NationStates Jolt Archive

Yes thats right. Worse than bird flu. Its called "being-latino-itis".

Steve King R-IA 5th
House of Representative Floor
May 16, 2006

Illegal Immigration

....Also, Mr. Speaker, there is no excuse for producing multi-lingual ballots of any kind here in America. There is a requirement when you are a naturalized citizen that you demonstrate proficiency in English. And so therefore if you come into this country legally and you acquire citizenship, which is a requirement for voting in America, you will have been required to demonstrate proficiency and literacy in English.

That means then that you can go into a voting booth and vote in any voting booth in America on an English language ballot, not another language ballot. And the only other scenario by which one might be sitting in the United States and eligible to vote and not have command of the English language would be if they were born here in the United States, they had birthright citizenship, which I reject that idea, but it is our practice today, someone with birthright citizenship, and by the time they get to be 18 and register to vote, they go into the voting booth and they had not had enough exposure to English to be able to understand a simple ballot, and so we would give someone who was born in America, an American citizen, lived in an ethnic enclave, never learned English, and give them that interpreter in the voting booth so we can find a way to coddle them and be an enabler, just like an enabler for an alcoholic, hand them a bottle of booze so they do not cure themselves....

Can someone please inform me on how spanish ballots are killing you?

Some people are xenophobes, basically. They view a polyglot society as something bad.

Can someone please inform me on how spanish ballots are killing you?
It's Naziism all over again. Spanish is taking away the 'purity' of America, and someone has to stop the madness. We must rid ourselves of this deadly influence to the pristine culture of America!


*drowns in sarcasm*

Oh god, speaking of illegal immigration, check this out:

To: US Citizenship and Immigration Services

We, the Christians of Americans, demand that you grant the US Citizenship to Jesus Christ, the son of God.





We, the good Christians of America know that our Lord and Savior will return to earth and we want to make sure he has a legal status in the USA.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned

Whats troubling is that Jesus probably doesnt speak english.

http://www.petitiononline.com/jesus06/

gee, I speak Spanish and English where I live, and there doesn't seem to be a problem here...

gee, I speak Spanish and English where I live, and there doesn't seem to be a problem here...

That doesnt mean there isnt a problem.

That doesnt mean there isnt a problem.

Are you saying I'll die because I speak Spanish at the local Hispanic grocery store (which has great prices on meat)?

Or that somehow, people in my town are all idiots like the one you quoted?

Are you saying I'll die because I speak Spanish at the local Hispanic grocery store (which has great prices on meat)?

Or that somehow, people in my town are all idiots like the one you quoted?

Im clueless as to what the hell you are saying.

Yes thats right. Worse than bird flu. Its called "being-latino-itis".



Can someone please inform me on how spanish ballots are killing you?
I got this awful paper-cut on one once ...

I get conflicted on this one. Immigrant-bashing is all the rage these days, the neo-cons perfect ploy to deflect attention from the damage they're doing to the country, but I do think folks ought to make an effort to learn the language. My father and uncle and grandmother came here in the 1920s and the boys spent a year in a "foreign students" class, basically to learn English, and then were mainstreamed. My Grandma always spoke with a fairly heavy accent but she could read and write English and always voted on an English ballot. So, yeah, "being-latino-itis" is crap, and Representative King is a damn fool for equating being unable to speak the language to a disease, but I do think there's a middle ground. I honestly don't believe people lose their "ethnic identity" by learning another language.

Im clueless as to what the hell you are saying.
You are saying that there is a problem, and I don't see one where I live - where there are at least 50 percent Hispanics and everyone seems to be happy speaking both English and Spanish.

Yes thats right. Worse than bird flu. Its called "being-latino-itis".



Can someone please inform me on how spanish ballots are killing you?
because it's not just Spanish, you also need to provide languages for Korean, Vietnamiese, Swahili, Japanese, Chinese, French, German and any other language of any immigrant who comes here. to provide ballots only in Spanish is discrimination!

so you can either discriminate against all other foreign language reading people and only print ballots in English, or you have to provide ballots for everyone no matter what language they can read.

