligent that can bring up valid points without reducing the conversation to name calling. :D

You must have a lovely relationship.

You must have a lovely relationship.

No it's idiotic… It means you would have more folks on the road without a license.
Germany gives thier test in 30 languages and they seem none the worst for it.

How many of you are tired of sales spam like this all through the website comments? If you are, please report it before flagging it. Ignoring it isn't making it go away, so do your part, please.

Apparently my last comment was moderated.

This is my last reply. Your last paragraph proves the type of person you are. Lazy, entitled, and you blame others for your situation. You proved this when you stated:

“I was born here and I’m sure I’ll die here, and I would have really appreciated a chance to learn another language back when it would have been easier to do so. But this country got xenophobic a long time ago and took away the opportunity to actually GET an education.”

Last I checked this isn’t Nazi Germany just yet, and if school didn’t teach you something you wanted to know, well the public library is still free. Maybe that’s different now I don’t know. I haven’t been there in a few years. Last I was though they had books about EVERYTHING and they will even ship them to your location from across the county! AMAZING!

Funny, when I went to school during the Reagen era we had a choice Spanish, French, German, and Latin. So I really don’t know what you are talking about my school had plenty of choices, and I went to a small rural district.

Blaming society, the education system etc. for not learning something you REALLY wanted to know is pure laziness. When I was in school they didn’t teach computer programming. They didn’t even have computers until my high school years, and when they did the only thing that taught was word processing. That didn’t stop me from learning how to write computer programs on my Commodore 64, later my Amiga. I spent my allowance on magazines, and had my mother make countless trips to the library to get books on the subject.

Had I thrown in the towel like you and said well school doesn’t teach it so forget it. I’m sure I would not have the career in the computer industry that I have today. Instead I would be sitting there in your shoes saying wow I could have been a computer programmer but the education system and the country crushed my dreams. WAAAAA! I grew up being called a nerd, a geek all because of my love of computers. I’m sure you would have not received nearly the harassment I did for wanting to learn Spanish. So you just keep sitting there feeling entitled, being lazy, and continue blaming society for your short comings. After all you live in America don’t worry we’ll take care of you!

Apparently my last comment was moderated.

This is my last reply. Your last paragraph proves the type of person you are. Lazy, entitled, and you blame others for your situation. You proved this when you stated:

“I was born here and I’m sure I’ll die here, and I would have really appreciated a chance to learn another language back when it would have been easier to do so. But this country got xenophobic a long time ago and took away the opportunity to actually GET an education.”

Last I checked this isn’t Nazi Germany just yet, and if school didn’t teach you something you wanted to know, well the public library is still free. Maybe that’s different now I don’t know. I haven’t been there in a few years. Last I was though they had books about EVERYTHING and they will even ship them to your location from across the county! AMAZING!

Funny, when I went to school during the Reagen era we had a choice Spanish, French, German, and Latin. So I really don’t know what you are talking about my school had plenty of choices, and I went to a small rural district.

Blaming society, the education system etc. for not learning something you REALLY wanted to know is pure laziness. When I was in school they didn’t teach computer programming. They didn’t even have computers until my high school years, and when they did the only thing that taught was word processing. That didn’t stop me from learning how to write computer programs on my Commodore 64, later my Amiga. I spent my allowance on magazines, and had my mother make countless trips to the library to get books on the subject.

Had I thrown in the towel like you and said well school doesn’t teach it so forget it. I’m sure I would not have the career in the computer industry that I have today. Instead I would be sitting there in your shoes saying wow I could have been a computer programmer but the education system and the country crushed my dreams. WAAAAA! I grew up being called a nerd, a geek all because of my love of computers. I’m sure you would have not received nearly the harassment I did for wanting to learn Spanish. So you just keep sitting there feeling entitled, being lazy, and continue blaming society for your short comings. After all you live in America don’t worry we’ll take care of you!

