Burning Atlanta

Ehhhh, I have some understanding of immigrants learning English becoming an issue. Many people see English being pushed aside and an appeasement attitude coming in that doesn't promote English nor encourage people to learn it. But I, also, understand that historically immigrants and their children will eventually learn. We have many words from many different languages in common usage. Many people may not know the true meaning or origins of some such words. But my bottom line attitude is: learn the damned language, you jerks. I speak some Spanish. I'm self taught. No big deal. I could probably function in a Spanish speaking environment though my syntax may suck. Honestly, if you only learn a couple of hundred words you can get by. Depending on if you're visiting or staying.

Anyway, I'll let the article speak for itself. You can decide for yourself how you feel about this.

Adios

Just when you think you have heard it all, along comes a story that is almost too ridiculous to be true. But it is. The idiocy of federal bureaucracies apparently is never-ending. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which might easily be called the Department of Political Correctness, has decided to take on the Salvation Army. Yes, the Salvation Army, that phenomenally successful assistance organization which began in Great Britain over one hundred and forty-years ago. The Salvation Army, which has helped thousands of people in countries all over the world, is being sued by the EEOC.

It all started in a thrift store in Framingham, Massachusetts. Two Hispanic employees were given one year to learn English in order to speak the language of the country in which they live and the language spoken by other employees. They failed to do so; in turn the employees were fired. The EEOC filed a lawsuit against the Salvation Army claiming the employees had suffered "emotional pain, humiliation and embarrassment" as a result of the English-only policy.  

First, the Salvation Army is a faith-based organization and is able to set rules for its employees that many public organization cannot. I am not a lawyer; however, I know that government should not be telling religious groups whom they can and cannot hire or fire.  Specifically, when it comes to requiring English the courts have already ruled in the State of Massachusetts.  In 2003 a federal judge in Boston upheld the Salvation Army policy requiring workers to "speak English to the best of their ability." The EEOC didn't like that ruling, so it is trying for one more favorable.