Голосования

[cema]

Изо всех результатов, о которых я слышал, меня больше всего заинтересовало, что в Аризоне проголосовали за то, чтобы английский язык стал в штате государственным.

Update. Ну и, конечно, запрет на affirmative action в Мичигане.

Comments

[spamsink]

According to
http://community.livejournal.com/linguaphiles/2855583.html?thread=55589535#t55589535

the stereotype of a monolingual immigrant is wrong. Moreover, I can see another old lady from the same country who'll say "See, your Honor, I knew where I was going so I bothered to learn some English before coming and continued after, and I get my Social Security with no problems". So the discrimination is not by place of origin.

[cema.livejournal.com]

Precisely!

I learned English because I wanted to go to the USA. I did not go to the USA in order to speak English!

(Of course, there are people with learning disabilities, and an exception must be done for the elderly, and it is being done.)

[spamsink]

Precisely + 1!

[mme-n-b.livejournal.com]

1. As an immigrant to an immigrant - why bother with community references? ;)

2. It's only a stereotype if I assert that all or most immigrants are monolingual. But to make my point it's enough for some of them to be.

3. And I can see a handicapped person going "See, your Honor, I knew there are stairs out there, so I learned to pull myself up using my arms." And I can see a judge deciding that ramps are a good idea anyway.

[spamsink]

1. For convenience.

2. Isolated examples do not prove discrimination.

3. As cema observed above, when the inability to learn a language is perceived as a handicap, the language proficiency requirements are waived; and, I believe, in these cases the translation services should be available.

A skinned knee does not entitle one to a handicapped parking space, and even a broken leg - only temporarily.

[mme-n-b.livejournal.com]

1. Don't bother, on minor issues I'm willing to trust you without supporting documentation
2. It only takes one court case
3. I agree with you on all "shoulds" in this question. English should be a requirement. Translation should be available for elderly, the handicapped, and those fresh off the boat. Will this happen in real life? Unlikely. Especially since the main reason for making English official seems to be economy.