I have NO idea what is up with the “moderating” here. I saw nothing in your post that would have led me to such an action. Sometimes I think it’s entirely random.

My education did not stop when I left school (after 4 years of college, for the record, where I graduated Magna Cum Laude). Since I got out of college, I taught myself electronics, computers (both hardware and software), computer graphics, photography, woodworking, audio and video production, and I own and operate my own company. And I read pretty much every day, so your point about me being a lazy illiterate doesn’t hold any water here. I DO know what a book is and what they are for. And also for the record, my first programming was done on a TI94A, and then on the C64. I still have that AND my Amigas (3 of them). And I built and maintain all 7 of the computers I use in my business, all but ONE of which run Linux. I am also currently learning string instrument building and have 4 instruments waiting for better weather to get finished.

I’m glad that you had an opportunity to learn another language. When I went to elementary school, which is when you should be learning languages, they took away the requirement to learn Spanish. In fact, my class was the first to NOT get that opportunity. And just what is it that YOU went around teaching yourself at the ripe old age of 9? At this point, being 51, learning a language is a very difficult thing to do. Blaming me for what I didn’t do at age 9 doesn’t work as an argument for me, here.

I do not feel entitled in any way shape or form. I do feel that as Americans we are entitled to some things, like a chance to make your way on your own if you want, and in a group if that works better for you. If you really HAVE to work for a large corporation, then that is fine, too. I don’t blame anyone but myself for whatever I am not. But to be honest, I’m fairly pleased with what I HAVE taught myself, and just hope that I have more years left to continue learning. I consider education the ONLY thing that sets us apart from the rest of the animal world, the thumb be damned. No other creature on the planet has the capacity to learn and to teach as man. Its’ a real shame that more people don’t see life as an educational experience.

I was a nerd, too, but the long hair and the guitar playing covered it up. I got good grades all the way through school, and for the most part enjoyed it. I was not one that was called a nerd, no one ever called me anything. They just thought I was weird, and the comments in my yearbooks will tell you that.

You draw a lot of conclusions from my comments, too bad that 98% of them are wrong. I said I didn’t get a chance to learn Spanish in school and from that you assume that I don’t do anything, I stopped even trying to learn after I got out of elementary school, and that I blame everyone for my not being YOU. To be honest, I’m glad I’m NOT you. I’m having too much fun being me.

I suspect that we have more in common than you think. Don’t jump to conclusions, and you might find a lot more common ground than distance. Have a great one.

Not a right winger, but I really do agree with an official language. Some of the extreme annoyances we should not have to deal with (though one of these, the outsourcing of jobs is a little different):

- Call up tech support because there’s something wrong with someone’s computer, they get a person in Bombai who can’t speak English. My father used to call me when I lived 2,000 miles away completely frustrated with a “help!!!! My computer is acting up, I called support, and tried to understand them for an hour. We got nowhere”.

- Walk into a store, fast food joint, or whatever, order something; the clerk can’t speak English. Well I for one am NOT about to pay for a wrong order, and quite frankly could care less to be *forced* to learn Spanish or what have you, because some are too lazy to learn English when they move here, in many cases ILLEGALLY.

- Most countries do have an official language

Quite frankly I lived in New Mexico for 11 years, and in the end didn’t end up learning Spanish. Here in New Jersey I’m not any more likely to learn it due to the language problems proposed and the fact that many companies don’t consider the benefits to customer service in having their own employee speak the same language of the customer. It really is bad customer service when one is presented with a worker who can’t communicate effectively in the language of most customers and doesn’t tend to make us happier with the business.

Ironic in all of this, is while many would pose opposition to this in the name of “immagrant rights”, more then a few immigrants really do themselves argue that this situation is completely ridiculous. On the topic one person who immigrated here from Russia in the 1970s said “what is all this ‘it would be too hard for Mexican immigrants’ be they legal or illegal ‘to learn English….” He then went on to say “I immigrated here from Russia in the 1970s, and learning English as a native Russian speaker, was way more difficult. What’s more, during the cold war we were considered commie pigs who must be in league with the KGB to infiltrate the country. Let some of these people experience what I had immigrating here from the former Soviet Union during the cold war. Until then, they can shut up about what is/is not hard and learn the language”.

