"This is Alabama, we speak English"

[New new nebraska]

I came upon this when looking at my homepage. The Republican running for Governor of Alabama says that the driver's license exams should be only in English, rather than the 15 other languages its currently given in. I kind of agree. It would save the taxpayers money. Not to mention all the road signs are in English. Bringing up the larger issue of English as the national language of the US, I also agree with that. It creates more equality if everyone is speaking the same language and has the same oppurtunity. No one can be rejeted because they don't speak the language (and it would save money). Its the historical language of the US, after all our Constitution and Declaration of Independence are in English.

Your thoughts on his opinion and English as the national language?

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/a ... h/19456080

[Natapoc]

wow Alabama speaks English now? I'm impressed. When did this happen?

But no, I don't like these bills. They scare me and remind me way to much of fascism.

[Maurepas]

I think it's really fucking stupid to be quite honest...English is not the national language of the US, there is no national language in the US, and discriminating against people just because they don't speak English is wrong...

I mean, I'm a call taker, does it get on my nerves when someone calls and doesn't speak English? Yes, it damn well does, but, you cannot go around trying to force this through government institutions, such as driver's licenses, as the government in the United States doesn't work that way...

[Fartsniffage]

[MisanthropicPopulism]

Despite it being an obvious racist ploy here, I agree that there is no need to have the test in multiple languages. If you are not "idiot" level proficient in English, you shouldn't be taking the test. I fail to see how you could do business or anything else without the most basic knowledge of the English language.

I think it's really fucking stupid to be quite honest...English is not the national language of the US, there is no national language in the US, and discriminating against people just because they don't speak English is wrong...

English is the de facto national and definite operational language of the US.

[Auremena]

They don't even speak English in Alabama, they speak Country/Hillbilly/Redneck.

Anyways, the US is supposedly a FREE country, and an immigrant nation, and I believe that the US should have no official language.

[Sharfghotten]

If someone wants the drivers' exam in a different language, they should have to pay for it at their own expense.

[Maurepas]

Despite it being an obvious racist ploy here, I agree that there is no need to have the test in multiple languages. If you are not "idiot" level proficient in English, you shouldn't be taking the test. I fail to see how you could do business or anything else without the most basic knowledge of the English language.

I think it's really fucking stupid to be quite honest...English is not the national language of the US, there is no national language in the US, and discriminating against people just because they don't speak English is wrong...

English is the de facto national and definite operational language of the US.

Millions of people do it everyday, just because you lacked the ability to comprehend it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen...


It may be the de facto language at present, but, it is not the legal one, which is the point, the government does not have the right to enforce it de jure...

[F1-Insanity]

wow Alabama speaks English now? I'm impressed. When did this happen?

But no, I don't like these bills. They scare me and remind me way to much of fascism.

Which languages would you want each state/local government to pander to? And perhaps traffic signs in two dozen languages as well?

[EvilDarkMagicians]

He's speaking as if learning a new language is the easiest thing in the world.

[2nd PLT]

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, The National language of the USA is both English and Spanish.
*Looks up*
Eh...Well I have a book that says they are.

[Des-Bal]

Tax payer money shouldn't have to go to accomodating non-english speakers. Speak english, pay your taxes, the only things I really give a damn about in regards to citizenship.

[Flameswroth]

Y'know, it's funny...I was going to make a comment about this sort of notion, but that comic kind of stole mah thunder.

If we make an official language here in the US, it should be a Native American language of one kind or another. Some of them don't even have common roots with other languages - take THAT people bitching about how hard English is to learn

I'm white, and I like English, but I think making a native language the official language would kick ass. And that's not just from watching Daniel Day Lewis in 'Last of the Mohicans'...although I admit that's a major part of it.

[EvilDarkMagicians]

wow Alabama speaks English now? I'm impressed. When did this happen?

But no, I don't like these bills. They scare me and remind me way to much of fascism.

Which languages would you want each state/local government to pander to? And perhaps traffic signs in two dozen languages as well?

They should include every language in the world.

Anything else and it's racism.

[Natapoc]

Despite it being an obvious racist ploy here, I agree that there is no need to have the test in multiple languages. If you are not "idiot" level proficient in English, you shouldn't be taking the test. I fail to see how you could do business or anything else without the most basic knowledge of the English language.

I think it's really fucking stupid to be quite honest...English is not the national language of the US, there is no national language in the US, and discriminating against people just because they don't speak English is wrong...

English is the de facto national and definite operational language of the US.

