Posted on 08/09/2007 3:34:00 AM PDT by Man50D
Possibly you’re thinking of the New York crash of an Avianca (Colombian) 707 in 1990, largely caused by the pilot’s faulty communication of the fuel situation’s urgency.
That was the one; thanks!
English is the international language for transportation. During the last few years with the Panama Canal under US administration we had to really struggle to keep all traffic communication in English. The big barriers were lack of concern and occasional political defiance.
English-only signs in Merrimack
By JIM KOZUBEK New Hampshire Union Leader Correspondent 8 hours, 39 minutes ago
MERRIMACK – Latino people remain free and welcome to come swimming at Naticook Lake at Wasserman Park, but they are not going to find any Spanish-language signs to tell them the park rules. The town council last night voted 5-0-0 to
update the park rules only in the English language, ending a two-week debate that captured national attention and hit at such nerves as public access and immigration.
Finlay Rothhaus, whose grandfather immigrated from Germany in 1921, was the councilor who made the initial objection to the Spanish-language signs, and explained his line of thought to the public last night.
"My concern is that multi-lingual nations have a history of problems, and have no mechanism for unification. If you look to the north, Quebec made a move to secede from Canada, and the vote only failed at 49 percent. I don't think we want that."
An identification in the English language enables unity, shared values and public safety, a protective message that was similarly presented by councilor Michael Malzone, and resident Dennis King. Proponents of English-only signs said that if the town were
to adapt Spanish-language signs, the action could develop into a slippery slope with calls for signs in Vietnamese and Portuguese.
Councilor Tim Tenhave argued police retained authority from the law not the language.
Parks director Sherry Kalish brought the debate on Spanish-language signs to a head last month, when she asked for a sign in Spanish per a police department request.
Police say that more than half of the visitors to the park on the weekends are often Latino, and a handful of those visitors do not respect the rules of the park by bringing alcohol, foul language and rough and tumble activity.
Rule-breakers often appeal to language barriers when confronted by police, saying they do not understand the park rules and cannot read the signs. Police, Parks officials and town staff supported an idea of a Spanish-language sign to mitigate those excuses.
The town purchased the Wasserman Park land in 1989 and accepted a package of federal grants and state L-CHIP money for its development, and town officials have had the understanding that the acceptance of those grants ensure that the park remain public.
Town officials yesterday learned the land had been purchased in two separate transactions, and Wasserman beach is not bound to public access. The finding means the town can close the park to out-of-towners, a proposal to be taken up early next year. YOUR COMMENTS
The voices of UnionLeader.com readers: To join UnionLeader.com's discussion of the news, use the form below.
Our Country's language is English. I've seen plenty of people travel to Countries with their little translation books. Maybe that should be the first purchase that people make coming to our Country. Things are going too far. People that don't want to learn our Country's language want us to change for them. The people that are trying to change it left their Country for a reason. The money they want to waste on the signs could be used to insure our children and help feed the hungey. It's time to worry about the people that have been living here, and what our American Citizens need. - Melissa, Manchester
Congrats to those standing up to voice the English language as being the primary language of our Country! Those who do not understand the English language should be home studying it rather than at a public swimming area. The same would be for me if I were to reside in another country! English is the USA's official language; everyone should be required to speak it or else!!!! - Valerie Lennon, Nashua, NH
Way to go, Merrimack!!! I hope the powers-that-be will stand up to the inevitable ACLU lawsuit. Merrimack is RIGHT ON!!!! Have a day. Bang Gunley - Bang Gunley, Pensacola, Fl.
Here's my Standing Ovation and 3 Cheer's for Merrimack!!! We need more cities, towns and states, standing up for AMERICA and our English lanquage. You come here, learn the lanquage, as our ancestors from Italy, Poland, Greece and everywhere have done in the past. God Bless America!! - SG, Manchester,N.H.
Bravo, Merrimack, for resisting the push for the bifurcation of the USA. When I visit other countries, their signs are in the language of that country - not a plethora of various languages, which is as it should be. Now if we could only get Home Depot in Claremont to stop posting their signs in English and espanol. When I asked why - when the Mexican border is 2,000 miles away but the French-speaking Canadian border is only 100 miles away - they don't have signs in French also, all I got was a befuddled stare. Perhaps they are so tangled in political correctness that they are unused to thinking ? - Pamela, Washington
I'm liking Merrimack more and more each day. You guys rock! - JB, Epsom
Because next time you hear the call to "tax the rich" we'll be the ones. See you get richer!
It's a good thing..
Oh wait, you meant the benefit to us average Joe's. Not the political class.....
nevermind.
Wow! I never saw that one before. Thanks for the link.
Mexican nat’ls haven’t been controlling air traffic in the US. This is a means to replace the FAA with an North American agency.
This is such paranoid BS.
Aircraft have overflown international borders since Day One. We flew from London to Hong Kong a few months ago. Flew over aproximately 10 countries, including Russia and it was never an issue.
I have flown Mexicana from SFO to Mecico City half a dozen times. Good rides.
Took Aeroflot (Aeroplop) from Toronto to Moscow about 8 years ago. Great ride.
This is BS.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.