Pahrump, NV becomes "English Only"

[BeemerBoy]

English Only Ordinance Passed

Pahrump

 

 

Elected officials in this southern Nevada town have adopted an ordinance declaring English the official language, restricting the display of foreign flags and denying town benefits to illegal immigrants.

 

A 3-2 Town Board vote drew a standing ovation and cheers late Tuesday from many of the 250 people at a meeting that featured passionate arguments about the proposal.

 

"We have to start somewhere," said trustee Michael Miraglia, who sponsored the measure targeting illegal immigrants. He said Tuesday it was "for all our servicemen and women who died for our country," and said he hoped it would provide a model for other cities.

 

Audience members heckled an American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada official and booed Pahrump resident Vicky Parker, who said

she was "appalled at the over Hispano-phobia going on."

 

Lee Rowland, an ACLU staff lawyer from Las Vegas, told the board

the ordinance would invite an expensive lawsuit challenging its constitutionally.

 

"If you pass an ordinance that is blatantly in violation of the First Amendment, this town will be on the hook," Rowland said.

 

Town Manager David Richards called the English Language and Patriot Reaffirmation ordinance a statement that "everyone should speak English, and if you are going to move here then you ought to respect the American flag and fly it in prominence."

 

Some who said they favored the ordinance blamed the federal government for failure to address immigration issues. Most said not

much will change with the ordinance's adoption.

 

Town business is already conducted in English, the ordinance regulating the display of flags won't be enforced, and the town has

no real "benefits" to take away because public aid is administered by the state or the county, officials said.

 

The flag measure requires an American flag to be displayed at least as prominently as a foreign flag.

 

Pahrump, with 33,241 residents, is 60 miles west of Las Vegas. It is the largest town in sprawling Nye County, where about 9 percent the population of 41,302 was Hispanic in 2005, according to the Nevada state demographer.

 

Here is the link to the official ordinance in PDF form:

 

http://www.pahrumpnv.org/Docs_2006/TOWN%20OFFICE2006/Recent%20Ordinances/English%20%20Patriot%20No.54%20C.pdf

 

Personally, I say THANK YOU, Pahrump. Let's hope this becomes a trend.

[ParkTrips]

"Free Speech" shouldn't apply to people who aren't citizens of this nation, goo job guys

[arrowfanman]

^ So someone should be denied a human right because they aren't an American citizen. Hmmm...

 

 

 

Not that it matters...none of its going to be inforced.

 

Think about it--if you own a store and you can increase your revenue by catering to spanish-speaking population, your going to do it, no matter what some stupid little law says.

 

I'm all for "English First"...but "English Only" is not only wrong, but it's impractical.

 

He said Tuesday it was "for all our servicemen and women who died for our country," and said he hoped it would provide a model for other cities.

 

*groan* ....I think this comment is going to make me throw up.

 

-Jahan

[Carnage]

They may as well just take the next step and make the KKK the official town religion.

[PhishyBrewer]

That was the name of the city that was used in last weeks episode on Studio 60. They said it was in Nevada.

[ECZenith]

This can be compared to dropping a match on spilled gasoline... I don't see anything good coming of this. Interesting read though.

[Robgraves]

They may as well just take the next step and make the KKK the official town religion.

 

wow, honestly... thats one of the stupidest statements i have ever heard.

 

 

If you are going to move to a country... legally or illegally (though i'm all for booting out the illegal ones) then you should at least make the effort to learn the language first... the politically correct dancing around about this is gonna be what helps drive this country further into the socio-economic crapper.

[cfc]

Little piece of trivia: Pahrump is where the Martians first landed in Mars Attacks!

 

Yes, as goes Pahrump, so goes the Universe!

[ginzo]

The flag measure requires an American flag to be displayed at least as prominently as a foreign flag.

 

Who is the government to tell me which flags I shall or shall not fly?

 

This is an Unconstitutional law anyway. It won't hold up if challenged in court.

[ginzo]

They may as well just take the next step and make the KKK the official town religion.

 

wow, honestly... thats one of the stupidest statements i have ever heard.

 

 

If you are going to move to a country... legally or illegally (though i'm all for booting out the illegal ones) then you should at least make the effort to learn the language first... the politically correct dancing around about this is gonna be what helps drive this country further into the socio-economic crapper.

 

What crapper is that? Largest economy in the world. Hell, California alone is the 5th largest economy in the world.

[Movieguy]

The KKK's not a religion...however, I can see a push towards making southern baptism the country's official religion...

 

I understand where these people are coming from, I really do, and I really do think that English should be widely taught, for practical reasons...I just find it a bit humorous that most of the people saying that immigrants need to learn English, don't really have a mastery of the language themselves, when you think about it.

[Robgraves]

I just find it a bit humorous that most of the people saying that immigrants need to learn English, don't really have a mastery of the language themselves, when you think about it.

