It's a great point you make.
I have a winderful picture hanging in my office. It is from 1928.
About 3 to 4 feet wide.
It's 150 Immigrants being sworn in as citizens at the White House.
President Coolidge did the swearing in. My grandfater is in the
picture, having been sworn in that day.
The people in the photo are dressed in their Sunday best, beaming
with pride.
The picture is marded "Americanization School of the State of New
Jersey."
I checked into the history, particularly with the State.
"Americanization Schools" were common back during large European
immigration days.
They were held by companies who hired immigrants, and social
organizations like the Sons of Italy, Sons of Shillelagh, etc.
At the "Americanization" school, the Immigrants would learn about
the language, the clothing, money, food, government, social
expectations, schools, etc.
Once completed, they would be assited in taking the test for
citizenship.
It was wonderful, and a great way to help immigrants assimilate into
America; they were proud to do it.
NOW IMAGINE TODAY!!! Could you imagine if a big company today set
up an Americanization school!?!?!
The ACLU would sue. Certain folks would claim "xenophobia"
and "prejudice" "racism" and "intolerance" and claim these poor
folks were having their "culture disrespected."
So while I agree I'd like to see opportunities like the for
immigrants, you just go ahead and try it, and see how you get
labeled.
--- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "asburycouple" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
>
> My intention there was not to point the word "villifying" at you -
> you have not in your posts and Tom I apologize to you if you feel
I
> implied that sepcifically regarding you. It was more of a general
> statement because many in this country do.
>
> Aside from that, there are two points I was making.
>
> One was that perhaps we should provide opportunities that help
them
> make that transition. Learning a language is not easy - made
harder
> when you work long hours for little pay and live amoung people who
> speak your native tongue rather than the one you want to learn.
>
> Second was that the police have a job to do, and saddling them
with a
> mandate that makes it more difficult for them to do it is a
mistake.
> Similar to when the federal government madates the states without
> funding - forcing them to redirect funding from their own
priorities
> to the federal governments. I want the police to fight crime
using
> whatever tactics are required, including speaking whatever
languages
> necessary to accomplish their tasks.
>
> Any thoughts on the points I was trying to make.
>
> --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "justifiedright"
> <justifiedright@> wrote:
> >
> > --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "asburycouple"
<asburycouple@>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > So perhaps rather than simply
> > > villifying those who can't speak the language an effort can be
> made
> > > to provide an opportunity to learn English?
> >
> > Who is doing the villifying? Who is clamoring for opportunities
to
> > learn English? Please compare.
> >
> > I've said many times my prodding for them to learn English is
> > compassion toward them. Success comes much easier with the
English
> > language in America. No one can dispute that, so all the
> > encouragement to speak English is a help to them, not
> villification.
> > It is also asking for them to take every "opportunity to learn
> > English" as you say.
> >
> > Yet for giving this good, helpful, compassionate advice, some
will
> > yell "Xenophobe" which is how this conversation started.
> >
> > So who is doing the villifying here? The folks yelling
xenophobe,
> > that's who.
> >
>
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