I prefer speaking Spanish to English. I'm not fluent yet, but I'm working on it. Spanish is just a better language, except of course for the fact that they don't have as much of a tendency to verb their nouns.

You are saying that there is a problem, and I don't see one where I live - where there are at least 50 percent Hispanics and everyone seems to be happy speaking both English and Spanish.

Yeah the problem here, which is the purpose of this thread, is this congressperson equating the speaking of Spanish with alcoholism.

Oh god, speaking of illegal immigration, check this out:



Whats troubling is that Jesus probably doesnt speak english.

http://www.petitiononline.com/jesus06/
What do a cue ball and Jesus have in common? The harder you hit 'em the more english you get out of 'em.

Yeah the problem here, which is the purpose of this thread, is this congressperson equating the speaking of Spanish with alcoholism.
He's not my Congressperson, so he can say whatever stupid thing springs into his mind, just like most of the other idiots up there.

He's not my Congressperson, so he can say whatever stupid thing springs into his mind, just like most of the other idiots up there.

Plenty of congresspeople think the same way.

Plenty of congresspeople think the same way.
Oh, now there's something you'll have to prove. Link.

What, you don't think Jesus could speak any language he wanted?

because it's not just Spanish, you also need to provide languages for Korean, Vietnamiese, Swahili, Japanese, Chinese, French, German and any other language of any immigrant who comes here. to provide ballots only in Spanish is discrimination!

so you can either discriminate against all other foreign language reading people and only print ballots in English, or you have to provide ballots for everyone no matter what language they can read.

Or, you can simply look at the constituency and see the actual need in the area of multilingual services and set a limit, say a certain percentage of total population, for offering services in that language weighing need and cost.

Well, whattayaknow? That's simple and it makes sense. Almost too much sense for some, it seems.

Or, you can simply look at the constituency and see the actual need in the area of multilingual services and set a limit, say a certain percentage of total population, for offering services in that language weighing need and cost.

Well, whattayaknow? That's simple and it makes sense. Almost too much sense for some, it seems.
Please leave the thread. Sense is not wanted here.:p

What, you don't think Jesus could speak any language he wanted?
He spouted Latin off the top of His head, so why not English?

The basis of the argument is the assertion that there are broad social benefits to integration, and by allowing them to vote without learning English first you're reducing the incentive to integrate.

He spouted Latin off the top of His head, so why not English?
Latin? When?

Or, you can simply look at the constituency and see the actual need in the area of multilingual services and set a limit, say a certain percentage of total population, for offering services in that language weighing need and cost.

Well, whattayaknow? That's simple and it makes sense. Almost too much sense for some, it seems.

Here where I live, the local county services don't seem to place too much of a limit on when they think they'll need multilingual services at the county government building.

The county government uses a mix of paid and volunteer translator staff, and never seem to have a problem providing multilingual services.

Signage does seem to be related to a percentage, but the limit once again is pretty low.

So perhaps, despite the antics of an idiot, the US is not the backwards-ass place you constantly imagine it to be.

The basis of the argument is the assertion that there are broad social benefits to integration, and by allowing them to vote without learning English first you're reducing the incentive to integrate.
I agree.

Oh, now there's something you'll have to prove. Link.

Was there not just a law passed making English the official language?
Was there not just a law passed saying the Star Spangled Banner can only be sung in English?

Was there not just a law passed making English the official language?
Was there not just a law passed saying the Star Spangled Banner can only be sung in English?

Does that prove that they all think that languages other than English are, as you point out in the quote, "a disease"?

Nope.

Try again. Prove that they think it's a disease.

Or, you can simply look at the constituency and see the actual need in the area of multilingual services and set a limit, say a certain percentage of total population, for offering services in that language weighing need and cost.

Well, whattayaknow? That's simple and it makes sense. Almost too much sense for some, it seems.
and add to that the Constituants who are Illiterate and Blind.

there is a point where coddling and allowing for other's differnces can be carried too far.

Does that prove that they all think that languages other than English are, as you point out in the quote, "a disease"?

Nope.

Try again. Prove that they think it's a disease.

