Here's a guy that really misses the point of a debate. In New Jersey's Home News Tribune, columnist Roger Hernandez is asking why everyone is so hot and bothered about English Only legislation and claims that Spanish being spoken... well, everywhere... should be no problem for anyone. In fact, he claims that it isn't really happening that much, anyway, so fear about it is unfounded. But, his view on the matter misses the point that it is government forcing the Spanish language via lawsuits and government intervention on the nation that English Only supporters are trying to oppose, not just the evolutions of society itself.
Writing about Lamar Alexander's proposed legislation, the Protecting English in the Workplace Act of 2007, and using that as his springboard to lambast the English Only trend, Hernandez scoffs at anyone interested in protecting our national character via protecting English.
Alexander (a sensible moderate Republican, once upon a time) and the right-wing blogosphere are framing it as a fight to preserve our supposedly vulnerable linguistic unity.
But, after recounting the efforts to protect English, Hernandez goes off track, attacking the English Only idea from the entirely wrong direction.
It is true that the common language of the United States is English, and that it is difficult to succeed without learning it. The problem is that both questions stem from the false premise that immigrants are tearing apart the national fabric with their refusal to speak English.
Not completely, Mr. Hernandez. "The problem is" that government is being used by criminal immigrant's "rights" activists who are attempting to sue their desires into law by constant lawsuit abuse intended to make us all bend over backwards for people who are breaking our nation's laws on a daily basis.
He sees that claim, but dismisses it entirely without further discussion.
Supporters of Alexander's bill pretend that unless it is passed, a torrent of EEOC lawsuits will force employers to hire people who don't speak English -- which is utter nonsense.
There is no "pretending," Mr. Hernandez, and no, it isn't "utter nonsense." The law has been misused for activism in dozens of other areas since the 1960's, why should we assume that it won't be so abused in this case?
Then he goes on to make an assumption of his own that is "nonsense."
What Alexander's bill does is enable employers to prohibit employees from uttering words in languages other than English, even in private conversations with no relation to workplace safety or the conduct of business.
If a company that offers service to a primarily Spanish speaking clientele forces their employees to only speak English, they will lose their business so it is entirely doubtful that such cases will be very widespread. And if a company does ignore the needs of their client base so flagrantly, they WILL lose their businesses so a "solution" is quick at hand to ally Mr. Hernandez's fears that Spanish will somehow be outlawed. Also this bill does NOT require employers to force all their employees to speak English. No, this bill does not force anyone to do anything but prevent them from eliminating English from the work palce.
On the other hand, if the matter was left to Hernandez' unconcern, it soon would be a requirement for employers to have Spanish speakers in every office and company across America just as every city and state government office is required to print their forms in Spanish and have Spanish speakers on hand. Not only would such a requirement unnecessarily add to the costs of business, but it will, indeed, add to our cultural balkanization and a breakdown of our society.
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Loco.
January 3, 2008 - 05:35 ET by TeamcheeserLoco.
This is a typical tactic of
January 3, 2008 - 08:13 ET by motherbeltThis is a typical tactic of the Left...propose something new, and then, rather than explaining why the idea has merit, demand that anyone opposed prove why it shouldn't happen.
Ben Shapiro at townhall.com wrote about this some time ago in The Most Important Political Trick in the Book.
The column is about same-sex marriage, but can be applied to any new lefty proposal. He says
Proponents of same-sex marriage would be
hard-pressed to show just why same-sex marriages should be allowed. If
they had the burden of proof, they would surely fail. But by shifting
the burden of proof to proponents of traditional moral values, same-sex
advocates like Longcrier avoid having to make an affirmative case for
tearing away tradition. Instead of making that case, same-sex marriage
proponents assume that a right to same-sex marriage exists, placing the
burden of proof on traditionalists to deny that right.
Substitute the words "Allowing Spanish in the workplace" for "same-sex marriage" and you'll see the point. Rather than prove why it's advantageous to allow employees to use a foreign language for workplace discussions (catering to the wishes of employees, rather than employers), Hernandez asks "What's wrong with Spanish in the workplace?" and expects the "traditionalists" to prove that its NOT a good idea.
