Northwood News ♦ October 2008

Letters to the Editor

Editor’s Note:  The following communications were sent in response to Cait James’ article, “Could Our Civic Life Be More Inclusive?” in the June 2008 issue of the newsletter.

One Response:

[Transcript of a message left on the editor’s answering machine on 7 June 2008]

Hi. I’m calling … um … live in the area, got the Northwood News, was horrified that you had put an article in here in Spanish.  With all the problems with Latinos — the shooting up at Takoma Park, two of them, two people dead, all the illegals and all the problems with them devastating our system here and our way of life — and you put an article in here in Spanish?  When English is the official language?  No documents should be in Spanish.  So, if I find another one in this paper, I don’t want to receive it and I would like … I will be asking for my dues back from the Association.  Thank you.

Caller Unidentified
Street Unknown

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Second Response:

[Email to the NFCCA President on 17 June 2008]

The operative word concerning the proposal to also publish the Northwood News in Spanish should be assimilation instead of inclusion.  Those who hesitate to assimilate isolate themselves from the community.  If people want information in a language other than English, then they should bear the cost of translation and publication.  Taxes and product costs are higher because of such reverse thinking.

Susi Slocum
Street Unknown

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