Its not that they think its a disease. Whether they think that or not, it seems they are trying to abolish languages other than English in this country.

You know what, nevermind. Delete thread please.

I clicked on this thread thinking it was gonna be about Czardas...

Does that prove that they all think that languages other than English are, as you point out in the quote, "a disease"?

Nope.

Try again. Prove that they think it's a disease.

Well, if you read the first quote, you'll see that 'they' compared being hispanic (in a voting booth) with being alcoholic.

Alcoholism is generally considered a disease or disease-like. (Might be a "condition" or "syndrome." You know how those doctor-people are.)

Oh god, speaking of illegal immigration, check this out:



Whats troubling is that Jesus probably doesnt speak english.

http://www.petitiononline.com/jesus06/

LMAO!!! Has anyone seen the list of signatories?

173. Pope Penisdictus XXXIII Vatican Flats, Arkansas
172. Moses Red Sea, US
171. Bender B. Rodriguez New New York City
170. Joe the Leper Springfield
169. Tom the Omnipotent canon city fremont
168. Elizabeth Bathory Transylvania, Romania
167. Skippy P. Voles Spokane, Washington
166. Pope Bandar bin Turtle Raving Lunatic Enclave, Crazyland
165. Rebecca Bourke Cork, Ireland
164. Kevin Koch Memphis, Tn
163. Stewie Griffin Quahog, Rhode Island
162. Flying Spaghetti Monster Everywhere
161. Pontius Pilate We don't want him in Palestine anymore. That man's a trouble-maker!
160. richard bowker London UK
159. Satan New York, New York
158. Siddharta Gautama Nirvana
157. ordinary German guy USA citizenship? Are you kiddin'? Better something European - Czech, Dutch, German, French...
156. lol andz WOODINVILLE, USA
155. Eric Cartman Jesus walks around in a dress and has long hair. He looks like a damn hippie!
154. Jose Maria Aznar Miami, FL
153. Aristippos de Kyrene Greece, 430 BEFORE J.C.
152. Jacques Chirac I don't want Jesus to come to France, too many immigrants already.
151. The Romans:"We killed Jesus, that **** jew!" Rom, Italie
150. Vlad Dracul aka Dracula Transilvanien,Rumaenien
149. Jesus / USA SUCKS. I WANT THE CANDIAN CITIZENSHIP Bukkaketown, USA
148. dave smith jhb, south africa
147. Sam Johnston Edenton, USA
146. Joe Public And the winner for the most asinine petition of the year? (Drum roll ....) It's SHELLEY GOODMAN! Author of the "CITIZENSHIP FOR JESUS CHRIST" petition!!!!! Congratulations, Shelley! For your prize, you get a fun-filled week kissing Jerry Falwell's ample buttocks! Way to go!!!!
145. Fists Titan New York
144. Merwyn smith new york
143. Reverend Jerry Falwell Lynchburg, VA
142. Jesus Martinez Tiajuana, Mexico
141. jesuscansuckmuhcack Vancouver, Washington USA
140. sandrine france
139. Andrew Smith Cleveland Hts., OH
138. Iesu Nazarethum Rex Israelis Jerusalem, Israel
137. John S Geers Berea, USA
136. Mickey Mouse Empire City, USA
135. John H. Geers Cleveland, OH, USA
134. a NY,NY
133. adolf hidding in Argentina
132. Yeshua BenYosef Heaven Eternal, Why would I want to be a Citizen of the US? No Thanks
131. Yeshua BeYosef Heaven Eternal, Why would I want to be a Citizen of the US? No Thanks
130. Judas Escariot Salvation, Ohio
129. Pat Robertson Hatetown, USA
128. Tom Foolery Utah
127. Ivana Fu Kalot Myanus
126. Paul Caire Boulder, Colorado
125. Marylise Legajuana USA
124. Tabatah Kash USA
123. Batman Gotham City
123. Batman Gotham City
122. Dark Vador Death Star, somewhere in space
121. BUSH&DICK GOOD IN BED, BAD IN DA WHITE HOUSE
120. Charlton Heston Hollywood
119. Ted Bundy Washington
118. Vlad the Impaler Bukuresti
117. Petr Kasper Trutnov, Czech Republic
116. Henry Andrechyn Ft Mohave AZ USA
115. peace to the world americans stay at your own country
114. Ernesto "Che" Guevara Cuba
113. Commandante Marcos somewhere in Mexico
112. Vladimir Poutine Moscow, Russia
111. Fidel Castro Havana, Cuba
110. Osama Ben Laden Karachi, Pakistan
109. Willy E. Coyote Alabama
108. root 0a0600
107. Ossama Bin Laden Saudy Arabia
106. David Domingo Segovia, España
105. ousama benladen kaboul, afganistan
104. MaxHo Yaroslavl
103. fgsfd gsfdg
102. Marcelo Spack None
101. rofl lol
100. holy krishna heaven
99. John Connor LA
98. asd asd
97. Belcebu HELL
96. Rolf Berlin, Germany
95. suck my dick cheney Deepthroat, Swallownia
94. I. Havea Boner Toledo, USA
93. Martha Stewart Immigrants feed my empire
92. Kim Jong-il Pyongyang, North Korea
91. Satan Hell, Last circle of Hell
90. felix wienberg san francisco, ca
89. Adolf Schickelgruber Braunau am Inn, Austria
88. A huge fan Anywhere
87. Hugo Chavez Venezuela
86. Steve Klyne Florence, Ca, Usa
85. fufufu kacknub germany f2w!!!1111
84. Rob Waddle UK
83. Mr. Propper Don Limpio Industries
82. Mickey Mouse DisneyLand, Paris, France
81. pato donald madrid, spain
80. Huitzilopochtli (Alternative GOD) Tenochtitlan
79. God Does not Exist Stupid Americans
78. liberal commie scum (god bless) jesus land, USA
77. Tristan The Computer GOD LasVegas Nevada
76. Alfred E Newman Cleveland Ohio
75. jesus in the bluegrass central KY
74. Tyhmat Jenkit Pitais Ampua Hevon, Vittu
73. Judah Hell, USA

