Log In | Register
The fight began as a purely political one, with opponents seeking to block her from running for office after she tried to recall Escamilla from office twice, according to The New York Times. But it has turned into a firestorm in a town where many constituents have the same grasp of English as Cabrera.
The issues at the center of this debate: Just how much English must you understand to run for a political office? And what does it mean to be proficient?
Those questions, and the political fight they stirred, led to a court hearing to determine whether Cabrera had enough of a grasp of English to be able to run for office.
“I speak little English,” she told The New York Times in an interview, in a tone the newspaper described as a "hesitant and heavily accented."
"But my English is fine for San Luis," she said.
Candidate's Grasp of English Too Poor To Run for Office
Article Source: CNN- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (11)
As I said on Soph's version of this event (different website's article):
This woman can communicate with her constituents, but that isn't enough. She has to be able to ALSO communicate with her fellow council members in order to serve her community's interests.
However, I think singling her out for testing is wrong. If one candidate is tested, ALL candidates should be tested.
- 5 votes
#2 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 2:56 PM ESTShe has to be able to ALSO communicate with her fellow council members in order to serve her community's interests.
Exactly. She graduated from HS in AZ. So either she got lazy and chose not to hone her English skills because she figured that she lived in a nearly 100% Hispanic community...OR...she was moved up in grade even though she couldn't comprehend, read, or write English.
Bottom line is this...the BUSINESS of the United States of America should be conducted in English. If you have lived your entire life in the US, and STILL cannot grasp the language, you are one lazy mother@!$%#er.
- 3 votes
Lets see, you are an American citizen, you were BORN in the US and you don't speak English? Sorry. I think it's fair to say that there are those in your district that don't speak Spanish, nor do they wish to.
I don't speak Spanish, but I do speak German. My job REQUIRES me to speak English for official buisness.
- 3 votes
#3 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 3:44 PM ESTJeremy,
There is nothing to indicate she was born here. She may have been granted citizenship. Studied for the test and passed. There's nothing to indicate she was in high school for more than her senior year. Saying all that, I believe that if one wants to hold political office in the United States, even if she can communicate with her constituency in a different language, English needs to be required. Although she states she isn't going to be operating from the White House, she still has to be able to communicate with her state legislature if necessary.
- 3 votes
How could she have passed the test without a basic grasp of English? Isn't that test administered in English only?
- 3 votes
Yes, it is given in English, and the test is difficult, however they can have months to study. I had a couple that worked for me, he was a citizen, and she was in this country legally but wanted citizenship. She spoke little English, but we could communicate if I spoke slowing, and she made every attempt to convey her meaning in English. She studied for months with her husband and was able to pass the test, but I can't imagine that she could hold a political seat in English.
- 1 vote
There is nothing to indicate she was born here.
There is another article about this (figures I can't find it now) that states she was born in the US.
Saying all that, I believe that if one wants to hold political office in the United States, even if she can communicate with her constituency in a different language, English needs to be required.
I agree. Why it isn't is beyond me.
However, I think singling her out for testing is wrong. If one candidate is tested, ALL candidates should be tested.
Very good point, Belle. It's a shame that all politicians couldn't be tested on the rudiments of law and government before they could run. It would weed out a whole bunch of people totally unqualified for office. In fact if they just had to pass the test that those wanting to be citizens had to pass, half of them wouldn't pass muster. Perry certainly couldn't.
- 3 votes
#4 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 3:51 PM ESTI just heard an interview. She was born in the U.S, was taken to Mexico as an infant, and returned to the U.S. for her senior year of high school.
You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
