The Steamboat Pilot & Today: Experts give tips on helping Spanish-speaking workers

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David Slade, president of Lanza Language, speaks during a Hispanic Cultural Awareness meeting Friday at the community center in Steamboat Springs. Photo by John F. Russell

Steamboat Springs — Dave Slade has been asked what the difference is between a Hispanic and a Mexican. Sometimes, it’s a joke. Other times, it’s not.

Slade explained the difference Friday morning at the Hispanic Cultural Awareness presentation put on by the High Country Human Resources Association and sponsored by Integrated Community. Hispanic, he said, is a term the U.S. government invented in the 1970s to give a name to all Spanish speakers. A Mexican is someone from Mexico.

Slade is founder and president of Lanza Language, a Colorado company that provides training and services to companies with Spanish-speaking employees.

He spoke to about 15 people Friday at the Steamboat Springs Community Center, explaining common elements of Latino culture, providing history lessons and statistics, and teaching some language. The goal was to help managers understand and communicate better with their Spanish-speaking workers.

In Mexico, Slade explained, the minimum wage is the equivalent of $4.10 a day. It’s understandable that Mexicans would want to work in a place where the minimum is $5.85 an hour, Slade said.

“I ask people to put themselves into their employees’ shoes,” he said. “Imagine for a second that the U.S. wage is $4 a day, and it’s almost $6 an hour there. What kind of job would you get?”

The conversation occasionally intensified. One participant asked whether it should be the manager’s responsibility to learn Spanish instead of the employee’s responsibility to learn English.

“It’s the company’s responsibility to manage that person and to say I’m not going to hire people I can’t manage effectively,” Slade said.

Sometimes, that’s impossible because of worker shortages, he said. He also acknowledged that companies sometimes overlook language barriers to get good employees. In an ideal situation, a U.S. worker would speak English, Slade said.

However, companies can go a long way with a little bit of effort, he said. Employers should print materials in Spanish as well as English, Slade said. Having an interpreter speak to employees every few months also could make workers more comfortable and satisfied.

“If you have someone come in two times a year, you’re talking about $150,” he said after the presentation. “That tells Spanish speakers that you care, you want to help. I think that’s a really easy solution. It’s not permanent — it’s a Band-Aid — but it helps.”

Patience, trust

Slade encouraged the participants to avoid stereotyping Latino workers. Many are highly educated, he said. He also touched on the legality issue.

“In this country, we are innocent until proven guilty, so I assume you’re here legally until you’re proven illegal,” Slade said.

Dina Fisher, who works in human resources with Resort Group, attended the talk to get ideas to take back to her department.

“Our goal is to make everybody feel equal, like they’re part of the community,” Fisher said. The company wants to make its Spanish-speaking workers feel comfortable, she said.

“We’re a U.S. company, and we do business in English,” she said. “But that’s such a divisional statement, to say it’s their responsibility to learn English.”

After his talk, Slade discussed a presentation he made a few months ago to the High Country Human Resources Association near Vail. Before he spoke, he met a Spanish-speaking waitress. He asked her what she would want her employers to know.

He described her response:

“She said, ‘I want people to know how hard it is to be in the United States and not speak English. I want people to be more patient. If I don’t show up to work on time, don’t assume I’m being irresponsible. Maybe I have a problem with my kids. Maybe I’m worried about (immigration officials). … Who am I going to call? HR doesn’t speak Spanish.

“‘Who can I tell?’”

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Community comments

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JustAsking (anonymous)
June 29, 2008 at 12:37 p.m.
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Why are we so intent on pandering to the Spanish speaking?

The Europeans and most Asians manage to get along very well. Why have we become a country that has “push 2 for” and income tax forms in Spanish?

We even have Spanish language ballots for state and national elections ! Do you think you could vote in Mexico or any other Latin American country in any thing other than the “native language?”

Are Europeans and Asians more intelligent than Latinos? Not! By the way using “Latino” to be “ politically correct” when referring to Mexicans is far from accurate. “Latin Americans “ do not all speak Spanish and have the same government any more than all North Americans live in the USA. (Canada is in North American to the uninformed. Talk about a country with cultural and language problem!)Why then have we encouraged this sub class in the USA?