Was there not just a law passed making English the official language?
Was there not just a law passed saying the Star Spangled Banner can only be sung in English?
There's no federal law, though a number of states have such laws on the books, governing the printing of official documents in English-only. There was a flap about a Spanish version of The Star-Spangled Banner but I don't believe that got anything more than 15 minutes of fame.

I do think Rep. King was equating the inability to speak or read English with alcoholism, and I think that's despicable. But like Llewdor said, there is - or should be - positive value to integrating and by providing too much non-English support you less that value in the eyes of the immigrants. By doing that you keep them at the lower end of the good old socio-economic spectrum.

Well, if you read the first quote, you'll see that 'they' compared being hispanic (in a voting booth) with being alcoholic.

Alcoholism is generally considered a disease or disease-like. (Might be a "condition" or "syndrome." You know how those doctor-people are.)

That was a "he" comparing them to alcoholics. Not a bit of proof that "THEY" also think the same thing.

But like Llewdor said, there is - or should be - positive value to integrating and by providing too much non-English support you less that value in the eyes of the immigrants. By doing that you keep them at the lower end of the good old socio-economic spectrum.

Thats fine. But think of every single country and how they accomidate English.

Thats fine. But think of every single country and how they accomidate English.
I recall Parisians not being willing to accomodate English at all (except for the hordes of non-French who seemed to populate the Left Bank).

That was a "he" comparing them to alcoholics. Not a bit of proof that "THEY" also think the same thing.

Well, now it depends on who "they" are, but if by "they" we mean the frothing-at-the-mouth anti-immigration crowd, they certainly do see immigrants in a poor light. For example, that they are "outbreeding" natives/citizens, possibly as a plan to commit "genocide," behaving like a "cancer" or "virus," "leeching off the system," "swamping the borders," or "invading." These are all terms I've encountered from people who oppose illegal and/or legal immigration...

I recall Parisians not being willing to accomodate English at all (except for the hordes of non-French who seemed to populate the Left Bank).

Have you been to Paris?

