This is Alabama and We Speak English

[hai Jay]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/201006...9?bcmt=9320510
Alabama closes door on colorful 2010 primary ads

"It's finally here: Alabama's primary, which has produced some of the most memorable ads of the 2010 election season. Among Tuesday's races: several tight U.S. House primaries and two gubernatorial primaries, as incumbent Republican Bob Riley is term-limited. Important as these primaries are, the 2010 election cycle in Alabama will probably be remembered chiefly for its colorful primary ads. Here's a quick recap: Tim James: "This is Alabama. We speak English."

And there's a video with that quote to follow, plus several other videos. wtf.

[foxyphoenix]

Wow, what a douche.
I mean... he just exudes douchiness through that whole video.


Also, how does he expect adults to learn English quickly if they have no mobility?

[hai Jay]

Shit I don't know. I just hope he didn't win yesterday.

Our little area had a wet/dry vote yesterday, too. And we stayed dry. We're the 2nd area in the county that's voted and voted dry.
There were signs around here that said something like "vote wet for out city, for our schools, and for a Red Lobster." Haha. I hate this damn town and can't wait to get back to school. Then I can move out of this effin state.

[Yugoloth]

Originally Said by foxyphoenix

Wow, what a douche.
I mean... he just exudes douchiness through that whole video.


Also, how does he expect adults to learn English quickly if they have no mobility?

Probably by deporting them. Early reports have him losing.

[hai Jay]

"In unofficial results, James trailed Bentley by 208 votes out of more than 492,000 cast in Tuesday's GOP primary. "

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/06/...noff_spot.html

[foxyphoenix]

It makes me sad that it was so close. =(

[oceandream130]

Originally Said by foxyphoenix

It makes me sad that it was so close. =(

That is very disconcerting :( I am worried about how many people echo his words every day...it's such a widespread phenomenon, especially in border states or areas with high immigrant populations. *sigh*

[Drogdar]

makes me sad he didn't win :(

[Bamcubz]

Of course people from Alabama "speak" English, there's just a lot that can't read it.

With my cub scout pack in Flomaton, AL, I know there were some people I simply could not understand. One child I would actually turn to his parents and ask "what did he say". Yes he was speaking English but with such an accent (Southern) it was difficult understanding anything he said. Many of the boys could hardly read the books and we're talking 4th and 5th graders.

With this guy running this campaign I was curious to see the statistics on literacy in Alabama. Rather shocking.

"Alabama’s Level 1 functionally illiterate rate is 25%. In other words, one out of four people function at the lowest literacy level in Alabama.

Rates in West Alabama:
Tuscaloosa County – 23%; Fayette County – 24%; Bibb County – 27%; Pickens County – 35%; Hale County – 41%; & Greene County – 51%. (Anniston, AL is considered to be the most illiterate in the nation).

75% of small business owners in Alabama report that many applicants for job openings do not
have basic reading, writing and math skills."

So even if he was elected and had this go into law, not like it would make difference for those who would have voted for it.

How many times have I heard "this is America, speak English" fine then learn how to read then, why demand it on others when you can't yourself.

Sources: Alabama Adult Education & Family Literacy Plan;
U. S. Department of Education;
The Literacy Council of Central Alabama.

[hai Jay]

A lot of Mexican immigrants can't read/write Spanish, much less learn to read/write English.

I didn't realize though that there were so many illiterate people in Alabama. Especially Tuscaloosa county, which has the University of Alabama, plus Stillman College and Shelton State Community College - 3 colleges.

[Bamcubz]

That's probably true but since they can read or write, there's no-one to keep statistics on it.

I myself, tho Mexican American on my father's side who have been farmers in Colorado before it was a state, never learned to speak or write Spanish, but then most people don't expect me to speak or write Shoshone either, which is the language of my mother's people - Southern Paiute and have been here LONG before the first pilgrim stepped off the Mayflower.