Frankly, I get irritated when I see routine government jobs posted with a bilingual (always Spanish) requirement. (I’m not talking about Ambassador or foreign consulate ) Seems to me that elementary English should be required to Vote, get a driver's license, (otherwise we need Spanish speaking Cops) or work on a government funded project or graduate public school.

I have no idea how to say “look out for the falling brick” in Spanish but if I worked in Mexico I think it would be important and probably a job requirement to learn. Why not English here?

Sub-classes weaken this country and waste our resources. Don’t agree? Think about this.
How many of you out there EVER refer to yourself as an “European-American? “ In contrast to the “Afro-American” PC term. (For those who don’t know—and apparently there are more than a few —Africa is a Continent NOT a country) I guess that is the model that some PC committee decided to follow when they came up with “Latino.”

Are we so dependent on cheap labor that we have abandoned the idea of immigrants becoming a “United States” American?

addlip2U
June 29, 2008 at 1:51 p.m.
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” In an ideal situation, a U.S. worker would speak English, Slade said.”
Dave Slade - You make money telling this to employers? Do you have an open position I can help you fill?

Non-native living in a country expecting to be gainfully employed must learn the language of the country they live in.
If you want to live and work in USA, learn the official language: English. By the way that is expected in any country.

Why don't we demand of the US employers to speak and US government to print pamphlet also in Russian, German, Ukrainian, Hindu, Vietnamese or any other languages of hundreds of countries that  people emigrate from to us legally?

Is this “ethnicity” discrimination?

summerbird (anonymous)
June 29, 2008 at 2:36 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff because it violated our terms of use.)

thecondoguy1 (anonymous)
June 29, 2008 at 4:16 p.m.
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“In this country we are innocent until proven guilty, so I assume you are here legally until proven illegal”
Now how stupid is that, it is against the law to hire an illegal, or give them flight lessons learning only straight and level flight, and the employers responsible to verify that, not to mention the flight school. Gimmie a break with that remark…………

armchairqb (anonymous)
June 29, 2008 at 7:14 p.m.
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I've got a friend who applied for an office job recently. She met all the job qualifications, and thought she had the job in the bag. She did not get the job because she could not speak Spanish!!! Can you believe this???? When her grandparents came over from Ellis Island they had to speak English, and had to have a sponser. Who would ever think that in this day and age, to live & work (2 jobs) in Steamboat, you have to speak Spanish!!!!! Give ME a break!!!!!

rsssco (anonymous)
June 29, 2008 at 8:23 p.m.
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armchairqb
There was not a requirement that immigrants speak English when they came through Ellis Island. In fact, there were large sections of the country where only the mother tongue was spoken, whether that language was German, Polish, Italian—you name it. You need to get out more, study more, learn more and spread your ignorance around less.

stmbtprof (anonymous)
June 29, 2008 at 9:43 p.m.
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What a bunch of xenophobes…I am embarassed that such ethnocentirc psots have been written…this country would be in a hell of a mess without our immigrants..legal and illegal. We should all be fluent in may languages, yet we rely on our dominance and shoving english down people throats…Oh yes and how many of us in Steamboat learned Ute/ or Arapahoe ?
by the way i am in the Dar and my ranch has been in the family for over 148 years and I would love to know all thes languages..
.give me your tired your poor your huddled masses yearning to be free..anyone read what the statue of liberty says>

armchairqb (anonymous)
June 29, 2008 at 11:45 p.m.
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RSSCO:
OK OK I just checked with my mother…….When she & her parents arrived at Ellis Island they HAD to speak English & they HAD to have a sponsor. When my mother went to school…her older sister was called down to the principal's office & told to take my mother (then 6 years old) home . My mother was not allowed to come back to school until she spoke English. From that moment on, no German was spoken in her parents home. I doubt that my mother would have any reason to tell me otherwise. I beg to differ with you & I am NOT ignorant!!!! That's the facts Jack!!!!

