Why spend our PTC tax money on Spanish signs?

Tue, 11/03/2009 - 4:16pm
By: Letters to the ...

Several years ago, I had reason to fly to Miami on business. Upon arrival, I noticed that the overhead directional signs in the terminal were in Spanish first, then English underneath. Ever since then, I have elected to fly into Fort Lauderdale and drive to Miami.

Just my way of boycotting an airport and city that enables people who won’t or don’t bother to learn English. It may be a relatively insignificant protest, but I have probably flown into Fort Lauderdale 30 times over the past six or seven years. Any my next trip to south Florida will be to Fort Lauderdale. And the one after that and the one after that ...

Oh, yes, I am quite sick of liberalism in general, and sucking up to non-English speaking people specifically. But I never thought I would live to see the day that we have gotten so politically correct in Peachtree City.

Wrong again.

I was coming back from Earl’s Quality Car Care this morning (a great company, by the way) and was approaching the railroad tracks on Paschall Road. There was an orange sign bolted to a pole just before the tracks indicating something about using the golf cart tunnel or something. I am not really exactly sure what the sign said, to be honest with you.

But what I am sure of is that bolted directly below the orange sign was a white aluminum sign saying the same thing, only this time in Espanol.

I literally made a U-turn to make sure I observed what I thought I observed. Yep, it was a sign in Spanish all right.

Maybe I am not very observant, as there could be and probably are other signs written in Spanish around Peachtree City. But this was a first for me.

Call me an intolerant, racist, self-righteous bigot, I assure you I do not care. I am here to say that I find it beyond outrageous that we are now spending tax dollars on street signs written in Spanish in Peachtree City, Ga.

Miami? Sure. Atlanta? Maybe. But Peachtree City? Are you kidding me? Have we come so far in our desire to be inclusive and tolerant enough that we now are spending scare resources to accommodate those that can’t read English?

Hey, what about the poor guy from Libya? Let’s get some Arabic signs out there, for crying out loud! How is he supposed to know the golf cart tunnel is closed? We are a thoughtless and selfish bunch.

It’s a tiny thing, but it is most definitely indicative of the times we live in and the growing government desire to accommodate the needs, wants, and desires of those who don’t speak (or read) English. Yet, who is the government, particularly at the local level, but ourselves?

The city of Peachtree City probably spent at least $200 (just a guess) for that one sign in Spanish to be made and installed. Some guy in Rockspray just saw half of his annual city taxes go to buy that sign.

I don’t know about you, but I humbly suggest to the City Council that we quickly and proudly put an end to this nonsense.

There are many languages spoken and cultural traditions observed in Peachtree City; I am well aware of that and have no problem with that.

But let’s stop this insanity with the double signs now. If you don’t speak English, learn it, and if you can’t read a road sign in English, don’t drive. You are endangering the lives of everyone else.

Comprende?

Now, if you will excuse me, I must drive to my insensitivity training class. Adios.

Dan Tennant

Peachtree City, Ga.

[Dan Tennant is a former member of the Peachtree City Council.]

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Mike King's picture
Submitted by Mike King on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 9:28am.

Multilingual signs? You guys are joking, right? Let's grow up(or a pair) and adopt the international signage that has been in place in Europe for decades. Surely, Europeans are more familiar with languages other than their native tongue, but my last travels assured me that there are substantially more languages there than merely spanish.

What say you?


DanTennant's picture
Submitted by DanTennant on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 9:35am.

Mike, international signs or symbols are great for universal things like rest room or no left turn, etc., but you gotta draw the line in Peachtree City with English only when special or specific wording is required, right?


Mike King's picture
Submitted by Mike King on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 9:48am.

Special wording on road signs to me have the same practicality of teats on a boar. The art of planning has somehow slipped from the American landscape in that we seem all too eager to get in the car, activate the GPS, and head out. Heaven forbid, we be criticized for catching up on doing our hair, make-up, texting, phone calls, all while having breakfast at eighty miles per hour!


Submitted by Davids mom on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 9:05am.

To make sure that those who are in the process of learning English don't misread a sign and kill us!! What a shame that we are the only 'educated' nation that is not multi-lingual. Most universities do require at least a 'reading' knowledge of another language before a degree is granted. Being conversant in more than one language used to be a sign of 'education'. We here in the United States are fortunate that we can travel long distances using the English language. In other places on our planet, this is not the case. Children in Europe are conversant in more than one language. In the global business world, this is a definite advantage. But I guess you're going to be 'tied' to Peachtree City and Florida.
Some citizens in India and China are holding jobs that should belong to Americans because they 'learned' another language. (Outsourcing telephone information positions, etc.)

bad_ptc's picture
Submitted by bad_ptc on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 9:08pm.

Gee Dan, et al

I wonder why other countries print their signs in their native language and then print the 'English translation' just under it?

Do you think there's a big tourist draw in Iraq?

Do I support illegal aliens being here, NO!

Do I want someone killed at a train crossing, NO!

