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Commissioners Vote To Remove Spanish Option From Phones Save Email Print
Posted: 11:49 PM Feb 4, 2008
 Last Updated: 11:49 PM Feb 4, 2008
 Reporter: Dave Jordan
28 comments
A | A | A

People calling Beaufort County offices will no longer have the option of picking the Spanish language.

The commissioners voted Monday night to remove Spanish language assistance and instructions on county phone systems.

Commissioner Hood Richardson says Spanish language translators are still available at county agencies, and he's happy the resolution passed. Richardson says, "There's nothing in the constitution of the U.S. nor in my heritage that says I have to accommodate illegals that invade my privacy my way of life and change the history of my family."

Commissioners also discussed the future process for policy making within the county government when it comes to providing services to illegal aliens.

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Posted by: BONITA Location: MARTIN COUNTY on Feb 11, 2008 at 03:44 PM
Way to go!! Yes, about time a servant of the county stands up for what is right. We are losing our heritage each day that we don't stand up for what is our!!! Thank God we still have an elect that will stand up for whats right. My hat is off to you.
Posted by: mk on Feb 11, 2008 at 02:24 PM
I applaud all the small minded people who have put something so trivial as this as their top priority. I also suppose that the only people who speak Spanish are Illegal?? I'm glad you all will sleep a lot better at night knowing that the Spanish option is off the phone systems. I have a bizarre thought, how about start focusing on something that matters, like giving Eastern NC children a better Education. So they can be educated and be above such petty acts!!!
Posted by: jw Location: nc on Feb 11, 2008 at 08:31 AM
amen ! to the majority of comments---against having to be force fed spanish in different situations...i am american...i speak english, if you do not like that america is an only english speaking country ...i advise to just get and and go somewhere else.
Posted by: ec Location: martin county on Feb 10, 2008 at 12:48 AM
I applaud the Beaufort County commissioners for deleting Spanish from their telephone system. The president of Mexico is very pleased with the three main presidential candidates. When are Congress and the President going to wise up and see we Americans are tired of all the preferential treatment the Mexicans are receiving. How did the people that are supposed to be protecting our country let millions of illegals come into the USA. Oh we are not supposed to call them illegals but undocumented. They are law breakers and we should prosecute business owners that hire them. We cannot afford to send them home but with no jobs they would return to Mexico and come back the legal way.
Posted by: joe stroud Location: morehead city on Feb 7, 2008 at 09:12 PM
Thank God someone has finally come to their senses. I live in the United States, why should i have to press 1 for English?
Posted by: Clifton Location: Washington on Feb 7, 2008 at 08:20 PM
This is one of the smartest things Beaufort County has done in a long time. Thanks. Now can go to work and make God the only one we pray to in the good old USA. Come here. Live here. Speak the language and pray to OUR God. Jesus who died for OUR sins.
Posted by: DThom Location: G-Land on Feb 7, 2008 at 07:20 PM
If we continue providing this service to the Spanish speaking population the only non-racist thing to do would be provide service for all languages. What a long phone call. We are all immigrants, we should all speak English. We should all respect each other.
Posted by: greenville Location: Greenville on Feb 7, 2008 at 06:25 PM
I totally agree go Beaufort Co. Pitt Co. are you reading this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Barbara Location: Martin County on Feb 7, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Good for you! Does anyone know how much time is wasted by all of us when we call various offices and we have to wait for them to repeat instructions in Spanish. It's a wonder they don't do Chinese. We have right many of them in our county. If they want to enjoy the benefits, they need to learn the language.
Posted by: Kit on Feb 7, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Taylor: I think the commissioners have just done something that the whole country needs to do. It is not racism. It is showing that we are not going to give favoritism to one race. Why shouldn't they have to learn the language of the U.S. if they are going to be in the U.S.? If you want to know something that's scary, go to a drive through atm machine and look at the buttons. The buttons have braille on a DRIVE-THRU. I sure hope nobody blind ever drives through a drive through ATM. It's kind of like asking for trouble when you should have never done something in the first place. Like put spanish on all signs or put braille on a drive through ATM. Because then people just have reason to fuss when it's gone when it should have never been there in the first place. But hey that's me I don't think we should give people reasons to expect favoritism all the time.
Posted by: gilman chasse Location: ct on Feb 7, 2008 at 11:45 AM
It about time that we as a people stand for the rights of americans, english is the laaguage of the land.
Posted by: FREEDOM Location: PLYMOUTH on Feb 7, 2008 at 11:41 AM
ABOUT TIME SOMEONE STOOD UP FOR OUR AMERICAN RIGHTS!! RICHARDSON FOR PRESIDENT!! LAW IS LAW!! RIGHT IS RIGHT!! AND ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL!! LEARN THE LANGUAGE IF YOUR LEGAL AND LEAVE THIS COUNTRY IS YOUR NOT AMERICANS SHOULD NOT NOW OR EVER HAVE TO ACCOMODATE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY AND WHEN OUR GOVERNMENT DOES NOTHING TO SUPPORT OUR LEGAL RIGHTS AS AMERICANS THEY ARE DOING NOTHING LESS THAN CONTRIBUTING TO ILLEGAL ACTIVITY SO THEY ARE CRIMINALS AS WELL AND THEY DESERVE TO BE PUNISHED IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM AS ANY OTHER CRIMINAL WOULD BE! THEY ARE IN OFFICE TO PROCTED THIS COUNTRY NOT MAKE IT EASIER FOR CRIMINALS TO LIVE. SO WHILE AMERICANS ARE OUT TRYING TO MAKE A HOEST LIVING AND TO THE LAWFUL THING CRIMINAL WHICH IS WHAT ILLEGALS ARE ARE BEING PAID BY AMERICAN GOVERNMENTS TO LIVE IN OUR COUNTRY! NO MATTER HOW YOU SEE IT ITS CRIMINAL!!!