rsssco (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 5:25 a.m.
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armchairqb
Well, there you have it. We should rely on your then 6 year old mother's memory over all the thousands of other resources, audio and video evidence easily available to anyone—even you—willing to do 30 seconds of research.
Since you may be unable to use the computer your typing your ignorance on, head down to your local free public library and ask the reference librarian for any one of dozens of books covering immigration at Ellis Island.
When immigrants arrived, they were divided into various lines based on various criteria. One of those distinctions was whether they could speak English or not. But, that criteria did not mean they were shipped back to the country they were immigrating from. It just meant that in many cases they had a sign hung around their neck with their name on it so that their relatives and others could find them.
Please, use your brain for the purpose God gave it to you and go do some homework.

rsssco (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 5:58 a.m.
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From just one of thousands of potential resources:

1911-1920
“The literacy test is introduced at this time, and stays on the books until 1952. Those over the age of 16 who cannot read 30 to 40 test words in their own language will not be admitted through Ellis Island.”

Note the words, “In their own language” and “those over the age of 16.” Also, this was after Ellis Island had already been open since 1892. And, prior to 1892 immigration was an even more wide open process. But throughout–there was no English test.

Again armchairqb, millions upon millions (40% of Americans today can trace back to Eliis Island) of current Americans had relatives who arrived in this country unable to speak English.

http://www.history.com/minisite.do?conte…

ThreeJobs (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 6:19 a.m.
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So rsssco, which group of Ellis Islanders do you think faired better in their new home; Those that spoke or learned English or those that did not?

Is it your contention that not speaking English in this country is no disadantage? Is it your contention that our country should adapt to the languages of anyone who comes here to live?

Just what has this got to do with pandering to the only Spanish speaking amoung us?

rsssco (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 7:20 a.m.
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Which group of Ellis Islanders do you think faired better in their new home; Those that spoke or learned English or those that did not?
As with all humans that depends on the individual based upon their inate intelligence and desire to apply that intelligence coupled with hard work. An inability to speak a language is not in and of itself a barrier for any significant period of time. English only speaking U.S. citizens go to foreign countries all the time and after brief periods of immersion in the language and culture do very well.

Is it your contention that not speaking English in this country is no disadantage?
For a brief period yes. But history demonstrates that most quickly learn the language and certainly by second generation are speaking as well as 3rd and 4th generation Americans—whcih after all is what most of us are.

Is it your contention that our country should adapt to the languages of anyone who comes here to live?
There has always been some adaptation following periods of mass immigration. As with all matters, it can be taken too far. But it always levels out.

Just what has this got to do with pandering to the only Spanish speaking amoung us?
Your the only one discussing pandering. I was simply addressing armchairqb's falsehood that immigrants coming through Ellis Island had to speak English.
But, since you raised it. I am not in favor of pandering to anyone—and certainly not the single most pandered to group in the history of our country—white, English speaking men. Remember, for the majority of the history of this country blacks were not considered full men at all—they were first considered property to be bought and sold like livestock, then 3/5's of a man when the Constitution was ratified. We then fought the bloodiest war in American history over whether blacks should be treated as equals and of course they received the right to vote in 1870—technically—as until the 1960s white men aggresively sought ways to prevent blacks from voting.
And white women were considered very much the same as blacks, not receiving the right to vote nationally until 1920 years after black men technically got the right to vote under the 15th Amendment.
So, for my money the history of the U.S. is undeniably one of pandering to white men.
So yes—we should knock off the pandering.

freshair (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 8:32 a.m.
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rssco, you don't get it. The immigrants who came here thru Ellis island HAD to learn english if they wanted to succeed in America. There was no alternative, no PC laws requiring the printing of government forms in their native languages, no bi-lingual education. The fact is that today, a spanish-speaker does not have to learn English to function well in America. It is possible for them to carry on their every-day lives without ever soeaking a word of english.
The problems inherent in a situation where large numbers of a country's citizens speak a language differing from the majority can bee seen in Canada and Belgium. The division has created an ongoing separatist movement in both countries for many, many decades. A nation not united by a common language is a nation divided.

autumnwitch (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 9:09 a.m.
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I think it is selfish and inconsiderate to live in a country and not speak the language that is common. I would not expect any other country to do this for me. When I go to another country with a different language, just to visit, I learn as much as I can to make myself understood, these days most places have English as a second language, but actually like you to have at least made an effort to know their language. I don't think it is too much to ask for someone with Spanish as a primary language learn some English to make themselves understood, especially if they are going to live here. And…press one to continue in English? That's the one that really gets me!