Another person who immigrated here from Seychellas said this whole situation with drivers tests in so many different languages is totally ridiculous. It’s even more ridiculous that some should expect they can move here, not learn the language and figure we have to cater to them in their language instead.

But in any case, and as for myself, they can communicate in English if they care to communicate. Yes I have taken some Japanese while in college (voluntarily), but it had nothing to do with dealing with people who would chose not to learn English. In fact what I found was the opposite; while many illegals and the like expect us to communicate with them in Spanish, many of the Japanese for instance I had met had no such expectation. They made the effort to learn our language while moving here, and were both polite and respectful when communicating with us about the fact not everyone is fluent in their language.

Yes, speaking some Japanese was a pleasant surprise for many of them; but they didn’t expect that everyone living in another country would speak their language..

Democrats just love the Human Trafficking aspect of Illegal Immirgation it would seem:

http://biggovernment.com/amarcus/2010/04/30/ill…

Many of the traffic signs, but not informative signs such as Rest Stop 1 mile, street signs such as give directions, etc. What’s more, if Interstate signs were made multi-lingual they’d be too hard for anyone to read while going 65 or 75 mph. Many have a lot of information on them as is. These would be the typical blue and white, or green and white signs, as opposed to the standard stop, yield signs, etc.

They might be able to follow a simple traffic signal, but if they don’t have GPS, they could get quite lost. And as to asking for directions (beyond the possible language barrier, though English speakers can see this a bit as the gas station attendent doesn’t always speak fluent English anymore outside fill it, etc. But at least here in NJ; just try to stop at a gas station and as for directions. Most would say (and can’t say much about it, as I’m more of a visual driver myself), but “I’m a visual driver, don’t tend to pay attention to street names”. You simply don’t get them at most stations.

OK, so the net effect is get GPS (though many do have that today, some don’t), be able to read the non-traffic signs, or get lost and spend a half hour and a bit of gas trying to get back from some unknown location.

More then a few cops don’t speak Spanish also; so in that case if the person does something bad and needs to get pulled over there can be some problems as the officer and traffic violater can’t understand each other. So lets see, take them down to the police station, make an interpreter drive out at a time where school weeks and Saturday mail delivery are getting cut for budgetary considerations (along with 911 operators?). And so the cop needs to sit there how long, until he can give the person their ticket.

Mind you, can’t speak as a cop myself (though all my brothers are cops); but if I was having to wait 30-45 minutes twiddling my thumbs, I’d be more likely rather then less to issue a ticket vs a warning, out of sheer frustration over the situation, and wanting to say as little as possible to someone I couldn’t communicate with. A warning would mean little if the recipient couldn’t understand it. The court could spend it’s time and energy trying to communicate with the person; I really don’t care to pull teeth to say something as simple as “you ran a stop sign You need to make a positive stop, and not roll through the intersection”, etc.

Hello Fran,
I am not forcing my beliefs on others. I also welcome people from other countries with open arms, and as for the French, I am myself 1/2 French. My immigrant ancestors learned to speak the language that this country’s constitution and laws and street signs and etc. are written in.
I hope you aren’t getting all up into your self, thinking you are so broad-minded and others are bigots. That is very rude and insulting, and being open and respectful to different cultures is not what this issue is about, and you know it.
Thanks,
Janniel

While I have some Japanese in college (voluntarily), but it will not be those who chose to learn English deal had nothing to do with. Actually I did the opposite, while many illegal and the way we communicate with them in Spanish, for example, I met many Japanese expect such a hope. They have to learn our language while moving here, and both polite and respectful in fact not everyone is fluent in their language of communication with us were attempted.

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