Nice try, Mr. Hernandez.
He shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.
hmm
January 3, 2008 - 08:01 ET by well99Considering that this is the US that is the language that should be spoken at work.I was at the VA hospital and guy out at the smoking area was retired from USDA.This guy had a long ear on one side.Anyhow he had been a inspector at local Swifts.Well they had set the conveyor with the hooks for hauling carcasses to low.Anyways he got his ear hooked and despite his screaming to shut the belt off no one understood him.Eventually a Green Hat heard and shut it off.It is off topic but if you work at a US buisness you should speak the language.You can speak any other language when your off work.
Proposing the unthinkable, again:
January 3, 2008 - 08:19 ET by sarcasmoMaybe, instead of passing yet-more legislation (no-matter how well-intentioned the law, it's still another law...) we should simply try less-spending on BS-agencies like the EEOC? Nah!!
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
we should simply try
January 3, 2008 - 08:44 ET by motherbeltwe should simply try less-spending on BS-agencies like the EEOC? Nah!!
Works for me! Too often "equal employment opportunity" means "every employee gets to do his/her own thing."
Further, imagine being employed by such a government agency...
January 3, 2008 - 11:00 ET by sarcasmoDo such employees really want racial hate -- and therefore their government-jobs -- to end?
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
Language is no doubt one of
January 3, 2008 - 10:32 ET by lotrLanguage is no doubt one of the most fundamental components of a society or culture. Indeed, without a public language for communication, one cannot have a public society. For those interested in an excellent, very readable treatise on this (far better than my poor attempt at relaying it here), I recommend reading Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez by Richard Rodriguez. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunger_of_Memory:_The_Education_of_Richard_Rodriguez
I will also add here that English is not only the public language of the U.S., but it has also, metaphorically speaking, become the modern "Latin," that is, it is currently the universal public language. Those out there who have been to an international conference know what I am talking about, where English is formally used, so that folks from Japan, France, Germany, China, Russia, Holland, Brazil, Nigeria, etc. can communicate with one another. To not learn fluent English not only puts one at a disadvantage in the U.S., but also the world at large.
Ain't it ironic...
January 3, 2008 - 10:37 ET by c5thenIn order for the EEOC to determine and enforce the "anti-discrimination" laws, the government has to pigeon-hole all of it's citizens into ethnic/racial/religious/etc. grouos so it can decide if all are being "treated fairly". Of course, grouping people into catagories is the beginning of bogotry and helps perpetuate the very discrimination that the liberals rant against.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
curious
January 3, 2008 - 10:42 ET by AgnosticIs it true that some institutions are removing Asians from minority status on standard forms because as a group they don't "behave" like a minority? I read a couple of years ago about this possibly happening because the Asian communities were advancing in American society instead of working through social programs they may lose their minority status. A friend recently told me he went to take an exam for a job (government related) and Asian wasn't a choice for minority.
this is strange...
January 3, 2008 - 10:58 ET by pwozRoger Hernandez was one of my professors a couple of years ago at NJIT... great guy, IMO.. not sure why he wrote this though, definitely sounds nothing like the Professor Hernandez I know....
I suggest you research some
January 3, 2008 - 12:32 ET by Big Wallypwoz: I suggest you research some of Roger's editorials at http://www.myheraldn...
A "professor"???
January 3, 2008 - 12:42 ET by iveseenitallThis guy's a "professor"??? Goes to show you what has happened to our educational system. Any truly- educated , well-read person would know the answer to this assinine question. Language brings a nation together. This is so obvious , a fifth-grader should know it. God help us.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
i guess
January 3, 2008 - 12:44 ET by pwozthe problem was i didn't read all of his opinion columns.. mainly his environmental stories which were pretty good. and yea, he is the journalism professor.. really nice guy, though
"jounalism"
January 3, 2008 - 13:07 ET by iveseenitallOh, a "journalism" professor. That says it all. And to paraphrase Shakespeare--I know not "seems", I know what "is".
