Ticketed For Not Speaking English

[MRG]

Sorry if this is a repost. I took a quick glance, but I hardly ever peek into the politics section, so I honestly didn't look that far back.

Gist of Story:

Dallas Cop issue tickets to non-English speaking motorists.

I am sorry if I offend anyone here, but I a STRONG believer that people need to learn the language of the country they live in. If I moved to Japan or Denmark or Germany, I would force myself to learn that countries language, even if English was also spoken. I would not insist on only speaking my native language, as so many people insist on doing here in the US. It's downright rude in my opinion. Now I don't mind if they speak their own language while out in public, as I rather enjoy listening to different cultures dialects, but have the common courtesy to learn enough of the language wherever you happen to live, so that others can understand you.

Of course the argument could go both ways, with people saying that I needed to learn THEIR language instead.

Here is the whole story.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...met.ART.State.Edition2.4bac015.html?nTar=OPUR

I may be a jerk for quoting this, but I am curious to know who paid for her hospital stay. Her or the tax payer?

"She was very mad; she was very upset," Mondragon said of her mother's reaction. "We ended up taking her to the [emergency room] because she was nervous; she was just stressing over the ticket."

-MRG

 

[Ravioli]

I have lived in italy for over 5 years now and i only know about 4 words or so But i only hang out with Americans anyway so its cool. But why should you be ticketed for not speaking the language? Why be punished? Whats the crime in it?

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

Perhaps Spanish should be an official language in the US. There are whole communities where nothing else is spoken. The US, like most English speaking countries, has a severe case of monolingualism. Monolingualism can be cured!

I live in a country where there are two official languages; neither of them English. It's taken me a long time to learn even the basics. I'd feel pissed if someone gave me a ticket because I could only speak English.

 

[The Monkey]

I may be a jerk for quoting this, but I am curious to know who paid for her hospital stay. Her or the tax payer?

Herself, I would assume, as the US health system is fucked up.

 

[Krynn72]

I am sorry if I offend anyone here, but I a STRONG believer that people need to learn the language of the country they live in....It's downright rude in my opinion.

You didnt outright say this, but it seems like you support the ticketing. If thats the case, then you suck. Being rude isnt something illegal, nor is it something you should be fined for. Also, you suck anyways, because forcing people to learn any language is stupid. If they're willing to put up with the hassle of not being able to speak to anyone, then who gives a shit? Its not like you're forced to deal with them. Just be like "I dont understand a god damn thing you said." and walk away if you dont want to deal with it.

I may be a jerk for quoting this, but I am curious to know who paid for her hospital stay. Her or the tax payer?

It should be the taxpayers, because it was the police that brought her in there. I'd be ****ing pissed if they forced me to go to the hospital at my own expense just because I was upset with them.

EDIT: Wait, it was her family who took her there. So yeah, obviously she paid for it since we have no public health care.

 

[unozero]

probably illegal aliens too.

 

[The Monkey]

Probably not.

 

[unozero]

lol are you serious?

This is Dallas we are talking about.

 

[The Monkey]

Wouldn't they have deported them if they were illegals?

 

[unozero]

No the police doesn't have the authority, some cops do like that famous sherriff in arizona. But mostly all the cops can do is take the car away.

 

[MRG]

Herself, I would assume, as the US health system is fucked up.

True. It could really do with an overhaul.

You didnt outright say this, but it seems like you support the ticketing.

I fully agree that the cop was right in giving her a ticket for making the illegal U-Turn, but I do not agree that she got ticketed for not speaking English. I had hoped that you would have been able to pick up on that.

Now I don't mind if they speak their own language while out in public, as I rather enjoy listening to different cultures dialects

Perhaps I was too subtle for you. My apologies.

I am a STRONG believer that people need to learn the language of the country they live in

I also said this, though I don't see how that is construing she needed to be ticked, as I never said as such. Note the word in Bold. The following paragraph in my original post also states why I feel that way & again say's nothing about agreeing with the actions of the DPD officer.

Also, you suck anyways, because forcing people to learn any language is stupid. If they're willing to put up with the hassle of not being able to speak to anyone, then who gives a shit? Its not like you're forced to deal with them. Just be like "I dont understand a god damn thing you said." and walk away if you dont want to deal with it.

You are not a very happy person are you Krynn? Well here is a pet monkey for you. I hope he can bring you happiness. :monkee:

-MRG

 

[Krynn72]

I also said this, though I don't see how that is construing she needed to be ticked, as I never said as such. Note the word in Bold. The following paragraph in my original post also states why I feel that way & again say's nothing about agreeing with the actions of the DPD officer.

So you make a post about legal action being taken against someone who doesnt speak english, voice your strong opinion on why you agree people should speak english, and then find it surprising people thought you might have agreed with the decision? Despite you not indicating anywhere that you actually thought it was wrong? Hmm, interesting.

Also, no, I am a very angry person. Some might even say I am a mad dog. Dont let my avatar fool you, I only look like that on Christmas.

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

There is no official language of the United States. Also the native language of Texas (besides the Native Americans languages) IS Spanish, not English.

No the police doesn't have the authority, some cops do like that famous sherriff in arizona. But mostly all the cops can do is take the car away.

He doesn't have the authority (anymore) and ICE has told him so. He just continues to anyway, and cites a non-existant law to back it up

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/10/16/20091016arpaio1016.html

The feds just won't step in to stop it or anything- but he doesn't have the authority.

