Drivers test limits violate civil rights
Saturday’s article, “License testing limited to English,” is just another nail in the civil-rights coffin. Discriminating against foreign-born Floridians who haven’t mastered the English language takes Gov, Ron DeSantis’s anti-DEI measures to another level.
I wonder if the Department of Transportation, under the DeSantis administration, considered the fact that foreign- born residents contribute to the overall economy of our state. Taking away their ability to travel to and from work simply because they have been unable to master the English language is no different than taking away an individual’s rights due to the color of their skin or their religion.
The English language has the largest vocabulary of any language. Yet we expect foreign-born individuals to understand the differences between to, two and too. There are so many nuances to the English language that frankly, I’m in awe when I encounter an immigrant who can speak English fluently.
It’s my belief that DEI initiatives and racism are behind the announcement by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to discontinue offering the drivers’ test in Spanish.
This directive doesn’t do anything to help people attain a better quality of life; it just widens the divide between the haves and the have-nots.
— Violet Irminger, Mount Dora
Gangs in the streets
A decade ago Donald Trump was telling the world that immigrant gangs were running amok, sending thousands of dangerous felons to our shores who were raping and killing our citizenry. To be fair, there are anecdotal situations where this has occurred. Any demographic that ranks in the millions, as immigrants (documented or not) do, there will be incidences of violence against others. Each instance is a tragedy. But, I watched and was unable to see the big numbers of gang members marauding across our country. Sadly, that has now changed.
Trump’s vision of gangs in the streets has materialized. In cities across the nation, we now have thousands of heavily armed, mask-wearing violent groups chasing people down, pulling them from their cars, homes, schools and churches. And literally killing citizens in the streets. These violent, masked gang members are not the strangers from far-off shores that Trump said they were. As I see it, they are members of Trump’s own gang of thugs, armed, equipped and paid by the very people they are attacking. I am surprised their uniform does not include brown shirts. Yes, they are our civil servants, the alphabet gang: DOD, ICE, DHS, DOJ, CBP, FBI. And they come bearing the message, “I am from the government. I am here to help.”
— Carter “Curley” Bowman, Maitland
Hail to the Vikings
When Scandinavian immigrants arrived in America, many chose Minnesota for their new home. Therefore, we may assume many of these newcomers had Viking ancestry. The Scandinavian Vikings were a seafaring people who plundered both north and west Europe for centuries — a pretty tough group. As their illustrious history reveals, when faced with adversity they do not fold and run. They stand and resist. Perhaps ICE should have researched the people of Minneapolis and Minnesota before launching their reign of intimidation and havoc. Thank you, wonderful residents of Minnesota and Minneapolis for exhibiting such great courage and solidarity. You make me a proud American again. God bless you.
— Joan Ricketts, Orlando
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