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Judge sentences Hispanic men to learn English


  3. Devishlysweet83
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So they rob someone and they need to learn English as a punishment? How is that a punishment?
I hope you enjoy!
Devishlysweet83

18 responses // Judge sentences Hispanic men to learn English

  • Why does it have to be punishment. Changing someone's outlook and abilities is a million times better than locking them up for a month.
    ILiveonaClock
  • I dont really understand this story.. obviously this judge is asleep at the bench like many american judges.. learning english is a GIFT not a punishment.. a couple months in a jail where english is only spoken would also make him learn quickly.. these stories seem to pop up regularly on MSNBC.. WHO CARES...
    GDFERRIS
  • well. it may work better than imprisonment. see, learning another language, and specially the official one of the country you plan to live in is a good damn idea, as it widens ur horizons, and facilitates being employed.
    jade_azul16
  • i think that this judge is AWESOME. its proven that putting people in prison only costs us money. there is a return rate that is rediculous, and 1 in 100 adults in America are already incarcerated. the best way for crime to be eradicated is to make people improve their lives. if these young boys can learn english and get an education, its so much easier for them to get a job and contribute to our society and learn from their mistakes rather then cost taxpayers money to be in adult time-out, where they learn how to be better criminals. i would much rather have tax dollars go to truly getting rid of crime and improving society. this guy understands real justice. good call
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    humanpasta
  • I think it's a good idea.
    It's humane and constructive.
    recommended by  jade_azul16
    stephenthomson
  • I can see it now ... the school of the future is the prison of today.
    derk
  • reminds me of the scene in Fight Club where Tyler threatens to kill the convenience store clerk if he doesn't return to dental school!
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    marcozarco
  • my favorite part of the story is when the Judge says, "...you think we're going to hire interpreters for you your entire life?".

    I bet the court interpreters union says, "damn skippy!"
    BooksBrown
  • Devishlysweet83, you forgot to add this part "Learn English, earn their GEDs and get full-time jobs,"

    Granted, it's still not a punishment, but you're missing the point. Punishing people doesn't seem to work. I'm not sure if it's ever worked for criminals. Someone who steals and gets sentenced to jail will probably steal again when they get out.

    Learning English, earning their GEDs and getting full-time jobs while on parole is still better, and they're still getting "punished" by getting their rights taken away.

    I'm reminded of the story of when an Inuit jumped a canadian families fence and killed someone. The Inuit tribe said to the Canadian authorities which detained the rouge Inuit "He's our responsibility, let us sentence him".

    They left him alone on a scarcely inhabited island with a bow and one arrow.

    What's more effective, locking someone away with more criminals and contacts for the outside or this "creative sentencing"
    CarlosIsDown
  • Carlosisdown,
    I am not missing the point. I understand perfectly well the point of this so called "punishment". In all reality it is not a punishment and shouldn’t be considered so. It is a way to better their lives and in the long run hopefully get them off the street. They robbed someone, what better way to help them than to educate them and help them better their lives. If they had gone to prison, they would mostly likely do the same thing when they get out. This “punishment” allows them a “chance at life”. These individuals are luckier than most people, they have free education and someone to help them get a job.
    Devishlysweet83
  • Really? I thought getting robbed in Spanish sounded sexier...Ugh, this is ridiculous.
    chunche
  • chunche. I'll rob you any way you want ;)

    Oh, ok Devishlysweet. I thought you wanted a harsher sentence.
    CarlosIsDown
  • Imagine. The penal system doing what it's supposed to by helping to rehabilitate criminals, rather than just punishing them. If it weren't for the discomforting racial overtones of "sentencing" immigrants to learn a non-native language, this might look like a step in the right direction.
    julian_robinson
  • I didn't really sense any racial over tones. The article didn't say anything about them being immigrants. I think they knew basic english, like, enough to get them through the citizenship tests.

    Wait, are green card holders still considered immigrants?

    NE who, i think the judge did it for their own good, rather than to be rascist. If you want to get ahead in this country, you need to learn at least basic english. I'm not saying forget you're roots or anything.

    Both my parents learned english in order to get ahead. I wish my dad would polish his english though. Still love 'im
    CarlosIsDown
  • I totally agree with this sentancing, the odds of them improving their lives and moving past crime should greatly increase if they can communicate with people outside of their local community. I should only hope that more judges follow suit with this, its difficult to do business with people who speak other languages and obviously do not want to learn the offical language of this country that they chose to come live in.
    vladrath
  • This is actually a good punishment. These folks are getting a form of correction other than prison--where unlike some people think; English is not the only language spoken there. Also brings a good point that English is the spoken language by choice. If you don't agree just go read the constitution, bill of rights, and other important document from the past 200 years. The forefathers of America could have chosen German, French, or even Russian but they didn't. But alas I regress, for the whole language thing is another story.
    digit01
  • If English was good enough for Jesus Christ, it's good enough for me.
    marcozarco
  • Haha, good 'ol American Jesus. The bible was written in english! You do'nt see no jalapeno falling out of the bible.

    (for this post: imagine the sarcasm, since it don't come out so good on these here internets.)
    CarlosIsDown

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