School gives out form in English? LAWYER UP!!!

[Farnhamia]

We're nowhere near Canada. I live in Indiana, too.

My friends and I used to pick up kids like you and drop them off in the middle of Gary for teh lulz.

Are you kidding? Have you not seen a map of this country? Were We're on the border with Michigan, which is right on the border with Canada, ever heard of Destroit Detroit?

Funny you should be carrying on about people learning English, given your seemingly tenuous grasp of the language.

[Serrland]

What if they choose to use Chinese? Or Arabic? Or Estonian?

Where I live my school district actually has forms also available in spanish, chinese, japanese, korea, vietnamese, portugese, russian, and arabic.

Yeah, mine had English, Spanish, and Polish. It wasn't that big of a deal, really.

[Acuastriland]

Jumping over a border into another country doesn't mean you are from said country that you jumped over the border into.

Most Mexicans are immigrants, very few were actually born in the US.

I don't understand. Being "from" a given country is what determines if it's "your" country your not? My grandfather was not "from" America - indeed he was by birth a Czechoslovakian (ethnic German, though). He came to America, served in World War II, got his purple heart, and stayed in for some years after the war, all without being a citizen. Is America somehow not "his" despite serving her more actively than many native born folks do?

If he was a true patriot he would have at least applied for citizenship. Otherwise he was technically not American.

[AiliailiA]

I don't think a school (or any other government agency) should be required to provide notices in every possible language the person might prefer.

I think there should be a reasonable delay in communications. Two days each way for written communication, another two days for the government authority to render their communication into the parent's preferred language. A five day delay in written communication isn't so bad. Written communication is inherently slow, it's one of the virtues of doing business by mail.

If there is some standard time for the parent to appeal the decision, that should be extended to allow the time for them to be engaged in their preferred language. Five days, plus however more than two days it took the government authority to reply in the preferred language.

[Ifreann]

They came to our country because our country is better than the country they came from

I'm sorry, just how do you know why these people came to America?

and instead of learning English and assimilating into our culture they insist on us catering to them and even learning their language?

The article in the OP states that the three mothers in question speak limited English, so obviously they've made some effort towards learning English. Should they not be properly informed about their children's activities in school because they aren't yet fluent?

That is messed up. When you move to another country you should...

Irrelevant. When you run a country, you should make the effort to be able to communicate with all the people in that country, no matter their status there.

---

On the contrary. If the government wants to, let's say, deport someone from the US because they entered illegally and for some absurd reason it refuses to deal in any language other than English(that being the proposed situation I'm addressing), then providing an English education to the accused(and proper compensation for the time spent on it), sufficient to understand what's going on and to defend themselves, is something the government very much does need to spend money on.

No need. They have translators. Much more dignified to be told in your own language that you're a lawbreaker and will be deported. No point to be taught a new language just to be told you're a fuck-up.

You'll note that I was responding to a proposal that the government not spend money on translating for those who don't speak English. Given that, there would, in fact, be no translators.

[Farnhamia]

I don't understand. Being "from" a given country is what determines if it's "your" country your not? My grandfather was not "from" America - indeed he was by birth a Czechoslovakian (ethnic German, though). He came to America, served in World War II, got his purple heart, and stayed in for some years after the war, all without being a citizen. Is America somehow not "his" despite serving her more actively than many native born folks do?

If he was a true patriot he would have at least applied for citizenship. Otherwise he was technically not American.

A "true patriot"? Please.

[Acuastriland]

They came to our country because our country is better than the country they came from

I'm sorry, just how do you know why these people came to America?

and instead of learning English and assimilating into our culture they insist on us catering to them and even learning their language?

The article in the OP states that the three mothers in question speak limited English, so obviously they've made some effort towards learning English. Should they not be properly informed about their children's activities in school because they aren't yet fluent?

That is messed up. When you move to another country you should...

Irrelevant. When you run a country, you should make the effort to be able to communicate with all the people in that country, no matter their status there.

---

No need. They have translators. Much more dignified to be told in your own language that you're a lawbreaker and will be deported. No point to be taught a new language just to be told you're a fuck-up.

You'll note that I was responding to a proposal that the government not spend money on translating for those who don't speak English. Given that, there would, in fact, be no translators.

I know why they came to America because my family immigrated here from Mexico for that reason.

[Serrland]

I don't understand. Being "from" a given country is what determines if it's "your" country your not? My grandfather was not "from" America - indeed he was by birth a Czechoslovakian (ethnic German, though). He came to America, served in World War II, got his purple heart, and stayed in for some years after the war, all without being a citizen. Is America somehow not "his" despite serving her more actively than many native born folks do?

If he was a true patriot he would have at least applied for citizenship. Otherwise he was technically not American.

He did, but not until he was naturalized some years later. I'd be hard pressed to say he wasn't American, though - if you identify yourself as such and have a meaningful connection (such as permanent residence, military service, etc), that's good enough for me.

[AiliailiA]

I don't understand. Being "from" a given country is what determines if it's "your" country your not? My grandfather was not "from" America - indeed he was by birth a Czechoslovakian (ethnic German, though). He came to America, served in World War II, got his purple heart, and stayed in for some years after the war, all without being a citizen. Is America somehow not "his" despite serving her more actively than many native born folks do?

