Lawrence Wilson
I posted a comment from the Daily Blat of the 17th, that posted on the 18th concerning the tragic death of a young seven year old Guatemalan girl. In my posting, I erred in noting she was Honduran. Other than that, all I posted was correct albeit the wrong Country/ Dialects.
But than the Daily Blat re-printed the article on the 18th itself and added four paragraphs from the original writer- one Julie Watson with the AP. In the added paragraphs, it was either an error on the part of the Blat in not including them the first time, or the AP decided to add on?
Again, the U.S. Border Patrol was made the scapegoat for the sad death of the little girl. But I would like to note the following:
WORLD ATLAS
Society
What Languages Are Spoken In Guatemala?
Spanish is the official language of Guatemala. 21 Mayan languages, one indigenous language, and one Arawakan language are also spoken in the country.
Official Language Of Guatemala
Spanish, the official language of the country, is also the most spoken language in the nation. Nearly 93% of the population of Guatemala speak Spanish. The language was introduced in the country by the Spanish colonists and was taught to the indigenous inhabitants of the country by missionaries and the earliest Guatemalan schools. Today, Spanish acts as the primary medium of instructions in schools nationwide. Spanish is also used widely in both formal and informal occasions in the country.
The father was said to speak the Q’eqchi' language which is spoken by about 7.58% of the Guatemalan population. It is also a Maya language that is spoken in the Guatemalan departments of El Quiché, El Petén, Izabal, and Alta Verapaz.
The new article than went on to say: "Even if they speak languages like Mam, depending on the village, the language can be different". But note the following: "The Mayan language of Mam is spoken by the Mam people in the four Guatemalan departments of Huehuetenango, Retalhuleu, San Marcos, and Quetzaltenango. The language is also spoken in the Chiapas state in Mexico as well in parts of Washington D.C. and California in the US. The language is closely related to the Tektitek language".
Where am I going with this you ask? Simple the part about the Mam Dialect has nothing, but nothing to do with the issue at hand. It would appear that the AP Article reprinted by the Blat is somehow placing blame on the Border Patrol for not having the necessary Translators/ Forms to address this particular man and his baby?
No matter how tragic or even which Country be it Honduras or Guatemala it is, does not and can not relieve the responsibility of the child's parents and the NGO that enticed them to make the trek North. It has been reported that yet another child has died since being taken into custody for illegally entering the U.S? And again, the Border Patrol is under fire for neglect in caring for the child. It is said that the Father declined medical care when they were taking the child back to the Hospital as the child was supposedly feeling better? Another wasted life, but no criticism for the Parent (s), NGOs that got him here.
And than yet again, the Daily Blat noted on the 19th, the howls of anguish (my words), by the West Virginia School Service Personnel Association that unless a permanent funding source is found, the State Personnel PEIA program will face ever increasing costs in all categories.
It is again expected that the State will find a Tax committed or mostly committed to insure the PEIA members do not have to meet a fair share of their entitlements as they see them?
As those in the real world must take it on the chin with the ever increasing costs, than why do the State People feel so above the masses? Many, very many of them make much more than the those who support their Health Program. There is a complete loss of reality and/ or logic (pick your word), on what is needed to fix this program. It continues to come back to a definite percentage for all areas to be met by the insured versus State Tax Payer obligations. This is not to mean that the State folks are not deserving of a fair compensation package. I have stood by that for years. But if they expect 5% pay raises every year or other year now, than they had better choose one of two possible paths? one is paying more for their share of Benefits OR a reduction in the Benefits to reflect the real world? 'nuff said'.