 

 

Why is it that this phrase has been drilled into us over the last few years. Is it a left-wing conspiracy or just a case of a lie told long enough become accepted as fact. Well, for your information... many people who believe this way are not stupid right-wing rednecks who cannot speak proper English.

 

I myself am a Libertarian who falls on the center-right, a supporter of gay rights... and calling me Christian would probably cause some sort of tear in the fabric of space time... being that i am on the WAYYYY opposite side of that spectrum. I am very well educated and graduated high-school at 16.

 

And, guess what?

 

I have many friends, colleagues and associates who feel the same way, they work as doctors, scientists, professors, entertainers.. etc...

 

English should be America's official language... this shouldn't even be a debate. Name me another country you could move to and not even make an attempt at learning the language of that country. There is NOTHING unconstitutional about making English the official language of America. You should need to know it to pass a citizenship test... if you have not taken a citizenship test and are living and working here... you should be sent home. period.

 

And by the way... to drive home my point more... My grandfather was an Italian Immigrant to America... He learned the language, and taught his kids that that was one of the most important things to becoming an American... Unfortunately he never became an American (well fortunate for me as i hold dual citizenship now), because he was also a bootlegger and got arrested for illegally selling alcohol (prohibition) and was denied citizenship for 5 years.

 

I guess the point is illegal immigrants are criminals, and should not be catered to.

[steel]

Whoa, Pahrump is a real town?! I thought they just made it up for those two episodes of Studio 60.

 

That's pretty life-changing.

[ginzo]

There is NOTHING unconstitutional about making English the official language of America.

 

But placing restrictions on which flags I fly, requiring me to fly an American flag alongside a foreign one is most certainly unconstitutional. That's all I was saying.

 

I don't personally see a need to pass any laws regarding language. English is already the de facto language, and it's at your own peril to not know it. Making it de jure seems unnecessary, and would be a very French thing to do. Do you think we should go as far as Quebec, and have the language police measuring signage to ensure English words are in larger print than Spanish ones? Should we fine magazines for printing Spanish words where there is a full English equivalent?

[Movieguy]

OK, OK....I wasn't trying to start an argument with you, Rob....

 

 

Geez, you try to make a little joke, and you get a tongue lashing for your troubles.

[Robgraves]

There is NOTHING unconstitutional about making English the official language of America.

 

But placing restrictions on which flags I fly, requiring me to fly an American flag alongside a foreign one is most certainly unconstitutional. That's all I was saying.

 

I don't personally see a need to pass any laws regarding language. English is already the de facto language, and it's at your own peril to not know it. Making it de jure seems unnecessary, and would be a very French thing to do. Do you think we should go as far as Quebec, and have the language police measuring signage to ensure English words are in larger print than Spanish ones? Should we fine magazines for printing Spanish words where there is a full English equivalent?

 

 

In many countries it is illegal to fly another flag. I for one tink that yes, if you choose to live in America, you should at least show the courtesy to the country in which you live to fly it alongside whatever other flag you choose. Look, we might not all agrre with some things our country does... but it is where we live. If and when i move to Europe as I plan... I will not be as arrogant as to fly an American flag. I will fly the flag of the country in which i live.

[Robgraves]

OK, OK....I wasn't trying to start an argument with you, Rob....

 

 

Geez, you try to make a little joke, and you get a tongue lashing for your troubles.

 

 

LOL, its ok... just struck a nerve on something i feel sensitive about.

[Movieguy]

This is why I usually avoid the political threads...

[Robgraves]

This is why I usually avoid the political threads...

 

Unfortunately I'm drawn to them, mostly cause I can provide a perspective from a 3rd position... that and those political science classes...

[ginzo]

There is NOTHING unconstitutional about making English the official language of America.

 

But placing restrictions on which flags I fly, requiring me to fly an American flag alongside a foreign one is most certainly unconstitutional. That's all I was saying.

 

I don't personally see a need to pass any laws regarding language. English is already the de facto language, and it's at your own peril to not know it. Making it de jure seems unnecessary, and would be a very French thing to do. Do you think we should go as far as Quebec, and have the language police measuring signage to ensure English words are in larger print than Spanish ones? Should we fine magazines for printing Spanish words where there is a full English equivalent?

 

 

In many countries it is illegal to fly another flag. I for one tink that yes, if you choose to live in America, you should at least show the courtesy to the country in which you live to fly it alongside whatever other flag you choose. Look, we might not all agrre with some things our country does... but it is where we live. If and when i move to Europe as I plan... I will not be as arrogant as to fly an American flag. I will fly the flag of the country in which i live.

 

What is polite and what you have the right to do are distinct entities. I for one believe that I have a fundamental, inalienable right to fly whatever flag I choose, or to not fly one at all. That's called "freedom of expression". Thankfully, the Constitution agrees with me on this.

