2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

I automatically vote against any measure Bill Sizemore puts on the ballot - I'm making an exception for Measure 58. I'm voting yes because of my own experience moving across the ocean and suddenly being a student in a new culture with a new language. My siblings and I were not separated from our regular classmates - yes it was tough, we did not receive language help at home, and yes we became fluent. Prolonging separate classes (ESL) can be a not so subtle way of keeping recent immigrants contained instead of integrated, as well as contributing to a self image of "you're not really as smart...e". I work with immigrant families and am eager to find ways for them to achieve their dreams.

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
view in context