SkiTownUSA (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 12:46 p.m.
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stmbtprof, are you seriously comparing the first white people to come to this valley and not learn ute/arapahoe to spanish-speakers entering america?

Not even close.

rsssco (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 1:38 p.m.
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Well stmbtprof, you have to admit it's a bad comparison.
The white people came to the valley and killed the Indians and forced any survivors on reservations to starve and rot.
The “spanish-speakers”, to use SkiTownUSA's term, have come for jobs and a better way of life and haven't sought to slaughter or enslave the whites like the whites did to others of differing colors including red, yellow, black and brown.

seeuski (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 3:47 p.m.
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rsssco,
The world according to rsssco,
are you saying we should all be ashamed of,”The white people came to the valley and killed the Indians and forced any survivors on reservations to starve and rot.” And therefore we should now force ourselves to learn a foriegn language to atone and then wait for the day when La Raza turns the Southwest back over to Mexico? Good idea, then we will be prepared by already speaking the soon to be new national language of the northern territories of Mexico.

Or are you from VT and want to secede to Canada? Either way you have spoken your hatred of America and the majority of her citizens and we don't need your history lessons.
My father and his family came through Ellis Island, you had to be sponsored and there were restrictions on the amount of certain types of immigrants allowed in. During WWII shiploads of Jews were turned back only to end up back in the hands of the murderous nazi's.

We are pretty darn good to all immigrants these days, especially the illegal ones!!!
I will not be taking any spanish lessons to accomodate the illegals.

Oh yea, I traveled through Europe a few years ago and just see how far you get in France with out some knowledge of french.

rsssco (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 3:54 p.m.
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poor can'tski
A few facts and you jump off the rhetorical bridge. I didn't say you should be ashamed or learn to speak Spanish nor did I express any hatred. You seem to have supplied that all by your wittle lonesome.
I merely put forth truth. It appears you choked on it all by yourself.

And if I did not express truthful facts, please enlighten me about anything I said that is not the truth about the history of this country.

JustAsking (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 4:44 p.m.
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rsssco just wants to expound on her version of the past to what end?

What does what happened to the Indians 200 years ago have anything to do with the origional topic presented?

The question here is should people living and working here learn and use English? Isn't the answer to this a question obivious?

Why does rsssco interject all this other information? Is it just to hear herself read herself?

rsssco (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 4:48 p.m.
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Actually tuff guy, as long as they come legally they are more than welcome here.

rsssco (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 4:57 p.m.
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200 years ago—better check your math there Just Asking. It's as bad, if not worse, than your ability to use the English language.
Perhaps you could use an English as a Second Language class. Don't be ashamed. There will be a number of Spanish speaking students there who can assist you in improving your ability to use the English language to express yourself coherently.
And to answer your question, the historical treatment of American Indians - along with those of many other races and colors - right up to this very day has everything to do with the issue of how we view and treat those who aren't white.
History repeats itself and in this case history is found in the present as well.

ThreeJobs (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 5:14 p.m.
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JustAsking seems pretty clear to me. Looks like rsssco has got a real burr under the saddle!

rsssco (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 5:25 p.m.
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Actually Tres Puestos de Trabajo,
We have burritos on the table, not a burr under the saddle. You're welcome to come share an authentic Mexican meal anytime. ;-)

seeuski (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 5:25 p.m.
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Hey rossco,
Do you have a green card? It seems you are at war with everyone here, are you an illegal?

So where should all the Euro Americans go? That is what you want isn't it? We all leave our homes and country because hundreds of years ago other types of people roamed the land and the white man came, so all white men should scat right?
Do I give my condo to an Indian or an Illegal?

