Pahrump, NV becomes "English Only"

[Blazen_AZN]

...denying town benefits to illegal immigrants.

 

 

Uhm... Is it legal for ANY town to take advantage of the "benifits to illegal immagants"?

 

Not like it actually matters much if it is law or not, people will hire them anyway.

[ginzo]

^^

 

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

 

I've done well financially with no degree, but I've decided to change my career entirely. The path I've chosen demands more formal education than any other career. I'm finishing up my undergrad now, and I don't feel in the slightest bit cheated. I go to an excellent school, and the experience has been wonderful.

[Hercules]

I haven't really read anything but the article in this thread but I'm just going to go off. I'm sorry if I repeat anything that has already been said.

 

I think this is absolutely ludicrous. This country was supposedly built on the grounds freedom and equality. Not to mention, it was started by a bunch of immigrants. We have traditionally been a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds. Isn't that what this country was all about?

 

Now, everyone wants to become territorial and prejudice. I mean, there will always be some sort of stereotyping, prejudice or racism in the world, sadly enough. But why can't people just work together as a unit, as a world, as one? Everyone has to point fingers at supposed troublemakers, and for lack of a better term, supposed scum. To tell you the truth, I think the people that passed and believe in this kind of action are the true scum. They view immigration as a bad thing. They see, for example, Mexicans as a nuisance to society and a problem. When is it a bad thing for people to have initiative and to try to better their lives? That is all these people are doing. They are not stealing jobs (they are gladly doing jobs that most Americans would not think of doing). They are not doing anything brutally wrong as far as I can see. They are just perceived as dirty because they are living poorly because nobody will give them a chance.

 

Why can't we work together? Why not have some sort of literacy programs for these people? Why can't we try to work them into our society? They could be truly great members of society, not to mention functional members of society. Why kick out perfectly good people? Why not welcome them in in an attempt to make our country more prosperous?

 

I guess we are just scared that they are going to steal the country away from us like we stole the land from the Indians.

[griffon]

Now, everyone wants to become territorial and prejudice. I mean, there will always be some sort of stereotyping, prejudice or racism in the world, sadly enough. But why can't people just work together as a unit, as a world, as one?

 

From what I understand that seems to be the whole point of passing the ordinance... to get everyone on the same page. Literally. And that page is written in English.

[USCoaster]

I've been to Pahrump and I would rather move to Tijuana than get on the same page as those people.

[Hercules]

Now, everyone wants to become territorial and prejudice. I mean, there will always be some sort of stereotyping, prejudice or racism in the world, sadly enough. But why can't people just work together as a unit, as a world, as one?

 

From what I understand that seems to be the whole point of passing the ordinance... to get everyone on the same page. Literally. And that page is written in English.

 

So we have to kick those people out just because they don't speak English? Why can't there be efforts made to get these people to become English speaking and productive members of society? Shouldn't we want motivated people?

 

It's the same thing with people that are in prison. We should create preventative efforts to keep inmates out of prison and put money towards getting them out and keeping them out and making them productive members of society. I see both of the situations are very similar.

[BiCoastal Kid]

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

 

Largest doesn't mean strongest. There are more stable nations out there, we just cover up our faults with heavy spending.

[pvcoasterguy]

My god... I get so sick of this feux-American pride that it about makes me want to puke. This is not American pride. In fact, Americans should be humiliated that this is happening. What happened to the 'American' ideal of being a free country? Obviously that has been tossed out of the window.

 

I thought America was supposed to be a 'melting pot' of cultures. I suppose some must think that all change is wrong and bad. Because some people simply don't want to make an effort to change. They want everyone to be white Christians. But that is never going to happen. So deal with it, let all be REAL people and not some 'animal' lower than you on the food chain. And, whatever you do, don't strip them of their pride of their country.

 

I can only pray that this doesn't happen elsewhere.

[ParkTrips]

here's the article from the local paper:

 

http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2006/Nov-17-Fri-2006/news/10864250.html

 

Between that and reading the actual bill, I don't see much of a problem.

 

There is nothing in there saying it is illegal to speak Spanish (or French or Dutch or...), the "spanish" parts of the bill only apply to town documents. IMHO this is being construed out to be more than it really is.

 

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

Two comments, Jahan - first, it has nothing to do with their citizenship! Also, what "human right" are we even talking about? The "right" to have town documents in English? The "right" to display a flag? The fact that a lot of documents are also available in Spanish is merely a courtesy, and the flag thing is a "privilege" not a "right".

 

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

I can see the flag issue being defeated in court under "free speech", but don't see the documentation clause being deemed unconstitutional..

