tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post114185527929812881..comments2023-12-30T23:02:57.931-08:00Comments on Deep Thought: Not such a clear case. What say you?Eli Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00792743206074537073noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-1142008763998655692006-03-10T08:39:00.000-08:002006-03-10T08:39:00.000-08:00There's certainly been a backlash recently against...There's certainly been a backlash recently against workers by employers who want to decree how they live on their own time, and that concerns me long term. A company called Weyco threatened to fire all of its employees who smoked because they feared they would raise health insurance costs (all of the threatened employees resigned before termination was completed). At least one US auto plant refuses to allow workers who drive vehicles made by its competitors to park on its lots. But this is the first time I've heard of a government agency threatening to fire someone for advertising their second jobs.<BR/><BR/>I'd need to know more about the background of this story before passing judgment on this case though. For instance, did Arapahoe County receive specific complaints from employees who felt his truck and/or hat constituted harassment against them, or is this a vendetta originating from his supervisor as the employee suggests?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-1141921558660282862006-03-09T08:25:00.000-08:002006-03-09T08:25:00.000-08:00eli,I think anonymous was right. As you said, non...eli,<BR/><BR/>I think anonymous was right. As you said, non-English speakers fall into two categories--the immigrants and the non-imigrants. He said that he had a right to be offended when an <I>immigrant</I> wouold not learn English enough to do business with him.<BR/><BR/>I don't know if offended is the right word. But I support businesses insisting their patrons to speak English. What I mean is a shop owner should not get sued because the "Wet Floor" sign was only in English and the non-English speaking patron fell down and broke a hip.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-1141890765588014762006-03-08T23:52:00.000-08:002006-03-08T23:52:00.000-08:00You gave an example that your employer couldn't fo...You gave an example that your employer couldn't force you to put a Nike swoosh decal on your car. But if you watch a professional basketball game, all the players have to wear one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-1141881772427431052006-03-08T21:22:00.000-08:002006-03-08T21:22:00.000-08:00anonymous:Uh, as I pointed out in the post, not al...anonymous:<BR/><BR/>Uh, as I pointed out in the post, not all non-English speakers are immigrants. In the area where I live, the majority of the population is native American, and they still speak their native tongues every day and maybe learn English as a second language if they have a reason to (the Navajo reservation is quite large, and there are still people who are born, live every day of their lives, and die there). That is Northern Arizona. Then, before that, I grew up in New Mexico. The Spanish speaking community there was rooted in New Mexico before Jamestown was even founded. It may be that where you live, the only people who don't speak English are immigrants, but that is certainly not true here.<BR/><BR/>The question though is what is within the purview of Arapahoe county. Right now, I tend to think that they overstepped their bounds by complaining about a private vehicle parked in their parking lot, and that there really is no standard for this (I mean, what if the boss doesn't like the shade of lime green that your car is painted? Can he order you to get it repainted?) But I can see both sides of this, certainly the idea that the host was claiming, that the first amendment protects you from being fired if your comments (or signs, or whatever) is causing a problem at work is absurd.Eli Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00792743206074537073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-1141875326737073482006-03-08T19:35:00.000-08:002006-03-08T19:35:00.000-08:00I do believe the county and all other gonvernment ...I do believe the county and all other gonvernment should be held to higher standards than private business. I agree that any private business would have the right to fire him. However, Americans have been advertising their Americanishness for years. I don't see why it's offensive.<BR/><BR/>If non-English speakers have the right to be offended at such a sign, then I have the right to be offended that immigrants are not learning English to do business with me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com