Decisions decisions……

aufait (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 5:46 p.m.
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So there was a roll-over on HWY 131 Friday night. When it was dispatched, the officer was told there would be a language barrier and there were 3 or 4 people involved. When the officers arrived at the scene, most of the parties involved were hiding in the bushes and some even ran away on foot. When the officers ran the plates, they did not match the VIN. What followed was 3 or 4 hours of the officers going to different houses, trying to find injured people. They found blood on the scene so at least one had to be hurt fairly badly.

I am not saying that had they been English speaking, they would not have run, but chances are speaking English, being aware of the consiquences they faced, most would have stayed put.

When the officers find them, what charges will they face! Or will the officers find them! As transients will they just leave and possibly harm someone other than themselves the next time! If the roles were reversed, and it had happen south of the border, these 3 or 4 Americans would be sitting in a jail for awhile.

My point is, if don't commit to something as small as learning the language of the country that you hope will enable you to improve your circumstances, why would you commit to learning their laws or facing them if your broke them. As you must know, when one fellow countryman acts badly, you are judged the same! If you want people to treat the people you defend better, get out there and educate them!

rsssco (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 6:01 p.m.
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September 23, 2007
A 42-year-old (white, English speaking) Yampa man was arrested in Moffat County on Thursday on suspicion of leaving the scene of a Sept. 16 accident that killed a Mexican sheepherder.
http://steamboatpilot.com/news/2007/sep/…

June 24, 2008
Also Monday in Routt County Court, a trial was set for a (white, English speaking) man accused of leading the Colorado State Patrol on a high-speed chase across Routt County in November, giving troopers a false name and eluding arrest by fleeing the Yampa Valley Medical Center in his nightgown at 3 a.m.
http://steamboatpilot.com/news/2008/jun/…

Friday, May 16, 2008
10:04 p.m. A (white, English speaking) male skateboarder who fled police dove into the Yampa River near 13th Street. After a nearly two-hour search of the river, the man was safely located at another location. Police issued a citation for skateboarding on the highway.
http://steamboatpilot.com/news/2008/may/…

aufait (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 6:09 p.m.
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They have all been arrested and charged for their crimes. My point exactly when I said there are not English speaking people that don't run also. My point, they were arrested! There was a paper trail to all of them. The paper trail the officers had Friday all led to dead ends because the people involved did not commit to following the American laws!n The vehicle information, wrong. Addresses, wrong. Why was all the information they had on these young men not truthful.

The cases you point out, all had paper trails. They had friends and families that did not hide them. Within a short period of time, they were all arrested! Will these have the same fate?

aufait (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 6:18 p.m.
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My point to you is if you want to crusade for your fellow countryman, that is awsome. Just get out and do it where it will do good. Not here on an anonymus forum. Teach them English and the Laws of American, and if necessary, help them get a legal green card. For now, you sound condiscending of the country you reap the rewards from!

rsssco (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 6:24 p.m.
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Dear fellow countryman (aren't we countrymen if we're both here?)
In my English dictionary I find condescending. Please help me, what is condiscending?

aufait (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 6:46 p.m.
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That is a start. You took out your Engilsh dictiionary and looked up a word! Now use your bilingual abilities and help out someone who can not help themselves. Way to go!

seeuski (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 7:03 p.m.
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Oh, so now all one has to do is go to the country of ones choice and declare, hey all i am a countryan because i am here!!!
NO… that does not make you a countryman.That makes you a visitor if you are leaving soon or an illegal if you snuck in.

ThreeJobs (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 7:13 p.m.
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I'm now convinced it's a big burr and rsssco will be confrontational no matter how much a person who disagrees with her (?) likes burritos.

aristocat (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 8:11 p.m.
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This letter was written to an editor in another paper!

