My Rant
- Thread starter layoutshooter
- Start date
I thought this was the US of A?....where an individual could lead an independent life and not be part of a collective? Like speaking perfect English or American....where immigrants would have freedom of expression and lifestyle and not be forced into a collective? does that make sense?....
Enforcing a single legal language seems to go against the grain of the individual freedoms immigrants come here to get away from......
It is like complaining because when you go to China town you hear Chinese....I think a working knowledge of American would be to their advantage but not necessary.
Enforcing a single legal language seems to go against the grain of the individual freedoms immigrants come here to get away from......
It is like complaining because when you go to China town you hear Chinese....I think a working knowledge of American would be to their advantage but not necessary.
How radical is it when I was working on the railroad at Great Lakes Steel? When I shouted a WARNING in ENGLISH that a track crew was about to be hit by a train, they KNEW what I said and could move. Now, imagine the same circumstance with a crew where there are several languages spoken. Dead guys.
Same thing on the loading dock. Which oriental language was my wife going to learn fast enough to give a warning? How many languages are we going to have to know? 5, 20, 100?
The more fragmentation there is the more injuries and deaths will take place.
Is it worth that? How many interpretors will we need to shout MOVE!! YOU ABOUT TO GET RUN OVER BY THAT TRAIN! ?? 5, 20, 100? Flash cards at the mills or in the mines?
How would YOU handle the real life dangers this will contribute too or even cause?
well assuming they don't know American and put themselves in harms way....they die.....simple.
It puts the entire crew in danger. People WILL die. People WILL be hurt. Again, is it worth that?
but your example is not workable....the railways would not have any of that.....that is like using airline pilots as an example...
The crew might have a lot of spanish speaking workers in which case there'd be a same or like lead hand or foreman...
Yes, it's worth that. Happy now?
I've heard dire warnings yelled out in many languages, including the language of canines and rattlesnakes, and I immediately knew the importance, of not the actual words, of the warning. It is usually in the tone, rather than the language, that's important.
I've heard dire warnings yelled out in many languages, including the language of canines and rattlesnakes, and I immediately knew the importance, of not the actual words, of the warning. It is usually in the tone, rather than the language, that's important.
And Joe as you have often said....we are not here to babysit or tell others what to do...people have to make responsible decisions and be accountable for their actions....NOT me or you.......
When I hired on at Great Lakes Steel, in 1973, I had to pass a written test. That test had on it basic math and ENGLISH. IF you could pass the test AND the interview, IN ENGLISH, you could get hired. Fail either, you could not. IF I owned a factory I would do the same. That IS how it was done.
How many foreman are you going to have? Do you think that there are all that many people out there that know US railroad slang AND speak multiple languages?
gee whiz......Joe....I think most employers have standards...
You knew which way to turn?
Just asking, NOT arguing. I have worked in to many dangerous jobs to not see how this WILL be a problem. Tone? In Chinese? Good luck.
I don't believe that all the injuries and deaths that a half a zillion languages spoken in dangerous occupations are going cause is worth it. I can hear it on the fire radio.
UncleTed
Not a Member
I've been reading back through the archives here for a while. I thought I read somewhere you worked for the government in 1973. Did you have two jobs?
And pageants are important? How many have ever been killed in one? 200? 300? over the years? Who gives a flip about silly stuff? What is your fixation with Spanish any way? Besides, that was London, not Great Lakes Steel. Pageant, that is a FUNNY one!
I worked on the kill floor with nearly all Portugese and not a word of English from most of them....but by the look on their face a knew what they meant when they screamed IT is falling!!....LOL
Oh at lunch they made fun of the Canadian kid...ME...in their language....LOL how I struggled lifting a hind of beef...
Oh at lunch they made fun of the Canadian kid...ME...in their language....LOL how I struggled lifting a hind of beef...
Nope, you read wrong, sorry. I got out of the army in June of 1973. Hired on with the "agency" in June of 1976. There have also been many times when I worked more than one job or worked a job and did volunteer firefighting/EMT etc.
Not on that loading dock last week. Good think Mrs Layoutshooter was paying attention. NOTHING bad happened, but it easily could have.
UncleTed
Not a Member
What agency did you work for if you don't mind me asking?
The National Security Agency. I served with the Army Security Agency for 3 years. 1970-73.
accidents happen...like I said in my last post..I was the only english kid on the block....I did not expect them to change because of me...so I learned a bit of Portugese along the way and earned their respect and they tried English....it is called co operation....