Immigration center named for Father Gary, 10th street

[Hoopla]

Sunny,

What you say is true, we don't have an official language and people should be free
to speak any language that they like.

On the other hand I think that it is absolutely critical for a society to survive and function
it must have a common language. For example if you are a lawyer you make your
arguments before the court in English. The constitution and all the laws flowing from it
are in English. If you're a pilot flying into Ohare somebody in the cockpit better speak English.
In fact if you're flying into *any* major airport in the world the language is English. There has
to be a common language for the system to function.

The problem is that language and culture are joined at the hip and very difficult to separate.
But separate they must.

[fedupinwaukegan]

It has been 20 years since Maria Garcia immigrated to Waukegan from her native Mexico, and she is finally pursuing citizenship with the help of the Father Gary Graf Center. Garcia, who worked in a factory until a repetitive stress injury forced her to stop, is also studying English.

"When you don't speak English, it's hard to get a good job," she said through a translator.

I originally posted the article so that we could keep up with the news of Father Graf. I hope he is doing well in his new location.

I also felt it was interesting commentary that an immigrant can be here for 20 years and still not speak the language of the land. How isolated are they were a translator is still needed?

I can remember my great grandparents -all from other countries and immigrants. When I knew them they were bi-lingual and proud of it. As Maria pointed out -they were able to get very good jobs/businesses because of that skill.

Surely the center will stress getting citizenship, learning English and embracing both cultures. Maria is an example of what isolation can do.

[Frankzilch]

Sunny,

What you say is true, we don't have an official language and people should be free
to speak any language that they like.

On the other hand I think that it is absolutely critical for a society to survive and function
it must have a common language. For example if you are a lawyer you make your
arguments before the court in English. The constitution and all the laws flowing from it
are in English. If you're a pilot flying into Ohare somebody in the cockpit better speak English.
In fact if you're flying into *any* major airport in the world the language is English. There has
to be a common language for the system to function.

The problem is that language and culture are joined at the hip and very difficult to separate.
But separate they must.

Money is the universal "common language". A lot of the rules for the courts utilize liberal use of Latin.

[gmg77]

All masses should be in latin just like the old days. Problem solved

[TypesWithFist]

All masses should be in latin just like the old days. Problem solved

Yeah! It was better when you couldn't understand it.

[gurnee_cynic]

we need to provide free housing for all immigrants. free clothing for their ever so numerous children, free education if they are interested, maybe free car repair too, and dont forget free legal services in case Sheriff Curran`s staff arrests any. Free foodstamps and free TANF money when they are unemployed. Free everything .

[Dennis_Ista]

Well, i do think that everyone in the US is supposed to speak elementary English at least.

So you could make yourself understandable at the doctor's office, order something to eat, ask a neighbour for info or help at filling in forms or legal assistance.

Here in The Netherlands, anyone willing to become a citizen is required to learn Dutch. It is so, because many people come here, speak no Dutch or do not understand it. So may forms of confusion will come when you go to a doctor.

Isn't this the case in the US aswell?

[Frankzilch]

Well, i do think that everyone in the US is supposed to speak elementary English at least.

So you could make yourself understandable at the doctor's office, order something to eat, ask a neighbour for info or help at filling in forms or legal assistance.

Here in The Netherlands, anyone willing to become a citizen is required to learn Dutch. It is so, because many people come here, speak no Dutch or do not understand it. So may forms of confusion will come when you go to a doctor.

Isn't this the case in the US aswell?

In my experience most immigrants do speak enough english to communicate. It may be only a very basic level for some. I only speak english and have very very rarely not been able to communicate with an immigrant. There also seems to be a misconception here that immigrants demand to be communicated to only in their own language. I have never heard such a demand. I do think they cling to their language whenever possible mainly out of cultural pride. I also see marketing based on language use and cultural pride. But I have never heard an immigrant make a demand that a specific language be used.