Thats fine. But think of every single country and how they accomidate English.
Meaning how you can almost always find an English-speaker in other countries? For good or ill, English has become one of, if not the most widespread languages. It's the language of air traffic control the world over, probably of much of the world's commerce, technology. If I were to immigrate to another country (or would I be emigrating?) I would try to learn the language there, even in Britain. And I would encourage my offspring to learn it, too, if that was where we were making our home. Would we cling to fond memories and perhaps talk among ourselves in American? Sure. I'm not saying there should be no help for people whose English isn't fluent, just not so much that it becomes a crutch.

Have you been to Paris?
Many times. Also to Brittany, Nice, and other locations in useless France.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e142/leftyflecken/jesus.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e142/leftyflecken/jesus2.jpg
oh, the irony! :p

cant seem to make it bigger. . . .
(basically a apply for citizenship banner ad on the petition for Jesus's citizenship)

Its not that they think its a disease. Whether they think that or not, it seems they are trying to abolish languages other than English in this country.

Oh that's utter crap. Much like half of your other posts.

Meaning how you can almost always find an English-speaker in other countries? For good or ill, English has become one of, if not the most widespread languages.

Interesting tidbit: Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken. English comes in second at about half as many speakers (510 million).

It's the language of air traffic control the world over, probably of much of the world's commerce, technology. If I were to immigrate to another country (or would I be emigrating?) I would try to learn the language there, even in Britain. And I would encourage my offspring to learn it, too, if that was where we were making our home. Would we cling to fond memories and perhaps talk among ourselves in American? Sure. I'm not saying there should be no help for people whose English isn't fluent, just not so much that it becomes a crutch.

It doesnt matter. Other countries accomidate English. The least we can do is accomidate Spanish.

Oh that's utter crap. Much like half of your other posts.

Congress has been bashing Spanish since Bush decided to bring up the issue of immigration. I dont know where you have been.

Congress has been bashing Spanish since Bush decided to bring up the issue of immigration. I dont know where you have been.

Again...utter crap.

Many times. Also to Brittany, Nice, and other locations in useless France.
Hmm, isn't it kinda hard to claim that there isn't racism going on when you're perpetrating it?

The bottom line is that Spanish is a better language than English anyway, and we're just scared of it.

Again...utter crap.

* 1980: Dade County, Florida, voters approved an "anti-bilingual ordinance."
* 1981: English was declared the official language in the state of Virginia.
* 1983: Dr. John Tanton and Senator S. I. Hayakawa founded a political lobbying organization, U.S. English. (Tanton was a former head of the Sierra Club's population committee and of Zero Population Growth, and founder of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), an immigration reductionist group.)
* 1986
o Tanton wrote a memo containing remarks about Hispanics claimed by critics to be derogatory, which appeared in the Arizona Republic newspaper, leading to the resignations from U.S. English of board member Walter Cronkite and executive director Linda Chavez; Tanton would also sever his ties to the organization as a result.
o Larry Pratt founded English First, while Lou Zaeske established the American Ethnic Coalition.
* 1994: Tanton and other former U.S. English associates founded ProEnglish specifically to defend Arizona's English-only law. ProEnglish rejects the term "English-only movement" and asks its supporters to refer to the movement instead as "Official English".[1]
* 2006: The U.S. Senate voted for two separate amendments to make English the national language and to make it the common unifying language of the country.


I guess I am lying.

I guess I am lying.

Yep you are since foreign languages are still being taught in schools. Once they start going out of schools then you'll have a point.

Also, if you cna't bother to learn the language of this country when you are living in this country then you really need to get out.

I don't mind immigration but when immigrants refuse to learn english, then I have a problem.

I think you are deliberalty missing his point....

That aside all GOVERNMENT documents should be in ENGLISH only, while the US is a big house with a wide roof we need a common language it promotes assimilation. If people speak other languages at home or in business fine but the Linga Franca in the US needs to be ENGLISH ONLY.


Yes thats right. Worse than bird flu. Its called "being-latino-itis".



Can someone please inform me on how spanish ballots are killing you?

I guess I am lying.
especially when most of those dates are not during President Bush's years in office.