If he was a true patriot he would have at least applied for citizenship. Otherwise he was technically not American.

What is a "technical patriot" then?

Maybe like Oppenheimer.

[AiliailiA]

If he was a true patriot he would have at least applied for citizenship. Otherwise he was technically not American.

A "true patriot"? Please.

Would you like some Haggis?

[Farnhamia]

A "true patriot"? Please.

Would you like some Haggis?

Ick. No, thank you. A wee drop t' drink, now, is another matter.

[Ifreann]

Jumping over a border into another country doesn't mean you are from said country that you jumped over the border into.

Most Mexicans are immigrants, very few were actually born in the US.

They aren't actually "Mexicans" if they were born here, are they?

They might be, if their parents are Mexican citizens. Can't say I'm familiar with how Mexico does citizenship.

---

I'm sorry, just how do you know why these people came to America?

The article in the OP states that the three mothers in question speak limited English, so obviously they've made some effort towards learning English. Should they not be properly informed about their children's activities in school because they aren't yet fluent?

Irrelevant. When you run a country, you should make the effort to be able to communicate with all the people in that country, no matter their status there.

---

You'll note that I was responding to a proposal that the government not spend money on translating for those who don't speak English. Given that, there would, in fact, be no translators.

I know why they came to America because my family immigrated here from Mexico for that reason.

How utterly prejudiced. That these families are Latino does not mean they are just like your family.

[Acuastriland]

They aren't actually "Mexicans" if they were born here, are they?

They might be, if their parents are Mexican citizens. Can't say I'm familiar with how Mexico does citizenship.

---

I know why they came to America because my family immigrated here from Mexico for that reason.

How utterly prejudiced. That these families are Latino does not mean they are just like your family.

What you seem to forget is that I know a lot of immigrants and they all say they came here because this country was in someway better than theirs.

[Gauthier]

Is it a coincidence that the same people who scream that Dem Dam Furriners should learn to speak Merican are the same ones who bitch about foreign countries not providing English speakers for their agencies?

I think not.

If you're going to bitch about foreigners not learning English, then you better learn foreign languages yourself so you don't turn out a fucking hypocrite in another country.

[Chetssaland]

I take it you live in an area that is upwards of 99% white?

Idaho or Utah?

Indiana, actually, Crossroads of America.

And there are alot of fucking Mexicans here, which is strange since were up near Canada.

Indiana is 6% Latino...

[Acuastriland]

Is it a coincidence that the same people who scream that Dem Dam Furriners should learn to speak Merican are the same ones who bitch about foreign countries not providing English speakers for their agencies?

I think not.

If you're going to bitch about foreigners not learning English, then you better learn foreign languages yourself so you don't turn out a fucking hypocrite in another country.

"Merican" is not a language.

[Ifreann]

They might be, if their parents are Mexican citizens. Can't say I'm familiar with how Mexico does citizenship.

---

How utterly prejudiced. That these families are Latino does not mean they are just like your family.

What you seem to forget is that I know a lot of immigrants and they all say they came here because this country was in someway better than theirs.

It doesn't matter how many immigrants you know. Unless you know these families you can't say why they came to the US.

[Farnhamia]

Is it a coincidence that the same people who scream that Dem Dam Furriners should learn to speak Merican are the same ones who bitch about foreign countries not providing English speakers for their agencies?

I think not.

If you're going to bitch about foreigners not learning English, then you better learn foreign languages yourself so you don't turn out a fucking hypocrite in another country.

"Merican" is not a language.

He was doing dialect. Did you miss "Dem Dam Furriners" immediately preceding "Merican"? It's a joke, son, a joke.

[Samozaryadnyastan]

Immigrants should learn English before they come to America. Not knowing English is their fault, and they are making things more difficult for everyone. We shouldn't have to do everything in their language because they are too lazy to learn English.

America has no official language.
Your argument is legit invalid.

[Farnhamia]

Immigrants should learn English before they come to America. Not knowing English is their fault, and they are making things more difficult for everyone. We shouldn't have to do everything in their language because they are too lazy to learn English.

America has no official language.
Your argument is legit invalid.

Proofreading is your friend.

[Samozaryadnyastan]

America has no official language.
Your argument is legit invalid.

Proofreading is your friend.

If America has no official language, why should immigrants have to learn English? Majority language =/= official language.

What am I supposed to be proofreading, Farn?

[Vitius]

I certainly agree that materials should be provided to accommodate for people speaking a foreign language in the U.S....But is a lawsuit really necessary? No.

[Acuastriland]

Proofreading is your friend.

If America has no official language, why should immigrants have to learn English? Majority language =/= official language.

What am I supposed to be proofreading, Farn?

How does "legit invalid" make any grammatical sense?

[Farnhamia]

Proofreading is your friend.

If America has no official language, why should immigrants have to learn English? Majority language =/= official language.

What am I supposed to be proofreading, Farn?

"Your argument is legit invalid."

[Samuraikoku]

If America has no official language, why should immigrants have to learn English? Majority language =/= official language.

What am I supposed to be proofreading, Farn?

"Your argument is legit invalid."

Maybe it was meant to say "legitimately invalid"?