[willski]

Unfortunately he never became an American (well fortunate for me as i hold dual citizenship now), because he was also a bootlegger and got arrested for illegally selling alcohol (prohibition) and was denied citizenship for 5 years.

 

I guess the point is illegal immigrants are criminals, and should not be catered to.

 

 

Uhhh.....your grandfather was a criminal, and he wasn't sent back to Italy. IMO, your grandfather was more of a criminal than most illegal immigrants, so in your scheme he should have been deported.

 

 

Also, that's great that you graduated from high school at the age of 16, but:

 

A) It's irrelevant to the topic

B) College matters more than high school

 

 

 

Sorry to be an ass, but I'm in a pissy mood right now. Feel free to wig out as much as you want over this post.

[Robgraves]

Unfortunately he never became an American (well fortunate for me as i hold dual citizenship now), because he was also a bootlegger and got arrested for illegally selling alcohol (prohibition) and was denied citizenship for 5 years.

 

I guess the point is illegal immigrants are criminals, and should not be catered to.

 

 

Uhhh.....your grandfather was a criminal, and he wasn't sent back to Italy. IMO, your grandfather was more of a criminal than most illegal immigrants, so in your scheme he should have been deported.

 

 

Also, that's great that you graduated from high school at the age of 16, but:

 

A) It's irrelevant to the topic

B) College matters more than high school

 

 

 

Sorry to be an a$$, but I'm in a pissy mood right now. Feel free to wig out as much as you want over this post.

 

 

Yeah, he should have been... I am sorry the irony was lost on you. However, he was in the country legally (i accidentally had typed Illegal in my previous post) and had gone through the process of becomeing an American, he was just a victim of circumstance as was many Italian Americans. He did not leech off of society, he did not get government handouts, he owned his own business and paid taxes as a resident alien. He was a proud American... yes he was a proud Italian.. but he flew his American flag the highest... he even attempted to join the army to fight in the war.

 

As far as the college comment... I was making a point that I'm not an uneducated redneck... i would say that would be relevant. As far as college... i was done with that at 20. I have a film degree... I have yet to ever be asked to present it though... I learned more in private study than I ever did in my classes. I would like my money back actually.

[ginzo]

Unfortunately he never became an American (well fortunate for me as i hold dual citizenship now), because he was also a bootlegger and got arrested for illegally selling alcohol (prohibition) and was denied citizenship for 5 years.

 

I guess the point is illegal immigrants are criminals, and should not be catered to.

 

 

Uhhh.....your grandfather was a criminal, and he wasn't sent back to Italy. IMO, your grandfather was more of a criminal than most illegal immigrants, so in your scheme he should have been deported.

 

 

Also, that's great that you graduated from high school at the age of 16, but:

 

A) It's irrelevant to the topic

B) College matters more than high school

 

 

 

Sorry to be an a$$, but I'm in a pissy mood right now. Feel free to wig out as much as you want over this post.

 

 

Yeah, he should have been... I am sorry the irony was lost on you. However, he was in the country legally (i accidentally had typed Illegal in my previous post) and had gone through the process of becomeing an American, he was just a victim of circumstance as was many Italian Americans. He did not leech off of society, he did not get government handouts, he owned his own business and paid taxes as a resident alien. He was a proud American... yes he was a proud Italian.. but he flew his American flag the highest... he even attempted to join the army to fight in the war.

 

As far as the college comment... I was making a point that I'm not an uneducated redneck... i would say that would be relevant. As far as college... i was done with that at 20. I have a film degree... I have yet to ever be asked to present it though... I learned more in private study than I ever did in my classes. I would like my money back actually.

 

If you feel gyped, maybe you should have studied something a little bit more demanding than film, like underwater basket weaving or communications.

[Robgraves]

^^

 

trust me, i don't feel gypped...

 

and its not like I went to an art school or something, I went to a state Uni

 

I just feel i would have done just as well on my own. I'll put it this way, my best friend from high school went to college for both computer engineering, and graphic design... when he moved to Los Angeles he rented out a room from me and eventually i gave him a job as my assistant because he couldnt get a job with his degree... he now has a job, and makes half as much as I do and works twice as hard

[YoshiFan]

There is little to no incentive for someone to learn English now which is part of the problem. Everything is in Spanish. Go into any store and pick up a product and you'll probably see the product has English and Spanish on it. Almost all stores now have the signs with English and Spanish, there are the Spanish TV stations and even driving by stores, in the window you see writing in Spanish that translates to "We Speak Spanish." It's already to the point I think in Texas where you can't even get a job in some areas unless you speak Spanish and English. Even those Monopoly McDonald's pieces have English and Spanish on them and now toys like that new Elmo and some dolls they have Spanish speaking versions of them.