Hmm, isn't it kinda hard to claim that there isn't racism going on when you're perpetrating it?

The bottom line is that Spanish is a better language than English anyway, and we're just scared of it.
And how am I perpetrating it?

Some people are xenophobes, basically. They view a polyglot society as something bad.

What are you not a xenophobe? What is wrong with you? Why are you a fan of a polyglot society. You seem to me to be a bit subversive. I bet if you are a "man" you vote Democrat and have long hair and a boyfriend. Even if I got one right of the three that is bad enough. Hmmrph you probably dont like guns neither.

especially when most of those dates are not during President Bush's years in office.

I never blamed it on Bush.

Seriously, people have made alot of retarded comments in this thread. Just delete it. Please.

I never blamed it on Bush.

Seriously, people have made alot of retarded comments in this thread. Just delete it. Please.

Why when it is so much to expose the idiocy of your posts. :D

You want it deleted, go to moderation and ask for it to be deleted or closed there.

What are you not a xenophobe?

Because I'd like to think I'm not stupid.

What is wrong with you?

Oh, honey, I wouldn't know where to start.

Why are you a fan of a polyglot society.

Because I am not threatened by other languages. I love learning other languages, in fact. More languages used in society -> more languages I can pick up more easily. It's partly selfish, of course. That it brings upon a more diverse and interesting society is a very nice boon.

You seem to me to be a bit subversive.

Only a bit? I must be slacking lately.

I bet if you are a "man"

I have a penis, if that's what you're asking. It's nice. I like it. Other people have liked it. It's a very sufficient penis.

you vote Democrat

No, I vote for three different parties depending on what level of government the election is for. None of them are USian parties.

and have long hair

Unfortunately not. My last attempt at growing longer hair was thwarted partly by the heat of summer, partly by finding out that my hair gets more and more wavy the longer it gets.

and a boyfriend.

Not at the moment, no. Why, you looking for a date? I'm always game for free dinner and fellatio.

Even if I got one right of the three that is bad enough.

Oh, don't beat yourself up over it.

Hmmrph you probably dont like guns neither.

Of course not. Well, apart from when they're used as BDSM props.

I never blamed it on Bush.

Seriously, people have made alot of retarded comments in this thread. Just delete it. Please.
sorry, it looked like you did.

Congress has been bashing Spanish since Bush decided to bring up the issue of immigration. I dont know where you have been.

my mistake if I interpreted it wrong.

and add to that the Constituants who are Illiterate and Blind.

Yeah, damn those illiterate blind folks, the selfish bastards! What ever happened with putting them on flows of ice and sending them off to their icy deaths?

there is a point where coddling and allowing for other's differnces can be carried too far.

And there is a point when being a jerk is just plain old being a jerk.

Thats fine. But think of every single country and how they accomidate English.

Just because other countries do it doesn't make it a good idea.

Just because other countries do it doesn't make it a good idea.

Not every country does.

It's Naziism all over again. Spanish is taking away the 'purity' of America, and someone has to stop the madness. We must rid ourselves of this deadly influence to the pristine culture of America!


*drowns in sarcasm*
Yes because the nazis had soooooo many problems with illegal jewish immigrants. Thats right, all the jews wanted to GO to germany and if you hear anything else it was all filthy lies thought up by the evil BBC.
I seriously fucking doubt you would have the same problem with the issue if it were a bunch of staters smuggling themselves into Canada or millions of brits suddenly trying to immigrate to France

Yes because the nazis had soooooo many problems with illegal jewish immigrants.

Indeed, that was the core thrust of their anti-Semitism: that Germany was for Germans, and it had been 'invaded' by Jews. The fact that this "immigration" had already occurred is a relatively minor point from the standpoint of nazi idealogy. Nazis wouldn't be pro-immigrant anymore than... well, certain anti-immigration folks in the US today.

The comparison, while emotive, isn't entirely inaccurate when the thing being compared is not the specifics of the situation - I mean hell, I could point out other differences, like Hispanics being a much larger proportion of the populatioin in the US than Jews were ever in Germany - but the mentality of the anti-immigration stance which certain people have.

In essence, xenophobia.