"ICE stripped Arpaio of the authority to let deputies enforce federal immigration laws on the street under a revised agreement amid criticism that the sweeps are an excuse to hunt for illegal immigrants by stopping Latino motorists for minor traffic violations, an illegal practice known as profiling. "




I get why people outside the area think he's fighting a good fight or whatever but he's not. If you live here and have lived in an area where he does a sweep (I have) then you know it's a feeling like a posse's out to get "messicans!" Then they put them in cages for everyone to see in parking lots before booking them in county jail. There has been American citizens stuck in the cages for hours proclaiming they are innocent before they discovered they were US citizens.

 

[MRG]

So you make a post about legal action being taken against someone who doesnt speak english, voice your strong opinion on why you agree people should speak english, and then find it surprising people thought you might have agreed with the decision? Despite you not indicating anywhere that you actually thought it was wrong? Hmm, interesting.

Also, no, I am a very angry person. Some might even say I am a mad dog. Dont let my avatar fool you, I only look like that on Christmas.

I said a person should learn to speak the language of the country they are in. English is the predominate language spoken here in the US, so yes, I believe that you should have a basic understanding of the language if you live here. Did I say you had to have a vocabulary to rival a Harvard graduate? No. Did I say you could not speak your own language? No. Perhaps my views are just simply different than others. Perhaps it is because I have lived in 8 different countries. While most of which did speak English, several of them also spoke a language other than English & as such, I did my best to learn their language as well as I could. Am I fluent? Not by a long shot. Call it respect or survival, but bottom line I tried to make it so that I could understand those around me & them I in return. If you disagree with this, then so be it. That is your right.

As for the actions of the Cop, let me just make it perfectly clear that I believe his actions were very much out of line in regards to ticking her due to her lack of being able to speak English.

Were I a law enforcement officer, perhaps one dealing with say traffic in general, I would be very worried about drivers being on the road, who were unable to understand/speak basic English or any language of the place I was living. ( Not just English. ) If you can read a language & have an understanding of what you are reading, you can more or less speak the language, even if your syntax or accent was off. Would I ticket a driver for not being able to speak English? No. But nor would I want him or her on the road if they couldn't understand what was written. Then again, since I'm not her, I can't say what she could or couldn't read.

Glad you found our/my convo interesting, though i'm sure you meant that in a purely sarcastic sense.

Mad Dog huh? Never did care much for that company. Why so angry though? Is the monkey not returning your affections? I can get you another if you like.

-MRG

 

[Sheepo]

I really wish we would adopt Spanish as a second language. It's just so goddamn awesome.

 

[unozero]

I take back what I said I watched a clip on CNN and this lady is trying to learn the language and she did have a License but she forgot it at home.

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

I really wish we would adopt Spanish as a second language. It's just so goddamn awesome.

There is no "first" language. There is no official language of the US nor should they be any (English NOR Spanish).

Language changes over time it's a social/population thing, not tied to borders.

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

Is there some sort of language of government, or could you "legally" get senators who don't speak English?

 

[Sheepo]

There is no "first" language. There is no official language of the US nor should they be any (English NOR Spanish).

Language changes over time it's a social/population thing, not tied to borders.

Spoiler

I know

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

Is there some sort of language of government, or could you "legally" get senators who don't speak English?

(3rd time)

There is no official language of the United States.

Some individual states might have a language law (I dont know- that's their own laws) but as far as federal laws there is no official language.

If a state wanted to make French their language and it passed in their government they could, and they'd be in the USA. But the fed gvnmt has no official language.

 

[Sheepo]

The second and third time were unnecessary. You didn't answer his question.

 

[Krynn72]

Is there some sort of language of government

No.

could you "legally" get senators who don't speak English?

Yes.

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

Gracias, señor.

 

[nurizeko]

Of course the argument could go both ways, with people saying that I needed to learn THEIR language instead.

I agree with your points but as I understand it the United States doesn't have an official language sooo...seems a bit pointle4ss to make laws against speaking another language.

 

[theotherguy]

I am sorry if I offend anyone here, but I a STRONG believer that people need to learn the language of the country they live in. If I moved to Japan or Denmark or Germany, I would force myself to learn that countries language, even if English was also spoken. I would not insist on only speaking my native language, as so many people insist on doing here in the US. It's downright rude in my opinion. Now I don't mind if they speak their own language while out in public, as I rather enjoy listening to different cultures dialects, but have the common courtesy to learn enough of the language wherever you happen to live, so that others can understand you.

While it would probably be more efficient, I don't hold people up to the obligation of learning another language (something which is very difficult), simply because it would be more convenient.

If economic factors and social limitations require it, immigrants will learn English. If they don't, then they won't. Language is something which is constantly fluid, and is changing as different peoples move between different areas. If the majority of people in Texas can speak fluent Spanish (and it is VERY close to that), who are the cops to say that this sizeable number of people must learn to speak English?

It is the same in Canada, where a large portion of the population speaks French, or like many European or East Asian countries, where there are several native languages.

The fact stands that a sizable number of people in Texas use Spanish as their primary language in all of their social and business operations. Why should we force them to learn a language which they hardly use?

I may be a jerk for quoting this, but I am curious to know who paid for her hospital stay. Her or the tax payer?

"The tax payer" doesn't pay anyone's bills in the US other than those who are on medicare. That said, what the hell does that have to do with anything?