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Campaign info in Spanish

Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by Salty, Sep 29, 2009.

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  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Otis is running for mayor. He is not spanish, but devotes a full page in Spanish.

    What are your thoughts.

    Note, this is not a endorsement for this man, but rather the fact a page of his web site is in Spanish
     
  2. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Well, if there are Spanish speaking constituents then he is very smart...

    But if no one in his town speaks Spanish he is dumb.
     
  3. Nonsequitur

    Nonsequitur New Member

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    Speaking another language does not bother me.
    I'm a Texan.
    I remember that there were more brown-skinned Texicans that spoke mexican than white-skinned Texicans that spoke mexican that died for our independence at the Alamo.
    America is STILL the worlds' melting-pot. When you get a chance, look on the web-sites that document all the illegal aliens that are caught trying to enter this country, because their old country ....... Then look and see how many die in boats trying to get here.
    If a man lives in an Outer Mongolian/Nepalese/Thai mix area and wants to represent them, he should know the language.
    Please understand, I'm not ragging on you, it's just like TT said.
     
  4. Spear

    Spear New Member

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    I think it's a right tool to reach all the spanish-only speaking people of his area if there are many, so that they know his program and vote for him.

    What i wonder and annoys me strongly : if everyone goes that way, will it incite the non-english speaking people to learn the language of the country they're living in ? Not sure, that's why, even if i understand the concept, i have to disagree with it.
     
  5. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    We are a country made up of a great immigrant legacy.

    This is a good campaign tool. If I lived in Canada and were running for some office in Quebec you better believe I'll have a webpage in French.

    I don't know why its an issue with some people. We don't have a national language. We shouldn't have a national language. Our country has a growing hispanic population. It is only natural to have Spanish language communications.

    We need more people in the electorate, not less. :)
     
  6. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    Just my opinion, but if someone can't speak English, they don't need to be voting in the USA. People come to the US to get away from their countries bad policies, and it irks me that they want to change the US to fit their preferences instead of adjusting to ours. Learn the language first, then maybe I'll believe they know something about our political system.
     
  7. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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  8. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Being immigrant and not speaking english are two different subjects
     
  9. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    How many non-immigrants can only speak/read Spanish for voting purposes?
     
  10. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    What I mean is that just because this country has a history of immigration does not impose a lack of need for its citizens to speak the same language. Unity is best.
     
  11. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    I see. We agree then.:thumbsup:
     
  12. Spear

    Spear New Member

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    I understand your point of view, but from an integration point of view, i'm not sure it helps.

    I originate from the far north of France (Lille), where coal industry made the wealth of the region for years in the 50/60s (and then the decline any region knows when the mines close).
    We had many immigrants from Poland who came to do some very hard work as miners.

    When i lived at my parents, our neighbour originated from Poland, she was born in France, and sometimes her mum came to visit her, and we were there for a cup of coffee. Her mum had been in France for 38 years and didn't speak french properly (our neighbour had to translate, cause the mum was speaking kinda " Me want coffee ").

    And that's the same today. My wife is a nurse, she works in a reanimation service.
    We had much immigration from north Africa, and, mostly with religion purposes, some women never leave their homes (and they watch cable tv from their originate country), it's not rare that they don't speak french, even if they're 70 years old and have been there for 40 years.
    Hopefully for them, most of the emergency doctors are from northern Africa (yes, we're lacking french doctors), and a few months ago, and it occured several times, my wife entered the doctors office, while they were speaking in french, they suddenly started speaking in arab once she arrived. Many were shocked by such manners. THAT IS COMMUNAUTARISM !

    I'm okay for welcoming anybody here, who needs it, who comes to be safe, and/or to work, to share with us, to work with us, to exchange with us. That's the american concept of the melting pot. If you let people come, but that they come to live in YOUR country, without learning the language, and let them do, SOME (not all) won't learn it, because they'll work among their community, among those who " have the same origins ". That's not the purpose of the melting pot. The purpose is that we are alltogether, and the first way to exchange and advance together, is the language.

    It's not a generality, but it's an existing and possible reality.

    Even here, when some british come to buy a village, and you go there, everything in shops is written in english, even the menu of the restaurant, and people don't speak a word in french, i say NO ! It's not normal ! It IS communautarism ! (Even if they bought the village, pay taxes, etc ... if you live full time here, you must learn the language, final point.).
     
  13. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    I must respectfully disagree with those of you that say politicians should not campaign in other languages than English.