[arrowfanman]

Two comments, Jahan - first, it has nothing to do with their citizenship! Also, what "human right" are we even talking about? The "right" to have town documents in English? The "right" to display a flag? The fact that a lot of documents are also available in Spanish is merely a courtesy, and the flag thing is a "privilege" not a "right".

 

My comment was in direct response to your post:

 

"Free Speech" shouldn't apply to people who aren't citizens of this nation.

 

...I believe the "right" I was refering too was free speech.

 

Sorry Joe...nothing to you. I just wasn't feeling that comment. As you have proven, you can do better.

 

-Jahan

[lapseofreason]

So we have to kick those people out just because they don't speak English? Why can't there be efforts made to get these people to become English speaking and productive members of society? Shouldn't we want motivated people?

 

I have typed and deleted about ten different replies to this, and all I can say is, if you lived out here you would understand what the Pahrump residents are standing up for.

[Wes]

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

 

That's all I could think about when I saw this, too. Oh John Goodman, who won't you piss off?

[ginzo]

here's the article from the local paper:

 

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

I can see the flag issue being defeated in court under "free speech", but don't see the documentation clause being deemed unconstitutional..

 

I don't think there's any question that the flag provision is against the First Amendment. Consequently, that town would get smacked in Federal Court on that. That's why they're not enforcing it. They know it's illegal for them to do so. But, they can keep their facist law on the books if they never enforce it, because it can't be challenged in court then.

 

I find it amusing and perhaps a little bit scary that some so-called libertarians here don't see an issue with government regulating free expression.

[ginzo]

here's the article from the local paper:

 

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

I can see the flag issue being defeated in court under "free speech", but don't see the documentation clause being deemed unconstitutional..

 

I don't think there's any question that the flag provision is against the First Amendment. Consequently, that town would get smacked in Federal Court on that. That's why they're not enforcing it. They know it's illegal for them to do so. But, they can keep their facist law on the books if they never enforce it, because it can't be challenged in court then.

 

I find it amusing and perhaps a little bit scary that some so-called libertarians here don't see an issue with government regulating free expression.

 

and the flag thing is a "privilege" not a "right"

 

No. There is clear First Amendment protection here. Even burning the American flag is protected under the First Amendment, not that I think that's a swell idea.

[Jeezus Juice]

From the article is says that the lovely town has a 9% spanish speaking population.

 

Why is it that the most vocal areas on this issue are the ones affected by it the least?

 

Pahrump indeed.

 

-Don

[Carnage]

Why is it that the most vocal areas on this issue are the ones affected by it the least?

 

Easier to make noise when there's not as many people to fight it.

[jamesdillaman]

I'd just like to say that we have a lot of sports fans around here, and it would be very silly to see an american flag displayed "at least as prominently" as the ohio state flag in front of my neighbors house. Also, displaying the flag IS a right protected under freedom of expression. That's like saying you HAVE to paint your house red white and blue, or you HAVE to wear all blue clothes. Displaying a flag in front of your house is a right everybody has. If the KKK can put up a cross every year in Cincinnati on Fountain Square, We can let some spanish speaking people display a mexican flag in front of their house. Seriously, there's a war going on in Iraq, and Iran is more dangerous than ever. It's dissapointing that people forget any real issues and waste their time on worthless sh$% like this.

 

-James Dillaman

[okinawaboy11]

Yes. Score. I'm so sick of people coming into my work and expecting me to speak spanish. They just start blabbing away. AND I'm white.

[ParkTrips]

...I believe the "right" I was refering too was free speech.

aaah ok, gotcha. That makes more sense, I feel stupid. I can agree that free speech is a right in this nation... BUT who should be protected? "We the People" of the United States? Yea! The people of Mexico, Guatemala and any other nation? That's an opinion thing I guess, I say no..

[crispy]

I understand and actually agree with the English only rule, which is, as stated before

 

from the PahrumpValley Times

 

Murray reminded the audience that the ordinance meant that official documents, such as agendas and minutes, would have to be in English, and that it did take into account special circumstances when another language may need to be spoken.

 

 

But

 

The flag Ordinance is clearly illegal.

 

 

I also agree that the system DOES pander to the spanish speaking people, there needs to be a way that the people who come here can get assistance learning english, so they can function here

 

I work in a hospital, and even though we provide translators, there can still be delay's and at a trauma faucility that can be a bad situation.

 

Providing services is a very stupid part of this ordinance, I think illegal immigrants are breaking the law, but even I cannot see any reason not to provide basic emergency medical care, that is cold hearted.

 

There is a huge problem with illegal immigration, everyone needs to step back and work together on the problem, not make ordinances that do more to devide than to help solve the problem