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Iowa proposes making english the official state language

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  • And it has the potential of screwing a lot of people over.


    Then let it screw people over in the short run. In the long run, they will learn the language.
    “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
    - John 13:34-35 (NRSV)

    Comment


    • Again, you're assuming that everyone can learn the language adequately.
      "Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before. He is full of murderous resentment of people who are ignorant without having come by their ignorance the hard way. "
      -Bokonon

      Comment


      • Originally posted by Ramo
        My point was, how am I supposed to compare the dual to single-language policy with only the dual figure?
        If you're going to assert that the cost differences between the two systems isn't that signifigant, I assume that you have some basis for comparison other than what was provided.

        Learn the meaning of "<" before ranting about "prejudice."
        Learn the meaning of the word paternalism before ranting at me unless you have access to information that compares the proportion of hispanics v. other foreign minorities are not literate in English.

        Explain.
        According to the LA Times, the Los Angeles City Council prints all its public notices in the six foreign languages spoken there in addition to English, which doubles its annual printing budget to $1 million.

        Edit:
        Again, you're assuming that everyone can learn the language adequately.
        Why are you assuming that one can not reach a literate level when given incentive to?
        Last edited by DinoDoc; March 8, 2002, 23:35.
        I make no bones about my moral support for [terrorist] organizations. - chegitz guevara
        For those who aspire to live in a high cost, high tax, big government place, our nation and the world offers plenty of options. Vermont, Canada and Venezuela all offer you the opportunity to live in the socialist, big government paradise you long for. –Senator Rubio

        Comment


        • If you're going to assert that the cost differences between the two systems isn't that signifigant, I assume that you have some basis for comparison other than what was provided.
          You asserted that the cost difference is "tens of billions of dollars." And you used Canada's figure to back it up. It's up to you to back that up.

          Honestly, I don't know what the figure is, exactly. I imagine that it isn't too significant.

          Learn the meaning of the word paternalism before ranting at me unless you have access to information that compares the proportion of hispanics v. other foreign minorities are not literate in English.
          What are you on about? I wrote <3%. I only set an upper bound, which you admitted yourself.

          According to the LA Times, the Los Angeles City Council prints all its public notices in the six foreign languages spoken there in addition to English, which doubles its annual printing budget to $1 million.
          Source?

          First of all, we're only dealing with two languages federally. Secondly, the extra cost is incurred in coming up with the designs. Since we're dealing with far more copies, we can reasonably expect that the cost to copy would be far, far more signficant. So six languages federally would logically produce a far less than 100% increase.
          "Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before. He is full of murderous resentment of people who are ignorant without having come by their ignorance the hard way. "
          -Bokonon

          Comment


          • Why are you assuming that one can not reach a literate level when given incentive to?
            Because it isn't happening already.

            People obviously have a great incentive to learn English, due to the prospect of higher wages, but they do not do so.

            And legal/tax jargon goes a bit past a level of minimal literacy.
            "Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before. He is full of murderous resentment of people who are ignorant without having come by their ignorance the hard way. "
            -Bokonon

            Comment


            • Originally posted by Ramo
              Because it isn't happening already.
              It is the native-language support they recieve that retards thier aquisition of a new language. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Monthly Labor Review, December 1992

              Sorry, no link as far as I know.

              Edit: Nevermind.

              Last edited by DinoDoc; March 8, 2002, 23:54.
              I make no bones about my moral support for [terrorist] organizations. - chegitz guevara
              For those who aspire to live in a high cost, high tax, big government place, our nation and the world offers plenty of options. Vermont, Canada and Venezuela all offer you the opportunity to live in the socialist, big government paradise you long for. –Senator Rubio

              Comment


              • Originally posted by MrFun
                I believe one of the great things about humanity is its diversity.

                Language is one of the components of any culture in any part of the world. So, isn't a country that declares one language to be official basically saying that it does not appreciate humanity's diversity to some extent?
                If you take a group of people and teach them all the same language they will always be more united than a group of people that dont all speak the same language. What do you prefer? Unity or diversity?
                ...people like to cry a lot... - Pekka
                ...we just argue without evidence, secure in our own superiority. - Snotty

                Comment


                • Originally posted by Caligastia


                  If you take a group of people and teach them all the same language they will always be more united than a group of people that dont all speak the same language. What do you prefer? Unity or diversity?
                  I will take both of them and balance them to each other.
                  A lot of Republicans are not racist, but a lot of racists are Republican.

                  Comment


                  • Originally posted by MrFun


                    I will take both of them and balance them to each other.
                    How are you going to do that? Either people speak the same language or they dont, theres no middle ground.

                    Sorry, but when youre talking about language its either one or the other.
                    ...people like to cry a lot... - Pekka
                    ...we just argue without evidence, secure in our own superiority. - Snotty

                    Comment


                    • I think you can have unity between people who are bilingual and people who are monolingual.

                      Many immigrants realize the importance of learning English when they arrive to the United States. We do not have to declare an official language to compel them to do so.
                      A lot of Republicans are not racist, but a lot of racists are Republican.

                      Comment


                      • Originally posted by MrFun
                        I think you can have unity between people who are bilingual and people who are monolingual.
                        No you cant. Unless there is a common language there will always be tension and misunderstanding.
                        ...people like to cry a lot... - Pekka
                        ...we just argue without evidence, secure in our own superiority. - Snotty

                        Comment


                        • nam umus linguae, uniusque moris regnum imbecille et fragilum
                          Stop Quoting Ben

                          Comment


                          • Originally posted by Zhu Yuanzhang
                            nam umus linguae, uniusque moris regnum imbecille et fragilum
                            Latin died as a widely spoken language centuries ago.
                            I make no bones about my moral support for [terrorist] organizations. - chegitz guevara
                            For those who aspire to live in a high cost, high tax, big government place, our nation and the world offers plenty of options. Vermont, Canada and Venezuela all offer you the opportunity to live in the socialist, big government paradise you long for. –Senator Rubio

                            Comment


                            • Again, you're assuming that everyone can learn the language adequately.


                              No, I just simply don't care. Like Germans don't care if Arabs can learn German adequatly, they still have too.

                              People obviously have a great incentive to learn English, due to the prospect of higher wages, but they do not do so.


                              The incentive, I think is too low. They can get by (at a very low level, albeit) now. You remove that net, and then they'll have to learn English.
                              “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
                              - John 13:34-35 (NRSV)

                              Comment

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