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Monday, November 26, 2012

Proposed English Law Divides Carroll County

Westminster, Md. — It was the Armenian threat that caused Carroll County Commissioner Haven N. Shoemaker Jr. to act.

After hearing that a Washington suburb had spent a fortune translating some land-use documents into Armenian, Shoemaker proposed an ordinance that would make English the county’s official language.

The measure has opened a fierce debate in this once-rural farming community, where the rolling countryside is now dotted with rapidly spreading bedroom communities. 

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't understand why wanting English to be used by everybody for official business. If nothing else it would be much more cost efficient. It cost a fortune to produce the same documents in multiple languages.
I also completely support immigrants teaching their kids their native language,the history and traditions of their cultures.
What I have a problem with is people coming from other countries being "offended" by our beliefs or customs. Being offended by our flag or certain holidays. If you don't like the things that the majority of the country believes, then yes, go home.
That is not being xenophobic. If we were xenophobic we wouldn't allow the number of immigrants i the country we do. Not only do we allow it, we encourage it.

Anonymous said...

Well said. If you don't like it, the ship, plane or train travel in the other direction, too. Please feel free to get on it & go back to where ever you came from.

Anonymous said...

They want us to welcome them with open arms yet they don't want to welcome things they way they are here. It's costing more and more to keep printing, teaching or translating things for people that should have to learn the language to be able to become a citizen. If they are not a citizen they should not be here or they should have to foot the bill.