Recently large demonstrations have taken place across the country protesting the fact that Congress is finally addressing the issue of illegal immigration. Certain people are angry that the US might protect its own borders, might make it harder to sneak into this country and, once here, to stay indefinitely. Let me see if I correctly understand the thinking behind these protests.
Let's say I break into your house. Let's say that when you discover me in your house, you insist that I leave.
But I say, “I've made all the beds and washed the dishes and did the laundry and swept the floors. I've done all the things you don't like to do. I'm hard-working and honest (except for when I broke into your house).
According to the protesters:
You are Required to let me stay in your house. You are Required to add me to your family's insurance plan
You are Required to Educate my kids. You are Required to Provide other benefits to me & to my family (my husband will do all of your yard work because he is also hard-working and honest, except for that
breaking in part).
If you try to call the police or force me out, I will call my friends who will picket your house carrying signs that proclaim my RIGHT to be there. It's only fair, after all, because you have a nicer house than I do, and I'm just trying to better myself. I'm a hard-working and honest, person, except for well, you know, I did break into your house.
And what a deal it is for me!!! I live in your house, contributing only a fraction of the cost of my keep, and there is nothing you can do about it without being accused of cold, uncaring, selfish, prejudiced, and bigoted behavior. Oh yeah, i demand that you too learn my language!!! so you can communicate with me.
Why can't people see how ridiculous this is?! Only in America. If you agree, pass it on (in English). Share it if you see the value of it. If not blow it off……… along with your future Social Security funds, and a lot of other things.

boohoo (anonymous)
June 30, 2008 at 10:33 p.m.
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I just read this article and all the posts and all I can say is that my computer is dripping with racism and stereotypes about a class of people from a wonderful country who deserve to be looked at better than those of you with such horrible thinking.

If you have a family to feed and you are living in poverty in a neighboring country, I would hope that those people, whose country was founded on these very principles, would have an open mind and an acceptance to my needs. There will always be those racists and narrow minded individuals who test one’s resolve to make a living and feed one’s family, but hopefully their numbers are fewer than those willing to accept. I can certainly understand how your racist opinion may be the way they are as your only perspective on Hispanics or blacks or Orientals is acquired through the idiot box and Fox news, but of coarse I am making a stereo type.

JazzSlave (anonymous)
July 1, 2008 at 7:16 a.m.
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boohoo

How do you feel about including the following provisions as part of immigration regulations?

Foreign vistiors & immigrants should be:

In the country legally;
Have the means to sustain themselves economically;
Not destined to be burdens on society;
Of economic and social benefit to society;
Of good character and have no criminal records; and
Contributors to the general well-being of the nation.

Immigration authorities have a record of each foreign visitor;
Foreign visitors do not violate their visa status;
Foreign visitors are banned from interfering in the country’s Internal politics;
Foreign visitors who enter under false pretenses are Imprisoned or deported;
Foreign visitors violating the terms of their entry are Imprisoned or deported;
Those who aid in illegal immigration will be sent to prison.

A National Population Registry keeps track of “every single individual who comprises the population of the country,” and verifies each individual's identity.

A national Catalog of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and immigrants, and assigns each individual with a unique tracking number.

Foreigners who are deported and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years.

Foreigners who violate the terms of their visa may be sentenced to up to six years in prison. Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visa — such as working with out a permit — can also be imprisoned.

A citizen who marries a foreigner with the sole objective of helping the foreigner live in the country is subject to up to five years in prison.

Perfectly reasonable restrictions; and they're Mexico's - not ours.

Are they bigoted & racist? If not, why not?

grannyrett (anonymous)
July 1, 2008 at 7:43 a.m.
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This just slays me. If you want the immigration laws of this country followed, you are a bigot and a racist! If you say anything against illegal “immigration” you are a bigot and a racist. You are accused of being a immigrant yourself. Gee, seems to me that if I can trace my ancestors back to the Revolutionary War, it's past time to call me an immigrant. Oh, oh, good one I forgot—we also get accused of any and all crimes against humanity–we were mean to the Indians and we kept slaves. what????? Wake up people. We have plenty of immigration laws. We just want them followed.

thecondoguy1 (anonymous)
July 1, 2008 at 8:04 a.m.
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granny is right, that is the point of a lot of statements here, there may be a little angst here an there, but few people resent people here legally and living and working by the law………….

justathought (anonymous)
July 1, 2008 at 10:42 a.m.
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Right as usual granny. I wonder who it is that actually decides which laws we are allowed to ignore without fear of consequences, I have a couple I'd like to ignore. The American people should revolt against “sanctuary cities” and insist the government cut off any and all federal funds until they start enforcing our laws. Governmental agencies need to conduct business in English only and do away with the terms African-Americans, Hispanics, Mexican-Americans etc., we are all either Americans or we are not.

