Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

If Arizona passed a law making English the official state language, then I'd imagine she is not legally qualified. There still could be some constitutional issues here I think. While the states have nearly unfettered right to set their own criteria for electing their representatives, I'd imagine that have to do it in a way that doesn't violate the 14th amendment. So I'd wonder how they are implementing this proficiency test.

dogma wrote:

DickBandit wrote:

dogma wrote:Arizona has named its official language as English, as have numerous other states; many of which are not on the southern border.

There you go, case closed.

Well, not really. Like I said, It would be interesting to actually hear her speak. I know several people that speak English as a second language who, despite certain issues with conjugation (English verbs are a nightmare.), speak more intelligible English than many native speakers.

When she appeared before the Yuma County Superior Court she couldn't answer questions posed to her in English. Add to that the tests she was administered separately for reading, comprehension, and speaking. I'd imagine she'd fit right in here in El Mirage, which is to say she doesn't speak English at all. My wife does most of her parent teacher conferences in Spanish.

Ouze wrote:If Arizona passed a law making English the official state language, then I'd imagine she is not legally qualified. There still could be some constitutional issues here I think. While the states have nearly unfettered right to set their own criteria for electing their representatives, I'd imagine that have to do it in a way that doesn't violate the 14th amendment. So I'd wonder how they are implementing this proficiency test.

On the legal front she's appeared in a county superior court and the Arizona Supreme Court, there's little or no chance she'll get or win another appeal.

It's also not as if the people who brought this case up are evel white debils. The former mayor claims she had to act as her interpreter, and the current mayor, Juan Carlos Escamilla, doesn't sound particularly Caucasian...even if he is from Yakima. She was born in America, graduated high school in America, and doesn't speak English. I don't know if we should laud our multiculturalism or be ashamed of our education system. I know, let's blame Bush.

What makes the law look racist is that a significant number of people living in Arizona probably have Spanish as their main language.

Plenty of countries have two or more languages and get on fine, such as Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada.

Kilkrazy wrote:
Plenty of countries have two or more languages and get on fine, such as Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada.

That said, I doubt many elected officials speak only 1 of the at least 2 major languages in each.

Well, maybe some officials in Quebec.

I wonder how many Arizona Anglo officials speak Spanish.

Kilkrazy wrote:What makes the law look racist is that a significant number of people living in Arizona probably have Spanish as their main language.

Plenty of countries have two or more languages and get on fine, such as Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada.

I think you would find the people MOST concerned with the issue DO speak Spanish. My wife's grandmother was naturalized 50 years ago, in 4 years she's said about 12 words to me in English, and it was abbot the weather. You should have heard the EPIC tirade she launched into when this came up on the news. It's been my experience that Mexican heritage Americans look all the way down thier noses at anyone who refuses to at least pretend to assimilate.
I don't think anyone has said bilingualism is a bad thing. It's the right of the voters of Arizona to establish a language government. Just as it was for Quebec.