Comments on: Heart-ache: Judge sentences defendants to learn English

By: inldad67

inldad67 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:28:29 +0000

This goes along the same lines as an article I read a few weeks back about the Geno’s Philly Cheesesteak joint that was allowed to leave up the sign asking the customers to order in ENGLISH. The owner stated that he will never turn away a customer but would appreciate it if they could order in the language predominantly spoken in this country. BTW the article was tucked away about 12 pages back in the edition. (Boston Herald)

By: landlines

landlines — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:13:42 +0000

If you think the lack of a single national language is a good thing, spend a day in Montreal. Is it any wonder that this province is a perpetual economic laggard compared to its neighbors?

When you’re wasting half or more of your time figuring out how to communicate, you cannot be productive!!

The judge in this case did the defendants a great favor!!! The test ought to be a GED…using all-English courses and exams!

By: inviolet

inviolet — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:51:56 +0000

How does one say, “Hell yeah!” in Spanish? SouthernGent on April 1, 2008 at 9:04 PM

To translate literially, it would be “Infierno sí!”, but I have no idea if Spanish speakers use “infierno” as an interjection. Bigfoot on April 2, 2008 at 9:46 AM

They don't. Clean but emphatic is

¡Claro que si!

Don't know enough Spanish swear phrases (:) ) to give you the other version. Anyone?

By: shuzilla

shuzilla — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:17:43 +0000

If I was the victim of these people, and I heard they got sentenced to learning to speak English, I’d have to ask,”So what’s their punishment for robbing me?” I guess without victims sentencing could get quite creative.

Since when is learning a language punishment? How about sentencing a bank robber to getting a good job or else go to jail? How about sentencing criminal high-school drop outs to finish their education? Problems solved, move on…

Better to incarcerate these guys where everyone else speaks English and English only. They would learn to speak English pretty fast while learning prison isn’t a place one wants to reside.

By: Kafir

Kafir — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:10:21 +0000

¡Ay Caramba!

By: JeffinSac

JeffinSac — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:50:30 +0000

Many see this as a judge it is cracking down on illegal immigrants, but I see it as just the opposite. A different and novel approach in my opinion would have been for the judge to turn these criminals over to ICE for deportation with the threat that if they came back into the country they would serve their full terms. Instead he is allowing Illegal Immigrants to stay in this country illegally and telling them it is okay to break the law if the learn English. Strange I heard no one in the media mention this.

By: Bigfoot

Bigfoot — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:46:22 +0000

How does one say, “Hell yeah!” in Spanish?

SouthernGent on April 1, 2008 at 9:04 PM

To translate literially, it would be “Infierno sí!”, but I have no idea if Spanish speakers use “infierno” as an interjection.

By: Spanglemaker

Spanglemaker — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:20:17 +0000

What’s such a “heart-ache” about making these dolts learn English?

By: txsurveyor

txsurveyor — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:13:00 +0000

Now there’s a judge with some common sense. Someone tell John McCain to put this judge on the short list for Supreme Court nominees.

By: orlandocajun

orlandocajun — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:33:25 +0000

If they’re men, and can’t speak English, they’re probably illegal aliens. I didn’t read that they were citizens. If that’s the case, he could have gotten real creative and sentenced them to a one way trip accross the border.

By: AprilOrit

AprilOrit — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:37:17 +0000

Good, excellent on the part of the judge.

Living in NYC has gotten ridiculous, the delivery boys do not speak english, you call the deli to order a sandwich and the voice on the other end doesn’t understand what corn beef or brisket is, and forget the arab cab drivers.

There’s a special place in hell waiting for them.

It’s a daily horror, make them all speak perfect english, please, do us all a favor where ever we live.

By: MalkinFan

MalkinFan — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:11:16 +0000

Ok, I could not post there, for some reason, but this is what I would have posted, if I could have.
“Oh ya. My God..wait, nm, I doubt you believe in one. My me, the stupidity in this article defies my senses. I would say the thugs in question got off very light, and this moron thinks that the judge was harsh on them for wanting to help them……how can stupidity get any worse? Oh, I suppose now you would say they were not properly educated to commit a crime? Should the government be required to arm the criminals to make it easier for them to commit crimes? Fool.”

By: Dollayo

Dollayo — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:43:30 +0000

This is pretty strange, what about all the people who learn English for nothing? Criminal conspiracy to commit robbery? They should be in jail learning the English words “single file, stay on the red line, and lock down”

By: Johan Klaus

Johan Klaus — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:56:14 +0000

Build the fence!

By: Johan Klaus

Johan Klaus — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:55:37 +0000

Seven Percent Solution on April 2, 2008 at 12:01 AM

We ought to turn off the spigot anyway.

By: Seven Percent Solution

Seven Percent Solution — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:01:27 +0000

Romeo13 on April 1, 2008 at 10:50 PM

Agreed. ...... and don't you think it might be time to start billing some of these National's home countries for the cost of harm, damage, rape, murder, molestation, hospital costs, education, social services, jail time, lawyer fees, and pretty much the drain on our society for their best and brightest that have to be returned to them? I think there is enough in the billions of foriegn aid that we shovel out to the rest of the world that we start to turn off the spiget, until we get a little cooperation.

By: freevillage

freevillage — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:11:34 +0000

I always felt that to be eligible for parole one must be conversant in English and have a High School equivalency. If not, continue studying or fulfill the complete sentence.

That’s actually not a bad proposal.

By: saved

saved — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:08:15 +0000

They should stay away from America’s public schools. They will never learn English.

(Paid for by the McCain for BorderGuard Campaign Committee. Felipe De Jesus Calderon, Chairman)

By: RushBaby

RushBaby — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:00:52 +0000

This judge has shown these young men a lot of respect by showing them he wants to welcome them to stay in our country if they so choose and to succeed here, and gave them a very reasonable chance to do so. Go judge!

inviolet on April 1, 2008 at 9:06 PM

Exactly. What they do with the chance is up to them, but this is creative justice, not bureaucratic, impersonal justice.

By: Romeo13

Romeo13 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:50:07 +0000

Seven Percent Solution on April 1, 2008 at 9:15 PM

I’ve heard two different reports on this…

One said legal aliens… one said illegal…

My bet? since four were involved it depends…

But either way, they should be deported…

By: RMR

RMR — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:48:54 +0000

Any nation that hope for long term stability must insist on maintaing one national language and culture. Any attempt at establishing the failed multicutarism policy will only lead to disaster - Check Canada and most of Europe. America must always be willing to accept immigrants, but demand assimilation.

By: Tzetzes

Tzetzes — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:46:55 +0000

An old Spanish story says that the Devil, on being cast out of Heaven, was sentenced to study Basque for seven years.

He only learned three words, and when he crossed the bridge and left, he forgot them.

By: Hening

Hening — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:22:11 +0000

What friggin’ country allows people to sneak in and try to deal with a court appearance without speaking the native language.

Thank you, judge. Thank You.

Press one for go to jail, or learn the words that are coming out of my mouth, in my country.

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:15:01 +0000

Well, at least I know if I’m gonna do any criminal acts, I’ll go to Pennsylvania first.

VolMagic on April 1, 2008 at 9:53 PM

Yes, well, the standards for Americans are quite a bit higher. The racism of low expectations, you see; it’s completely unreasonable to expect brown people to obey the law.

By: shooter

shooter — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:14:34 +0000

this was last weeks news.
I still don’t have enough info to decide what’s what.
If they’re illegal and broke the law, send them away/ out of this country.
Make everyone that wants to be a US citizen learn English. Period.
Isn’t it ‘required’ anyway?