Sarah's Thoughts
Fun in the Nashville City Paper's Comment Section
Here are my comments and those of a fellow City Paper reader from today’s article on the lack of financial disclosure by the English Only folks:
By: JeffF on 1/15/09
The vote is merely a footnote. Everyone knows this is a lock to pass. Opponents are simply maneuvering for after the vote. Luckily illegal immigrants still are not allowed to vote. There are not enough “Sensitive” academic types in Nashville to make people forget about the economic disaster of Nolensville Road and the alien-caused drunk driving deaths and gang violence.
Is Nolensville Road going to get worse if English Only passes?
By: shmoore75 on 1/15/09
JeffF — Please tell me how English Only will do ANYTHING to prevent the drunk driving deaths and gang violence caused by illegal immigrants.
This amendment is an impotent piece of writing in light of already existing state and federal laws and regulations.
By: JeffF on 1/15/09
Answer:
“Demagnetization”
Why come to or stay in Nashville when they are no longer going to bend over backwards to accommodate my illegal activities? There are dozens of other cities I can illegally live in that will ensure my never having to learn English.
This is going to pass 70% to 30%. The politicians wasted their time showing us how sensitive they are. They should be putting on a show for actual citizens and voters instead of spending so much time performing for the non-voting illegal aliens.
I am sure the Japanese and German companies operating in Mexico are operating just fine in their Spanish-Only government environment. Making sure Jose gets his EBT card in Spanish is not a concern for a multi-national corporation looking for a regional office.
By: JeffF on 1/15/09
Funny how the mayor and governor and other public servants spent more time rallying for illegal alien access to Spanish language services then the zero time they spent consoling the Wilson family for this loss.
I sure hope we do not offend the non-voting, minimal tax paying, non-property owning, non insurance driving segment of our local society. We sure would not want all the takers and leaches to go elsewhere with a disparagingly attitude about us.
By: shmoore75 on 1/15/09
Metro government will still be required to provide police, education, health care, etc. in other languages … pretty much everything. Title VI as written by the federal government requires as much. The Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution outweighs even the might of Eric Crafton.
You think that illegal immigrants will shy away from Nashville just because Councilman Crafton sits in Metro Council chambers twice a month and talks in English during meetings (which already happens, by the way)? Ooohhhh … the zoning board won’t repeat the latest bill in Spanish for me during their committee meeting, I better find another place to live. Please.
Green Bay passed a similar law several years ago. Since then, illegal immigration has increased by 30%.
Crafton himself has said the only thing this amendment does is make sure the Metro Council meetings and committees are conducted in English. That’s it. And, since this already happens and is required to keep happening under state law, the English Only amendment is useless and just meant to heighten the profile of one councilman.
Really. I don’t think some people have a clue of what this amendment will or will not do! Or, they don’t care.
UPDATE: I must correct myself, as pointed out by Emmett Flattus in the comment section of this post. Legal immigration has increased in Green Bay by 30%. Still, I contend that JeffF wouldn’t be happy to have government services in Spanish for legal residents either.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
“Why come to or stay in Nashville when they are no longer going to bend over backwards to accommodate my illegal activities? There are dozens of other cities I can illegally live in that will ensure my never having to learn English.”
It’s illegal not to speak English??? Someone needs to check their Metro law codes.
January 15th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
We had a caller on Monday who speculated that, if English Only passes, there will be people in Nashville – on the bus, in the grocery store, wherever – who will try and silence Spanish-speakers by telling them it is illegal to do so. I think he may have been right.
January 15th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
“Green Bay passed a similar law several years ago. Since then, illegal immigration has increased by 30%.”
Actually, I believe the increase was in legal immigrants…a plus for any city.
January 15th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Emmett,
My apologies … you are correct. And, I agree with you that legal immigration is a plus. Still, I get irritated by some of the redirect that is posted above. It isn’t directed just at illegal immigrants, but anyone who speaks another language. Do you think “JeffF” would be OK with government services being provided in Spanish as long as those needing the services were here legally?
January 16th, 2009 at 10:46 am
“Do you think “JeffF” would be OK with government services being provided in Spanish as long as those needing the services were here legally?”
Can’t speak for him, but personally, if an immigrant is here on a legal status and is learning English and not just existing in a closed, non-English speaking community, I would look more kindly on helping them. Of course, if an immigrant has gained citizenship, they have demonstrated proficiency in English as a part of their citizenship requirements.
Additionally, unlike many opponents of the proposal, you corrected your factual mistake and will not try to perpetuate that misinformation. Unfortunately, many opponents are not so forthright and will continue to use the same scare tactics with which the proponents are charged.