Get a grip would you?

Dan, please read the top line.


DanTennant's picture
Submitted by DanTennant on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 11:26pm.

Hey Bad, you are an idiot. It says "Jerusalem" in English in your stupid post because English is the world's language, OK? You'll find the same thing all over the entire world.

Tell me, if you are so interested in saving lives at the train crossing, let's print our signs in French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, German, and God knows we can't forget the Taliban so throw a little Arabic in there just in case...you just never know who might be offended if we don't.

You draw the line with English. If they can't read it, they need to learn it. It ain't about trains, pal, it's about learning to read, write and speak English. End of story.


bad_ptc's picture
Submitted by bad_ptc on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 8:16am.

You did a “U-turn” because you couldn’t read a sign? Who’s the idiot?

Not only do you pay about $16.00 more to fly into Ft. Lauderdale but you go the extra mile and rent a car and drive the last 25 miles. Who’s the idiot?

I guess it’s a good thing you’re self employed because anyone else would tell you to “take a walk”.

Thank goodness you don’t ever have to fly to California. I’d suppose you’d fly from Atlanta to Little Rock, Arkansas and drive the rest of the way.

Tell me Dan, have you boycotted banks since the ATM’s started asking you if you wanted instructions in English or Spanish?


DanTennant's picture
Submitted by DanTennant on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 8:33am.

Hey Bad, I would refer to you as something more pleasant but you don't have the guts to attach your name to your post, so I can't. In response to your question: YOU are still the idiot but an uninformed idiot at that. To wit, it is almost always cheaper to fly to Ft. Lauderdale than it is to Miami. Second, I see other clientele en route to Miami when I head to south Florida, so that isn't exactly idiotic, is it? I am NOT self employed, as you stated (some would call that a lie, Bad) and your stupid comment about Little Rock is not even worthy of a response. You are an uninformed, ignorant dolt.

And a private company's request to me if I prefer English or Spanish in making a financial transaction is a far cry from my tax dollars being spent on physical plant property to enable foreigners who won't learn English.

Get a life, pal.

Dan Tennant


bad_ptc's picture
Submitted by bad_ptc on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 9:22am.

I guess you decided the reason you started off with was no longer good enough:

“I noticed that the overhead directional signs in the terminal were in Spanish first, then English underneath. Ever since then, I have elected to fly into Fort Lauderdale and drive to Miami.”

Now you change your tune based on ‘other’ factors that have nothing what-so-ever to signs in Spanish.

Good to know you can still flip-flop on an issue in the blink of an eye.

P.S. Delta lists the price differance at $16.00.


DanTennant's picture
Submitted by DanTennant on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 9:29am.

Hey Bad, do me a favor and check with Delta and find out how much a one way ticket to Doltsville is, would you? You might be able to use your frequent idiot comments to get a free flight.

P.S. The word is spelled "difference".


mudcat's picture
Submitted by mudcat on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 7:41pm.

Someone said he had a relative in the election yesterday and that is why he has been so quiet.

I liked him better quiet.

Last time I met him he was all dressed up as a PTC council person - in a suit and was posing with the other members of BRAWN - that would be Brown, Rapson, Weed and Tenant. I never could figure out how someone with a name like Dan Tenant figured into the BRAWN acronym, but he was defintely a Kool-Aid drinker early in that failed Brown (one-term)administration.

Thank God, that is over and we are moving along with the chick council. Kim is a shoo-in and Beth can probably defeat the "no campaign contributions" Budda. Cyndi, of course is dead meat.

But 3 ladies on council? Priceless.


Submitted by MYTMITE on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 8:41pm.

many others. If you think those few signs are bad wait until everything gets put into Spanish. All road signs, drivers' tests election ballots,and it goes on and on. As I have said before, Miami is a foreign country--where I feel the alien, the foreigner--and am made to feel this way because politicians gave in and gave in until everything was geared to the latins, even the politicians all speak Spanish. Call any government office and you can hardly understand the person on the other end. If you cannot speak Spanish there are many jobs they you are considered unqualified to hold. Just wait, we will see it here before too long---no out of state tuition, and scholarships for illegals, and it goes on and on. But then we do have to be politically correct, don't we?

Submitted by PTCGOIL on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 5:27pm.

You must not have seen the signs on Crosstown Rd., either, that have been there for over 2 years now. The ones on the cart path telling you (in Spanish) you cannot cross the road there.

Right before McDonald's and Wendy's. Of course this waste of money would be funny if it wasn't a waste of money. See, the Hispanics on the paths can't read English OR Spanish!!! Oooops, politically incorrectomundo, too.Puzzled

Submitted by lawson320 on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 7:28pm.

AS to the sign on Crosstown. The same sign is on the McDonald's side as is the Wendy's side. If you read the sigh to cross(illegally), then why the second sign. Nobody reads them, so why bother.

Submitted by Spyglass on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 9:21pm.

that right there is FUNNY...

They can't read either sign...LMAO...

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