StbtWatchmen (anonymous)
July 1, 2008 at 11:47 a.m.
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No hablo englase' amigo! LOL! ;-o

No speaka da english friend!

I will do all your undesirable low pay jobs for opportunity to make better life, ok! Thanks yous! And that my amigos, is what I've seen a lot of foreigners do when they come to America! We just need to make sure “everyone” plays by the rules and that we do it without prejudice, White, Black, Latin, Asian, Indian, etc.! I love our diversity of cultures. I wish more people would!

thecondoguy1 (anonymous)
July 1, 2008 at 2:01 p.m.
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I think we all enjoy and appreciate diversity, it would be very boring if we were all the same………..

JazzSlave (anonymous)
July 1, 2008 at 2:26 p.m.
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About 12 years ago, the wife of my boss at the time worked at an insurance agency. A Spanish speaking woman came in with her 9-year old daughter to inquire about insuring her car.

Terms like 'deductable', 'comprehensive coverage', 'defensive driver discount', 'liability', etc were beyond the 9-yr old's ability to translate.

The daughter was instructed to take her mother to another agency about 4 blocks away, where Spanish speakers were on staff. The mother filed a discrimination complaint against the first agency, and won, to the tune of a couple grand. This was in Washington state.

seeuski (anonymous)
July 1, 2008 at 7:20 p.m.
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I'll bet had that agent gone ahead and sold her a policy the agent would have been sued for taking advantage and over charging or under insuring when the deductable was too high.
Thanks ACLU.

madmoores (anonymous)
July 1, 2008 at 8:51 p.m.
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Justasking:
“I have no idea how to say “look out for the falling brick” in Spanish but if I worked in Mexico I think it would be important and probably a job requirement to learn. Why not English here?”

Classic. True. Thanks for a great laugh, I needed it.

JazzSlave (anonymous)
July 1, 2008 at 9:45 p.m.
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Not so tuff_guy

You're obviously having a rough day. This might be a good time to call your mommy and have a good cry.

thalgard
July 2, 2008 at 7:49 a.m.
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wimpy_dude…you are a racist and a coward, and your hateful ways are poisonous to this otherwise civil discourse…it's cowards like you that represent the evils of this Great Nation, may you forever stew in your own bile!

freshair (anonymous)
July 2, 2008 at 8:58 a.m.
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I see that,as usual, there is no lack of morons labelling as 'racist' anyone whose opinion doesn't jibe with theirs.

justathought (anonymous)
July 2, 2008 at 10:10 a.m.
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If believing there is a difference between immigrants and illegal aliens, if believing you respect and welcome immigrants while prosecuting and deporting illegals is racist, then by damn, I'm racist.

If you want to see something that is “poisonous to this otherwise civil discourse” keep abetting these illegal aliens that are nothing more than lawbreakers, keep trying to turn this “Great Nation” into something other than the United States of america, and keep letting the ACLU interpret our laws for us; the fed up, hard working, legal, middle class of America might just show you “civil discourse”.

colobob (anonymous)
July 4, 2008 at 7:48 a.m.
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“Feliz el cuarto de Julio de Viejo Bob!”

highwaystar (anonymous)
July 4, 2008 at 9:36 a.m.
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It's an invasion, folks — no less. If you doubt this, you only fool yourself, and are probably hallucinating. “La Raz” (“The Race”) is coming, and I hope you are ready.

This was confided to me by a senior Mexican foreman at a Phoenix project where I worked recently, when we were discussing such matters. They're coming, and when they think there's enough of them, they're taking over. That's the plan.

