Ballots in Spanish set off debate
It's difficult to miss the fact that the Hispanic population has grown dramatically in Marion and surrounding counties.
Based on the 2000 Census, Hispanics make up 17.1 percent of Marion County's population. In Polk County, that figure is 8.8 percent. By contrast, Hispanics are 4.4 percent of the population in Linn County.
Yet officials there have made history by becoming the first county in Oregon to make Spanish-language ballots available to its Hispanic community.
What does Hispanic have to do with anything? My wife is Hispanic and her ballot didn't need to be in English. Oh I get it, by saying "Hispanic" the paper doesn't have to say "illegal aliens who don't care to learn English."
Funny thing, requirement number two (or dos) to register to vote says this:
You are a United States citizen.
And a requirement to become a US citizen says this:
You will need to take a test which demonstrates that you can speak and write in English.
This items is actually listed under the "disadvantages of becoming a US citizen" heading:
you must pass basic English and U.S. government/history tests, which require study and preparation
So if we put those two requirements together, be a citizen to vote/speak English to be a citizen, then whey do we need this:
THE SPANISH BALLOT
19 comments:
Yes, I ran across this a few hours ago, and actually blogged about it. Hmm...I'm wondering...Diane Linn, Linn County. It seems as though whenever an issue crops up, there's a Linn involved somehow...
On a positive note, however, Oregon's being dragged kicking and screaming into taking steps against illegal aliens:
Long Overdue
More than 300,000 Oregonians receiving health care paid by the state-federal Medicaid program will be required to prove their U.S. citizenship or risk losing coverage after July 1.
I've blogged that, as well.
I would guess the Hispanics make up well over 40% of Marion county's population today however as like with the 2000 census most live under the radar.
They can only get away with this in Marion County, if you the Marion County citizens say or do nothing.
""Do not fear your enemies. The worse they can do is kill you. Do not fear friends. At worst, they may betray you. Fear those who do not care; they neither kill nor betray, but betrayal and murder exist because of their silent consent."
Bruno Jasienski
I have the latest Ron Saxton flip-flop IN AUDIO on my blog, found here:
http://therightmindedblog.blogspot.com/2006/05/ron-saxton-big-liar.html
max r., although this news is thrilling, be aware that the illegals will only fall back on the various emergency rooms, dooming the hospitals who must care for them. If the hospitals could provide actual emergency treatment when necessary, and have someone from I.C.E. take charge of the illegals who show up for ANY medical care, then we can show another DISINCENTIVE to the border crashers.
Yup, Bear, good point.
This is why Atkinson's the best choice for gov. He's stated many times that among the things a gov can do is deny all but actual emergency care at hospital emergency centers.
Mayhem, Your keyboard must be stuck, we already discussed that idiot remark about our National glue called English. Only STUPID poeple that want to further DIVIDE our Nation, challenge that.
When you move out from your Mommies basement and if you ever read anything besides back issues of PRAVDA, you will understand.
Our government is looking for ways to save money(ha ha) they could start by not printing government documents in any language other then English.
Why should we have to have bi-lingual or Multi-lingual, these are luxuries we can't afford. If someone needs an interpretor then let them pay for it. This is an English speaking country and its time we make it official.
Mike, you must have missed my point:
You need to be a citizen to vote, you need to be able to read/write English to be a citizen.
Why would you need a ballot in any language other than English?
"For English, press 1."
Why are there so many language choices on the ATM machines? And why is English always the last on the list?
Daniel, would you stop trying to interject logic into this discussion. You keep messing up the liberals arguments.
Mike-what good would it do to pass a law making English the national language when you seem to think laws are for someone else?
No Mr Mullet, it is "press 2 for English. Anyways, Washington County is next my little nativists-just you wait. Then we will really hear you bitching and moaning.
Anonymous ~ it's not ONLY the "stupid" people who want to divide our country. There are also a *lot* of extremely "well-educated" people who have a big stake in dividing our country. They're often big in the environmental/green movement, but are actually very communistic. Yep, we call them 'watermelons'. That's one of their prime weapons. Divide the country into ethnicities and continue encouraging them to remain separate instead of assimilating. Enourage them to keep their own language and *not* adapt to the prevailing language of the land. The more you keep them separate, the easier it will be to get control of them. Read Holly Swanson's book "Set Up & Sold Out" for more examples. It's a real wake-up call
Max redline-will miracles never cease.
KMTR-TV
May 06, 2006
Hardly anybody noticed it at the time, but it appears now that 300,000 Oregonians on Medicaid must show they are U.S. citizens.PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Otherwise, they risk losing medical coverage after July 1st.
Congress made the law earlier this year. It was intended to save money by taking illegal immigrants out of Medicaid.
State health officials say it will be a hardship on the elderly, the homless and the mentally disabled.
I guess someone is listening. Prove it or lose it. Let's have a little accountability.
if that doesn't get people mad I don't want will
Bob -
Yep, the feds stepped in where Oregon wouldn't. It's a great first step.
Mike-
Correct, no law has been passed making English the official language. Most immigrants just assimilated.