    But I will admit, that my disagreement may be because the Lord has pushed me (sometimes unwillingly) into Latino Evangelism and outreach. Most of the Latinos I am working with are from Puerto Rico... Spanish speaking Americans. They are trying to learn English. I am pushing for more ESL classes in our area.

    (BTW, those of you that think they should learn English.. please sign up to help teach them English. You don't have to know Spanish.. as a matter of fact.. when teaching ESL classes, you are not suppose to use Spanish, and they prefer the tutors to NOT know spanish.. so if you really want to help this problem.. sign up to tutor a local ESL class)

    OK, back to my point.. the ones I am working with are struggling to learn English. And while they may know some English, and some can function pretty well in an English only setting, a flyer or website in Spanish would help them much better understand the politician's stances.

    This is the same reason that our church's website can be converted instantly from English to Spanish with a Click of a button on the website. We consider every HUMAN important... Just like all American Citizens are equal, no matter what language they speak.. be it English, Spanish, German, French, or Arabic.

    Every American Citizen deserves the respect of allowing them to understand the message that is being put out.. be it a religious message, or a message that pertains to their community.

    That's my POV.. I know I am in a minority again... But God has opened my eyes when it comes to the prejudice and pride of English speaking Americans toward Latinos...

    Remember, Not every Hispanic is illegal. And many illegals came here legally, but let their authorization expire accidentally... Don't think it's possible? Do you know when your driver's license expires without you looking at it now?
     
  14. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    But Canada has two official languages!

    How many languages do you want for the US
    English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, German ...

    I am all for presenting the Gospel to our immigrants in their language. In fact, I was instrumental getting Spanish programing on our Christian Radio Station.

    But official business - it needs to be in one language - period. (Just ask Canada)

    Every other ethnic group that has come to the US has learned English.

    Tim - great thinking, ESL could be a great ministry for your church.
     
  15. Spear

    Spear New Member

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    Hi Tim,

    That's what i said, i imagine it's for a better understanding of the population (and get their vote ;)).

    How do things work in fact ? Let's imagine tomorrow i get a green card and move to USA. At my arrival, is there a national program for integration that'll help me learn the language ? What I need to know, considering our discussion, is if someone who wants to learn the language, can do it easily ?
     
  16. Robert Snow

    Robert Snow New Member

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    This politician is not concerned with what language people speak. He is concerned with reaching people with his message and hopefully getting votes.

    I believe too much is made about people here in the U.S. who don't speak English. My wife was born in Mexico; her parents never learned English, but all her siblings speak English well. Just give it a generation and most immigrants will learn English.
     
  17. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Absolutely! :thumbs:

    If I were ever to run for gov't office I would campaign in English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabiac because that is the composition of our community.

    We still have discrimination active in the United States. I too am convinced of this. That discrimination starts with Hispanics and includes those who dress differently than us and speak a less than perfect form of English. It is sad. We owe these people respect and dignity if for no other reason than they are human beings too.

    Why wouldn't we want Americans to have access to their language on matters of government and leadership? It seems it would continue to widen the voting pool. Of course maybe some might want their votes to count less...maybe 3/5 of other votes or something...but that is how some people think.

    BTW, the church I serve in offers ESL on weeknights and it has been a tremendous ministry for our church. We also offer three alternative language services on Sundays, Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese. These services are exploding and the ministry staff we have dedicated to them are seeing many lives changed with the Gospel. We are truly seeing the world brought into our lives for the Kingdom of God!:thumbs:
     
  18. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    If I was 20 years younger I would try to learn Mexican Spanish.
     
  19. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    The following may explain the candidate's affinity for Spanish:
    Otis for Mayor - Family Background

    "Five years ago, my wife and I found out that we couldn’t have children and decided to adopt. After my wife’s sister and her husband adopted 2 gorgeous girls from Colombia, we decided to do the same. We began to study the country and its rich history, but also its problems of poverty and human rights violations. Many children born in Colombia will not have the opportunity to receive an education, so my wife and I decided to pool our resources and adopt 2 children from Colombia. We received our first child five years ago, Sergianni Linda Jennings, and three years ago we adopted Rafael Andres Jennings. Our family’s mission is to educate our children, and we want them to receive college degrees and learn to speak Spanish. My wife has been studying Spanish for the past 8 years, which will hopefully make it easier for our children to learn their native language. As they enter adulthood, it is our hope that they will return to Colombia, reunite with their biological families, and establish connections to help other children living in orphanages there."
     
  20. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    So I suppose is someone comes to the USA from England, you all would not have a problem if they drove on the left side of the road?

    When in Rome, do as the Romans.
     
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