My Dad loved illegal Mexicans as tenants; they were hard workers, didn't cause any trouble, and paid their rent in cash. Their biggest dream was to have their kids born in America — instant citizens. Their Chicano counterparts, however, knew their rights, and were a constant problem. Dad bought slums, and fixed them up himself, did all his own maintenance, managed onsite. He weeded out the riff-raff, and ended up with happy little Mexican villages. I lived there myself, at times, made many friends and had lots of fun with them. Please don't call Dad a slumlord, nor me a bigot.

And if that were the intent, to peacefully assimilate into this society, I would have no problem with that. However, that is not the case, as I have been reliably informed. We've got trouble brewing.

I must say, on the many jobs where I have worked with Mexicans, they seem more interested in teaching me Spanish, than they do in learning English. Comprende?

My ancestors fought in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, and moved to Colorado prior to 1871, the earliest I can document. My Dad was wounded in WWII, and I am a Vietnam-era ex-Marine.

And what really scares me, not to distract the issue, is the thought of dozens of Dirty Harry's and Rambo's roaming our streets, packing legal heat and hoping for trouble. Wear 'em on your hip, if you must, if you want the intended deterrent effect, is my opinion — and again I digress.

I just wonder how many Hispanics are getting concealed weapons permits… anybody know?

highwaystar (anonymous)
July 4, 2008 at 11:24 a.m.
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Oops - stupid question. We don't need no stinking badges.

Or driver's licenses, or insurance, or valid registrations. Just fly under the radar, hoping we don't crash.

Because, as Peter Rowan observes: The Free Mexican Air Force is flying tonight!!

stmbtprof (anonymous)
July 5, 2008 at 8:44 p.m.
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I can Not believe that the people of Steamboat have such ethnocentruc viewpoints. Perhaps those of you in denial of your racism must think it is just a river in Egypt…..

As someone who has roots in the Daughters of the Revolution has ranched cattle on the same lands for over 150years I continue to be embarrased by the ethnocentrism shown here…this country was founded as a sanctuary for the oppressed not for people who spoke English and before that…over 500 years ago English was NOT the first language…so be nice!!! Welcome and leanr from those that are not like yourself….sample some sushi, some taramsalata, and please be kind and not so selfish a nd mean spirited!!!

outsiderlookingin (anonymous)
July 5, 2008 at 9:16 p.m.
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hwystar—Hopefully you are a former marine or a retired marine but there are no ex-marines unless dishonorable discharged

forreal (anonymous)
July 6, 2008 at 3:50 p.m.
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this is the united states of america. why do we have to learn a new language in order to accomodate people who are coming here, underbidding everyone and taking jobs away from hardworking citizens. it's happening in your town right now. believe it or not, there are mexicans in this town, illegal or not, that are building houses, who don't speak english, don't have any remote idea about building codes, cannot read a tape measure and are doing these jobs for half the price that construction people used to make. and secondly, they do a terrible job framing. ask any carpenter in this town how much fun it is to trim after an ignorant mexican framing crew hired by some big b.s. company to save a few bucks. there is no pride anymore. we need our soldiers back here to get all these idiot freeloaders out. they are destroying our economy. nobody cares. nobody has a backbone anymore.

knee_dropper
July 6, 2008 at 4:18 p.m.
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“we need our soldiers back here to get all these idiot freeloaders out” Boy forreal, I've read some ignorant posts of yours before, but this one takes the cake. You obviously haven't worked next to one of “those idiot freeloaders” for at least one day, by and large Mexicans are some of the hardest workers I've ever known. If they did such a terrible job and weren't competent to do even do the most basic framing jobs wouldn't have a job for very long would they? The jobs many of them have are menial to skilled labor jobs, I don't know of many people around here that are crying about losing a job of humping sacks of concrete or sheets of plywood around a jobsite. If that was your job that you lost, then maybe you should take some vocational classes. Cause guess what, those “big b.s. companies” are only gonna pay decent wages for skilled positions. The positions that are usually filled by non-skilled foreigners are the ones that aren't getting filled by people that live here year-round, because no one that lives here wants those jobs for the wages they pay. Forreal, you should think some of your posts out before you vomit your ignorant s*#t out here.