There's a good reason for that: English is the language used in commerce, in international air traffic control, and in many other useful functions.
Dodgy:
Feel free to visit my site. I carry salt; anathema to slugs.
My first-generation father: Come legally or stay home
Sunday, May 07, 2006
SAL ESQUIVEL
The Oregonian
MEDFORD --
T he protesters waving signs in Portland, Eugene and Alba Park in Medford might look good to you. But for me, a second-generation Mexican, and my father, who came here legally from Mexico City, the protests aren't only disturbing -- they're insulting.
Papa came here during the 1940s on a work visa, eventually married, had two children and got his permanent visa. He became a U.S. citizen 14 years later.
He worked very hard to understand the English language -- to speak and write it -- and to learn this country's history so he could pass his test. He was so adamant about being an American he allowed only English to be spoken in his home. So my sister and I never learned Spanish, something I've come to regret.
Papa's English was so good he was put in charge of a lay-up crew at a mill here in Medford that manufactured plywood. He later be came a successful restaurant owner in Texas, which he ran until his retirement about 15 years ago.
My father knew he must assimilate into America's culture and society. He loves baseball and still tracks the Chicago Cubs. (I'm a Giants fan and don't know how he learned to support the Cubbies!)
I'm all for the United States be ing a culture of immigrants -- be cause we all are. But with the open borders we have I resent that illegal immigrants aren't coming to this country with the proper paperwork and striving to become U.S. citizens.
To me, they don't seem to care about our country -- they're just interested in economic gain. I know how hard my father worked to be an American. If the illegal immigrants really cared, they'd take the time and make the effort to come here legally. They'd want to be part of our culture and society.
Instead they're being disrespectful to legal immigrants -- and to this nation.
I'm very proud of my papa. Sal Esquivel Sr. is a true American. He's loyal. At 87 years old, he still believes America is the greatest country on Earth. Our country takes different ethnic groups, religions, beliefs and cultures and blends them into a society known as America.
We're a country made of laws, and we should abide by them. Our Washington, D.C., leaders must do several things to stop this influx of illegal immigrants. First, we need some sort of penalty for businesses that hire illegal workers. Second, we need to make sure people here illegally don't receive benefits at the expense of our tax paying public.
If we penalized employers for hiring illegal workers, the demand would drop and these workers wouldn't flood into our country.
Third, we must secure our borders, but not only to stop illegal immigrants; we also must reduce drug activity and the threat of terrorist activity. It's high time our leaders took a hard stance on these issues instead of just playing politics.
I'm watching them, and so is Papa.
Sal Esquivel is a state representative from Medford (District 6) and a real estate broker.
E-mail: sal@fognot.com
There are exemptions, from the English proficiency requirements. Tough stuff... I know it... I've staffed the naturalization hearings for thousands, so here's the relevant CFR provision- Tony Larson
8 CFR Part 312 Sec. 312.1: Literacy requirements
(a) General. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person shall be naturalized as a citizen of the United States upon his or her own application unless that person can demonstrate an understanding of the English language, including an ability to read, write, and speak words in ordinary usage in the English language.
(b) Exceptions. The following persons need not demonstrate an ability to read, write and speak words in ordinary usage in the English language:
(1) A person who, on the date of filing of his or her application for naturalization, is over 50 years of age and has been living in the United States for periods totalling at least 20 years subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence;
(2) A person who, on the date of filing his or her application for naturalization, is over 55 years of age and has been living in the United States for periods totalling at least 15 years subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence; or
(3) The requirements of paragraph (a) of this section shall not apply to any person who is unable, because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments which has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months, to demonstrate an understanding of the English language as noted in paragraph (a) of this section. The loss of any cognitive abilities based on the direct effects of the illegal use of drugs will not be considered in determining whether a person is unable to demonstrate an understanding of the English language. For purposes of this paragraph, the term medically determinable means an impairment that results from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which can be shown by medically acceptable clinical or laboratory diagnostic techniques to have resulted in functioning so impaired as to render an individual unable to demonstrate an understanding of the English language as required by this section, or that renders the individual unable to fulfill the requirements for English proficiency, even with reasonable modifications to the methods of determining English proficiency as outlined in paragraph (c) of this section. (Revised 3/19/97; 62 FR 12915) (Corrected 4/2/97; 62 FR 15751) (Amended effective 3/22/99; 64 FR 7990)
(c) Literacy examination.
(1) Verbal Skills. The ability of an applicant to speak English shall be determined by a designated examiner from the applicant's answers to questions normally asked in the course of the examination.
(2) Reading and writing skills. Except as noted in Sec. 312.3, an applicant's ability to read and write English shall be tested using excerpts from one or more parts of the Service authorized Federal Textbooks on Citizenship written at the elementary literacy level, Service publications M-289 and M-291. These textbooks may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, and are available at certain public educational institutions. An applicant's writing sample shall be retained in the applicant's Service file.
Tancredo for President in 2008 ! He speaks the truth that most politicians don't have the guts to say.
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