[Grovenet] Habla English?

Sat Jan 13 19:34:42 PST 2007

I was asking the question, will there be translators at the meeting so that
those who needed the Spanish language invitation because they do not speak
English can participate?

I have nothing against speaking Spanish, or Dutch, or Chinese, or Russian
or...

When I visit Holland, I do NOT expect anyone to speak English. If they do,
that's nice, but it's not expected. The same for Belgium, France or anywhere
I visit. If I want to participate in the affairs of those places, especially
if I lived there, I'd expect to speak the local language. If I was unable to
learn the local language, I'd never consider living there. 

So I have an issue with those who choose to live here and who expect to
participate in our culture and our government but who do not speak English.

I absolutely support multi-lingual emergency services and other things that
someone visiting here might need. 

I absolutely protest spending one penny on providing multi-lingual services
to those who would be residents here - beyond those needed for them to learn
English. 

There's a "mirror image" of this problem in Texas right now. A pizza chain
is being severely criticized for accepting Mexican pesos in their stores!
That's equally crazy, I think. As the owner of the chain pointed out,
Mexican businesses as far south as Cancun, at least, accept US dollars for
goods and services. Why shouldn't a pizza chain in Texas accept Mexican
pesos? I agree. It's good business. It's being nice to neighbors. It's
promoting good relationships. Besides, as the pizza chain owner pointed out,
many of the pesos come from American college kids who come back from Mexico
with a pocket full of pesos. 

My point is that it's important to promote good relationships with our
non-English-speaking neighbors. But, if someone chooses to move here to
live, they should learn and be prepared to speak, read and write English
outside their homes. If they can't learn the language of their adopted land,
they aren't eligible to live there and participate fully in the community.

Heresy, I know, to many people. Common sense to me.  

Ron D'Eau Claire 

-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Allen Warren
Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2007 4:52 PM
To: Forest Grove local interests list
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Habla English?

For several years (I think it's been at least that long) our sons' mailings
from FG schools have english on one side and spanish on the other.  And
after attending numerous school concerts, honor roll assemblies and other
school functions I understand why the bi-lingual papers: I would estimate at
a minimum the hispanic student population is 35%.  And I will guess that
percentage is higher in the Cornelius elementary school system.  It's easy
to see how much the Hispanic population has grown in WA county.

Ron, I think it's a stretch to believe the annual Community Meeting will be
held as Spanish being the primary language.  At the school functions there
are translators but those are mainly for the parents as most students are
bi-lingual.

So what's the problem?

Allen Warren 

----- Original Message ----
From: Ron D'Eau Claire <rondec at easystreet.com>
To: Forest Grove local interests list <grovenet at rdrop.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2007 4:12:19 PM
Subject: [Grovenet] Habla English?

I notice in the current City bill an Invitation to the Annual Community
Meeting. The invitation is in Spanish on one side. 

Is that so our non-English, Spanish speaking citizens will know to attend?

So, will everything be translated for them at the meeting, or will the
meeting be held in Spanish? 

If so, why? 

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