Arabic Now an Option at Michigan DHS

Yes, most of the Arabs being resettled into the US these days are Muslim. My comment above was to point out that the Christian Arab influx ended some time ago. And those earlier Christian Lebanese (Palestinians also) managed to integrate pretty well without the benefit of special school programs or bilingual government forms.

BTW I am not from Michigan. There was a significant number of Lebanese Christians resettled in my neck of the woods also, in the 1950's, 1970's and 80's mostly.

 

Another of the unintended consequences of the two wars?

 

In the year 2000, prior to the 2003 invasion, there were already 90,000 Iraqi born residents in the US, many of them granted refugee status from Saddam's Iraq.

Since then an additional 58,000 have been admitted.

 

Very few Moslems understand Arabic. Might help our cause if they can read their own scriptures.

 

*snicker*

My new friends in Slovakia had no idea how many syllables we could make out of a word.

Our translators learned to understand and interpret "y'all" just fine, but I was scared to throw out gems such as "reckon," and "yonder."

To our most proficient translator, we gave an extremely advanced Southern phrase, offered with translation to the pagan.....er, the non-Southerners ......

"Bubba, we're fixin' to go over yonder to momanym's. Yeeeontu?"

("My dear brother, we shall depart momentarily and travel an interminable distance to our mother's chalet. I am pleased to announce that there shall be sundry acquaintances in attendance as well. Do you wish to accompany me?")

In case you're wondering, she failed. Alas, she returned the favor by asking us to say the Czech tongue twister,

"Strč prst skrz krk."

(Roughly translated, "stick your finger in your throat"--which is pretty much what Americans must do in order to pronounce the phrase). Since Southerners (due to genetics) need vowels to draw out our words, several of us were hospitalized. We're better now.

 

Well, ta be honest witcha, don't make me no never mind how a buncha yanks do it up nawth.

Hey, I was trying to figger out what A-rab (thats a long a for you yanks), Alabama had to do with a buncha yankees anyhow. We don't figger we need no Yankee DHS down here, so what do we care if they have A-rabic on some silly form anyhow. Shoot, I dd'n e'en know Arab had their own language. Even iffn they did, folks in Arab are smart enough to read yankee without their help.

Reckon we oughta just let the poor ole Yankees solve their own problems. Lawd knows we gottanuff of our own.

 

Glad your "island experience" hasn't tampered with your mastery of Heaven's Language...

(or is it your "private prayer" langage? )

 

I got confused - posted this, went to church and when time came to preach I was preaching in Southern

 

Sorry for the delay in replying, Freeatlast; I thought I had done so already.

Unless it is the case that the US no longer accepts new imigrants, I would think my anology stands. Unless they already spoke American English in their former home country, they will be beginners at that language when they first arrive in America.

 

I have no doubt that some come here with no or limited English speaking abilities. My point is the government is not separate from the people and the tax dollars come from the people already here. There is no need to spend the extra tax dollars for something that can be done by the individual seeking the assistance. It would be different if it was impossible for them to get the aid, but that is not the case. It just takes some added effort on their part. So, will it be more difficult for them, yes, but multiple language forms are a luxury that is not necessary as one standard language is sufficient and in no way keeps someone from applying for and receiving aid.