Consejos

Remember that the Voting Rights Act applies only in the Southern United States. Hispanics in Massachusetts, for example, are not entitled to ballots in Spanish.

Why is it proper to penalize or benefit (depending on your viewpoint) only the Southern United States for so many years?

Well, I truely understood the answers by Danny and Catherine, but, it seemed as Lily's answer was more of a defense than an answer. I am hispanic and also believe that ALOT of our government papers that are put into different languages are a waste of our tax payers money. Learning english is one of the main reasons why immigrants go to school to learn and become citizens. So, if you are a citizen, then why not be able to read/write in the main language of our country? Being able to speak,READ and write in english is something to be very proud of.

Tom's comment, that the Voting Rights Act applies only in the Southern US, is absurd. Hispanics in Massachusetts are accorded the exact same protection as hispanics in Texas, Florida, or Alabama. The federal government cannot and will not target legislation at one area of the nation. There is wording in the Voting Rights Act which applies to southern states, but it's overall application is national. As long as a language is spoken by more then 5% of the population in a given area, that area must accomodate its voters with ballots and literature in that language. Plain and simple. It's federal law. Tom might want to read the law before he makes another comment.

Greetings, Catherine, Lily and Danny. As an "Anglo," I enjoy reading your column and getting another view of the issues. However, I must respectfully disagree with the comments you pose in your "Why ballots in Spanish?" Especially Lily's assertion that we're dealing with a slippery slope if we start forbidding ballots in Spanish.

Yes, the law is very loose when it comes to what language should be printed on what ballot. But Lily's question about whether we should stop printing ballots in Braille to exclude the visually impaired or change voting hours to exclude those from nine to five is apples and oranges, IMO. Those who are blind can't change their situation. Many of those who work nine-to-five can't, either. But those who come here from other countries and take the citizenship oath CAN and SHOULD learn English to the point that they can read a standard election ballot -- especially if they are spending time learning to become a citizen.

I'm going to rehash that tired, old argument. If I should one day decide to renounce my U.S. citizenship and become a citizen of Mexico, will they print ballots in English for me so it'll be easier for me to vote? Of course not -- nor would I expect it. If I take the citizenship oath of another country, of course I'll learn that country's main language.

I'm really not trying to sound xenophobic or anything. But voting in the U.S. is a right granted to citizens, not a privilege. In return, I think it's incumbent on citizens to vote in their adopted country's primary language.

Having written all of the rambling stuff above , I recognize all of this is part of the Voting Rights Act. But it also shows how reluctant we are to enforce what should be a common-sense situation. I'm not suggesting banning second languages. But when it comes to matters of government, that should be conducted in the nation's primary language.

Thanks for letting me voice my opinion and have a great day.

It's time to get rid of the Spanish language ballots. My parents had to learn English in order to vote. The Spanish language requirement only sets us apart and encourages discrimination against us.

I am a 67 year old Caucasian male. I fill out government forms requesting "Race" with "Human".

My Grandfather moved his family from South Texas in the 1920s because he didn't want his children to speak and be taught a foreign tongue in school. Guess which language. GERMAN. The German community was preparing for an eventual German victory.

Governments cannot dictate the language a people speak. Governments last longest that recognise that fact. The Romans were successful in governing such vastly different areas because they didn't interfere with the languages or customs of the conquered peoples.

More on next post.

Second half of post:

Anglo-American is one of the hardest of human languages to learn. I can't help but be amused at the fact that Anglos are now using the same arguments aqainst Spanish that the Mexican authorities used against English in the 1840s.

When I was going to school in West Texas during the 1940s and 1950s, what few Hispanic children were in school were severely punished for speaking Spanish. No schoolboy whippings, but beatings by the teachers who felt strong enough. Coaches were designated beaters because they were strongest, I suppose. I was terrified that I would say a Spanish word. My Mom knew Spanish, she had learned it in school so I knew a few basic phrases.

Anglo-American is the un-official language of the United States, and increasingly the rest of the world. Anyone wanting to get ahead in life will learn Anglo-American.

First generation Americans rarely learn Anglo-American well. Second generation generally speaks the home language and the national language. Third generations rarely speak the Grandparents language.

Part 3:

Classes teaching English are overwhelmed with learners. If you want everyone to learn English, well, start a class. You speak it, help people who desperately want to learn it. An article in the DMN today told about a school sending teachers to a car dealership to teach the workers there some work-place English.

Learn Spanish. It's not difficult, much easier than English. If you like people, it will open up new avenues for friendship and understanding. If you like fine literature, it will open up another world. Spanish literature covers two worlds, old and new, same as English. Some of the most delightful short stories ever were written in South America in the late 1800s.

Besides, if you speak Spanish you can irritate the entire State of California along with a lot of other xenophobes.

I am surprised that no one pointed out that our good friends born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens by birth. If a Puerto Rican citizen moves to the U.S. he or she is immediately able to vote. I would think in fairness we should make that right available. Not everyone who speaks Spanish has to demonstrate English competency to attain citizenship.

Consejos,

Regarding ballots in multiple languages. Por Que ?

How many words in English does an “Informed Electorate” need to read and understand in order to vote effectively? I’d say it’s significantly under twenty (20).

Certainly, candidate names are identical in English and Spanish or any Roman alphabet language. Thus, to vote, one needs to know how to read the candidate names plus Republican, Democrat, Independent and sometimes Libertarian or another small party. And a few words to navigate the voting screens. It’s probable that computer illiteracy is more of a problem in the age of computer screen voting.

And, perhaps one needs to know enough English to understand the official’s instructions prior to and after voting, although I’m sure a bit of arm waving and pointing would suffice. I say this with confidence since I’ve traveled extensively and always managed to eat, sleep and arrive at my destination often only using a smile and some gestures..

Where propositions or initiatives are presented on the ballot, a few more words are necessary, such as Yes, No, For, Against, etc. in addition to proposition and initiative. As for reading the propositions in the voting booth, remember I stated “Informed Electorate” and mean it as used by the founding fathers. As a college graduate, I often find the double negative abbreviated descriptions on the ballot impossible to decipher.

One needs to study and determine his position on issues BEFORE entering the voting booth. Otherwise, you are just guessing or voting as someone else tells you to vote. But, then, perhaps this was the true intent of the 1975 amendment to the Voting Rights Act.

In any case, we can seldom get even 50% of the electorate to vote. That is the real shame.

Why do Spanish speakers get special treatment? There are very large populations of Asians, Africans, Middle Easterners, Far East Asians, etc in this area and yet they don't merit the same courtesy? I'm really sick and tired of the double standard. Either do it for EVERYBODY or NOBODY--Of course the most obvious, practical, logical answer is to print everything in the predominant language of this Country which is English (I wonder for how much longer though) and expect EVERYBODY that comes here to learn it. But that's just too obvious and so instead we waste thousands upon thousands coddling one group over all others and it does NO ONE any good.

"The Romans were successful in governing such vastly different areas because they didn't interfere with the languages or customs of the conquered peoples." Right! And the Roman Empire is still with us today...oh wait...and two languanges have allowed Quebec and the rest of Cananda to get along oh so well too...oh wait scratch that too. Nevermind.

Some people are just so ignorant (many texans). We should learn from more civilized countries like Northern Europe ones. So, you don't want to spent few pennies in translating documents to reach the population who makes sure you get your food to eat, who cleans your city and home, who take care of your elder. This is a just and welcoming attitude. Sorry for you!