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal" ( they often seem to be nice guys.)
No comprendo. Esto hombre
January 3, 2008 - 12:06 ET by mattmNo comprendo. Esto hombre es muy estupido!
Abiento America. Ahora, habla Ingles!
Press "1"
January 3, 2008 - 14:16 ET by iveseenitallPress "1" for Spanish. Maddening! But it won't stop there. Not far fetched--press "2" for French, "3" for Chinese, "4" for Russian ....... "9" for English. Vote for the "liberals" and there goes your country. I know, I know --- "you're a right wing nut", "take the starch out of your shirt", " what are you afraid of ?". All "liberal" smoke screens, all "liberal" b.s. Speak Spanish in Spanish-speaking nations; speak English here. "Liberals" are idiots!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
(sigh)
January 3, 2008 - 12:46 ET by Free StinkerThe crxp that comes out of my home state . . . :-(
(sigh)
Newsbusters. Log on and find out What the heck is so yummy over here!
I don't mind Spanish in the workplace....
January 3, 2008 - 13:35 ET by Army BratAs long as someone there speaks English.
I had a surreal experience in Florida recently. I pulled into a gas station in Miami and not one person working there spoke English. I tried to get directions....no such luck. I felt like I was in a Twilight Zone episode.
I went to some sandwich joint later and...you guessed it. No English. Kinda hard to do business when you don't speak the lingo. THAT is what it's all about. I personally doan wanna live in Babylon.
Happy Trails...
South Florida
January 3, 2008 - 14:23 ET by iveseenitallI know quite a number of young people who have moved from South to Central Florida. They've had it. They say they don't even recognize the towns in which they grew up. And absolutely, they say there are places where no English is ever spoken. But as this "journalism professor" Hernandez would ask , "What's wrong with that?" All the while, our politicians fiddle. They won't even declare English to be America's official language. It makes your blood boil. If it doesn't, it should. How sad!
P.S. I am currently reading a book about the Civil War. How much life and treasure was lost to keep this nation together. Now the "liberals" will tear us apart again for their own ends. God help us.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Give me a break!
January 3, 2008 - 14:45 ET by shannon20If Hernandez really believes that then I suggest he start by writing his colomn only in Spanish in an English paper and see how successful that is. I'm so sick of people (Elites), talking about issues they really don't have any idea about. They don't have to go to a constuction job, or a restaurant kitchen or dishroom and feel like you are in another country. They usually have one person that is like a translator or go between. If they aren't working that day your screwed. This is not what immigration is all about. I thought it was for people that wanted a new life and were willing to do what it took to get that. The liberals have gone too far once again. They love to give a certain group the victim mentality because it suits their own needs. They are the new Blacks. Most black women have gotten smart and moved past it, but look @ young black men, going to prison, giving up not supporting their kids, dieing daily by the handfuls for some street cred. Is this what will happen to spanish immigrants, eventually? If the Dems have their way. Only the dems can save them.... lets just ask the brothers how that worked out for them!
What a nitwit!
January 3, 2008 - 16:16 ET by IamTinmanMost small businesses in this country are flooded with paperwork as it is. To be forced to become bi, tri, or quadralingual, just to satisfy people reluctant to learn the language spoken by the vast majority of this countries citizens is absurd. I refuse to hire employees who can't speak english just on safety grounds. In manufacturing and warehousing environments a split second trying to comprehend what another employee is saying could be fatal. One accident caused by lack of language skills would easily put me out of business and basically waste 12 years of my life as well as the person injured.
Not completely, Mr.
January 4, 2008 - 01:16 ET by cleverpigNot completely, Mr. Hernandez. "The problem is" that government is
being used by criminal immigrant's "rights" activists who are
attempting to sue their desires into law by constant lawsuit abuse
intended to make us all bend over backwards for people who are breaking
our nation's laws on a daily basis.
I fail to see how allowing languages other than english to be spoken in the workplace helps criminals. What crimes are you referring to?