Posted by: p Location: nc on Feb 7, 2008 at 11:09 AM
I agree with Laura. English is our language and all should speak it that live here. When they are in my place of business, one day they can translate for another and the next day they can speak no English. GOD BLESS AMERICA! A local radio host just returned from Cozumel on a cruise, and he stated that it did not say press 2 for English! Also, they seem annoyed at you when you cant speak Spanish. That is too much for this country. What has become of being proud to be an American? Now, we should apoligize for it? I dont think so.
Posted by: ANGRY Location: US on Feb 7, 2008 at 10:53 AM
before they come to the US, um I think coming to the US with millions of people who speak it would help them learn the language a lot better. and the guy who wanted to make it a racist subject. in a way it makes you wonder if this guy has something against races, like whites are dominant to all others, isn't that the problem we had before. but now it's other races trying to be dominant over whites. why can't we be equal, and people stop acting like their better then someone else. Some people just disgust me.
Posted by: Laura Location: Texas on Feb 7, 2008 at 08:42 AM
"HALLELUJAH" Someone with a backbone. GOD BLESS AMERICA. We need more like Richard.
Posted by: Tanyah Location: Kinston on Feb 7, 2008 at 12:42 AM
To Taylor: I see you want to play the race card on this topic. The reason race is raised as an issue by those who advocate on behalf of illegals is because you call things racism to get attention. You reduce complicated problems to racism, not because it is racism, but because it works. Because of the legacy of slavery and racism in America, we are sensitive to the cries of racism. Real Americans are offended by racism and reject it, and those that advocate it. They are equally offended when someone plays the race card to get attention to leverage an otherwise unpopular position. The illegals who invade our country by their own illegal act, attack our fundamental ideals and principles and endanger the future of America. They don't hesitate to play the race card to validate their own illegal actions. They attack the very principle that has made our country great; the rule of law. The issue is not about race. It's about realism. This IS America...NOT Mexico!
Posted by: Darlene Location: Middlesex,NC on Feb 6, 2008 at 05:04 PM
I agree with this. They should be made to learn to speak english before coming to THE USA.
Posted by: Crystal Location: washington on Feb 6, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Rodney, when in Rome...... stay in Texas
Posted by: Harvey Location: Kernersville,N.C. on Feb 6, 2008 at 08:13 AM
More agencies in USA should tighten up. Good move, need more!!!!
Posted by: sk8ter Location: Houston on Feb 6, 2008 at 05:43 AM
Debra wrote: "most illegals are coming in through AZ" Not any more,since the new laws were passed in AZ and OK.They are fleeing AZ and OK.Most are coming to TX.Most cross in TX. The mayors of Sanora,Mex(borders AZ)just met with the prez. of mex. demanding money and resources to cope with people going back to mex.They said they were a strain on the local economy,wandering the streets and filling up classrooms.Shoes on the other foot.Read the AZ newspapers,esp the southern ones.Alot of info.
Posted by: Rodney Location: Texas on Feb 6, 2008 at 12:20 AM
It looks like that for Beaufort County officials, their personal prejudices and political beliefs against a specific ethnic group are more important than servicing the diverse clientele that makes up modern America. Or maybe they think the county can save some money by limiting access to services.
Posted by: Jarrod Location: Greenville on Feb 5, 2008 at 09:41 AM
To Taylor....Why cater to these people. If they want to live in America they should learn to speak the American language....what is so wrong with that? LIVE HERE IF YOU WANT JUST LEARN THE LANGUAGE.
Posted by: Joan Location: Greenville on Feb 5, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Thank you Commissioners. It is about time someone stood up for the English language and the United States of America. We need more people like you in N.C. and all over the U.S.A.
Posted by: Kathy Location: Greenville on Feb 5, 2008 at 08:01 AM
It's not penalizing the illegal population either, it's stopping preferential treatment. If they have Spanish options, then don't we have to provide all other languages as well (French, Arabic, etc) for people (legal or illegal) that don't speak English?
Posted by: Mark Location: Bath on Feb 5, 2008 at 08:00 AM
Richardson doesn't sound like a Native American name to me.
Posted by: fed up resident Location: martin co on Feb 5, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Would these commissioners consider relocating to Martin County....We need people like you behind our county.
Posted by: Taylor Location: Washington on Feb 5, 2008 at 06:44 AM
The Beaufort County Commissioners have proven once again how afraid they are of Hood Richardson. Most of the churches here have Hispanic ministries, so the rank and file citizen (who is probably very much against illegal immigration) is also very outreaching and charitable to the less fortunate...even if they are not the same color or speak the same language. Removing Spanish from the phone system only hurts people who need it, and makes racists like the Board of Commissioners a little bit closer to being what the Nazis were in Germany. When will they get it through their thick skulls that xenophobia whipped up by a loudmouth is not very becoming for a Board of Commissioners. Do unto others, Beaufort County Commission...and remember what goes around, comes around.
Posted by: Mike Location: Edenton on Feb 5, 2008 at 06:14 AM
Kudos to Mr. Richardson and the Beaufort commissioners. This is a small baby step toward the illegal immigrant problem. But we must start somewhere.
Posted by: michael Location: hamilton on Feb 5, 2008 at 05:39 AM
Hood Richardson for President
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