The test questions require more then a basic knowledge to read the questions. Why do you need to understand how to do "business" in order to drive a car? You should be able to understand all the rules of the road and driving signals.

Testing for english proficiency is wrong. In the United states we even make it so people who are illiterate can drive by giving them accommodations on tests (they can still understand all the signs, signals, and rules without needing to know how to read at all)

[MisanthropicPopulism]

Millions of people do it everyday, just because you lacked the ability to comprehend it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen...

Bandwagon arguments are suddenly valid logical defenses?

It may be the de facto language at present, but, it is not the legal one, which is the point, the government does not have the right to enforce it de jure...

Well considering no one has the legal right to a driver's license, we could go around like this all day...

I'm curious what 15 languages the test could even be in. I could name about half a dozen, but the rest...

[EvilDarkMagicians]

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, The National language of the USA is both English and Spanish.
*Looks up*
Eh...Well I have a book that says they are.

I've never heard that.

[Fartsniffage]

Y'know, it's funny...I was going to make a comment about this sort of notion, but that comic kind of stole mah thunder.

If we make an official language here in the US, it should be a Native American language of one kind or another. Some of them don't even have common roots with other languages - take THAT people bitching about how hard English is to learn

I'm white, and I like English, but I think making a native language the official language would kick ass. And that's not just from watching Daniel Day Lewis in 'Last of the Mohicans'...although I admit that's a major part of it.

xkcd, a comic for every situation.

[Natapoc]

wow Alabama speaks English now? I'm impressed. When did this happen?

But no, I don't like these bills. They scare me and remind me way to much of fascism.

Which languages would you want each state/local government to pander to? And perhaps traffic signs in two dozen languages as well?

For traffic signs? There need be no translations except in areas where a huge percent of the population does not speak english. People can understand the signs without being able to read. Yes, Illiterate native english speaking Americans pass driving tests and know how to drive while obeying the rules of the road.

People normally don't really read most traffic signs. They recognize them by shape, color, ect and read them later.

[The Black Plains]

I think it's really fucking stupid to be quite honest...English is not the national language of the US, there is no national language in the US, and discriminating against people just because they don't speak English is wrong...

I mean, I'm a call taker, does it get on my nerves when someone calls and doesn't speak English? Yes, it damn well does, but, you cannot go around trying to force this through government institutions, such as driver's licenses, as the government in the United States doesn't work that way...

I think the point that the road signs are all in english is pretty legitimate... At first I was like "No no that's dumb!" then I was like "Hmm that's true." I mean if they can't take the test in english... how are they gonna know what the portable electric signs saying "Construction up ahead, drive left pass right next mile" or vice versa mean? Isn't that a legitimate concern?

[Brique Island]

How is having english as the official language of an english speaking nation a bad thing? Many countries have the dominant language as the "official" one, including most of the central and south american nations.

[Andaluciae]

It depends upon what your definition of English is.

[Andaluciae]

How is having english as the official language of an english speaking nation a bad thing? Many countries have the dominant language as the "official" one, including most of the central and south american nations.

Having an official language just seems...so...French.

[MisanthropicPopulism]

The test questions require more then a basic knowledge to read the questions.

Yeah, not so much. My understanding of Spanish is a mockery of the amount of years I took in it, but I could take the Alabama driver's license exam in Spanish and probably do as well as I did when I took it in English.

Why do you need to understand how to do "business" in order to drive a car? You should be able to understand all the rules of the road and driving signals.

Given that, we should just do the whole bloody thing using images.

Testing for english proficiency is wrong. In the United states we even make it so people who are illiterate can drive by giving them accommodations on tests (they can still understand all the signs, signals, and rules without needing to know how to read at all)

Do we? I didn't realize there was a US driver's exam...

[Maurepas]

Millions of people do it everyday, just because you lacked the ability to comprehend it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen...

Bandwagon arguments are suddenly valid logical defenses?

It may be the de facto language at present, but, it is not the legal one, which is the point, the government does not have the right to enforce it de jure...

Well considering no one has the legal right to a driver's license, we could go around like this all day...

And you are saying ignorant ones are? As I thought you said that "I fail to see how you could do business or anything else without the most basic knowledge of the English language.", the point was that just because you fail to understand it, does not mean that it isn't possible...


They don't have a legal right to a driver's license, however, when applying for one, they have the right to equal protection when doing so, which is the point, the license itself is irrelevant, it only matters that the test was administered in an equal fashion, which, inherently cannot happen if the government enforces a particular language on it, which it has no right to do in the first place...