Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The Spanish translation of the reenactment last year was given for one of the eight shows that took place throughout the weekend. That this small gesture toward the broader Northfield community would be deemed "too controversial" is sad indeed. This is not a political issue. It is not an attempt to undermine American values. It is simply making a community event accessible to as many residents and visitors as possible. - DLH

Give me a break.

It is incredible that the Organizing Committee would steer away from providing a Spanish translation simply because it is "too controversial." I would hope that their decisions would be based on what is the right thing to do, and not based on worries and mis-perceptions about the public temperature. The writer does a valuable public service in bringing this important issue to the community attention, and I sincerely hope that the Committee will reverse course and provide a Spanish translation next year.

If the committee is concerned about the "Public Temperature", they must realize there are other people out there who think as I do, but being Minnesota Nice, they will not comment.
Why do you loons create a disaster and cry "Racist" over something like this?
The simple solution would require them to learn to speak English, but then there would be no reason for your tears.

this is really pathetic.

I am just stymied as to why providing this service would be controversial? How is it any different than, say, providing ASL translators - a service which was actually expanded this year! I am sure that anyone who has ever lived in or visited another country where they did not speak the language well, appreciated when museums and cultural events provided materials or translators in their own language. That the organizers of this event would cave to obvious racism over offering such a valuable service that would help many residents and visitors to experience our history and culture makes me ashamed to live in Northfield.

There you go again "Racism". If your'e ashamed to live in Northfield, move to Mexico.I'm sure thay will furnish you with an intrepreter.

Immigrant children do speak English. The are a marvelous example of a bi-lingual upbringing. For their parents, learning English at their age is quite hard. Why not provide a sense of community for them by translating the reenactment? Inclusion is always the best move. Always.

Remember - the 1876 recent immigrant Gustavson was shot during the real raid because he didn't understand the thieves language. In the reenactments we recognize this as a tragedy. We don't chastise him for not speaking English.

What I find interesting is that the committee didn't refer to the logistical complications of the translation - and went straight to the controversy. When I spoke with a committee member earlier in the summer to find out if the translation was going to happen again, I was told that it was not because it had been so complicated, confusing and time consuming last year - all very true. Anyone who has been on a tour or at an event that is translated live knows how much longer it takes. The difference with ASL is that the interpreting can happen simultaneously. So I suggested that the committee create a pre-recorded version of the re-enactment in Spanish that individuals could check out on mp3 players (like you do at a museum) and listen to during any of the live re-enactments. This would both alleviate the time issue and also make ALL of the re-enactments accessible to the whole community.

I really feel bad that it is "Quite Hard" for the parents to learn English. However, if I knew I was going to move to a foreign country, I would really make an effort to learn the language of this country. There is certainly a lot of taxpayer money being spent on ESL. Perhaps if we added a cash incentive more of the parents would enroll in it.
You surely will continue your Don Quixotic Crusade because it brings joy to your heart.(I can't beleive I said that) and I will continue to practice common sense.

Janet: I think your idea of an Mp3 recording is an excellent one. I'm sorry to hear the committee didn't pursue it. Perhaps they will next year.

Ward: your comments make clear the need for the DJJD committee and others in Northfield to take a stand against xenophobes far better than my letter ever could.

To Mr Tatro:
My father and grandparents moved to the United States from Cuba in 1962. They left Cuba because they opposed the communist government and wanted to be free. Although my father picked up English very quickly, it took much longer for my grandparents, my grandmother especially. Today my grandparents are fluent in English, are US citizens, pay taxes, and vote Republican. Nevertheless, my grandparents, after having first-hand experience with the difficulty of assimilating into a new country, worked for years to help Spanish-speaking immigrants by volunteering to translate in the local courthouse and hospital in their town. To me, this is common sense – helping others to assimilate, not demanding that they do so. To this day my grandmother still prefers to speak, read, and watch TV in her native language, as I am sure most of us would if we learned a second language in our 30s. Does this make her less American? To what degree does someone have to adopt English to be accepted into our community? A translation of the bank raid does not seriously impact your life, but it might make someone else feel welcome and accepted. These are people who likely share many of your beliefs, pray to the same God, and wish for the same things in life. Why not allow this small gesture to make them feel a little less isolated?

I am proud of your family. My point is - they benefited by learning to speak English.

I rest my case, and Goodbye.

The United States was founded by groups of immigrants. The Pew Research Center studies show that today many Spanish speaking immigrants learn English more quickly than the late 19th and early 20th century immigrants coming to this country (http://pewhispanic.org/topics/?TopicID=16). No harm was done back then to this country by immigrants who came speaking another language and the same is true today. It is just the opposite. So it is simply a mis-perception that many of today's Spanish speaking immigrants are slow to learn English. But as Mr. Hernandez says, this task is much easier for children than for their parents. Providing an English translation will make a significant segment of the Northfield community feel more welcome, as Dan Hernadez has said.

You are absolutely right. This great nation was founded by immigrants, who came here legally. They were also not given everything at the taxpayers expense. They didn't crowd our prisons or cause our hospital emergency rooms to close or insist that their demands be met. They also flew only the flag of the United States.

Marco Rubio is my idol, so I'm really not that bad. I am just sick of you liberals creating such a problem out of something with a simple solution. Learn english or bring an interpreter with you. Problem solved.
I will sleep soundly tonight knowing that a significant segment of the northfield community has you standing guard.
God Bless the U.S.A.

Oh my. Dan, I am proud to call you a neighbor, but cannot agree with you. I grew up in Texas. I was raised alongside and had numerous Hispanic school chums and neighbors. My daughters-in-law are Panamanian and Mexican-American. They learned to speak English when they got here. Years ago, while working for a landscape nursery business in Dallas, I waited on some Hispanic customers who could not speak English. I could not speak Spanish, and tried everything I could to help them. They got very angry with me and walked out, making me feel as though I had done something wrong. They immigrate here (quite often Illegally) to have a better life than their native country can provide, yet expect America to cater to them on so many fronts. If I chose to live in another country, I would make the effort to learn the language, no matter what my age. It might not be my first language, but that is the least I could do to be a responsible, functioning adult in a society. If you want to live here, learn English.

Thanks Martha. We're having a neighborly disagreement! You and Ward imply that the people that would benefit from a Spanish version of the reenactment are here illegally, taking more from the US than they contribute, and not willing to learn English. That is no doubt true of some Hispanic immigrants. But to suggest that that is the case with all, let alone most, is unjust.

As Dan Hernandez illustrated above, there are many hard working Spanish-speaking Americans and permanent residents that are learning English, but still struggling with the language, and who contribute to society as much as anyone else. They are part of our community. How does your comment apply to them? Why *wouldn't* we do our best to include them in a community event? How does it harm you to have a Spanish translation for *one* reenactment? Are you also opposed to the idea floated above of providing an Mp3 translation of the narrative for people to listen to on their phones or iPods? If so, why?

The idea in the background of those opposed to any accommodation for the Spanish speaking community seems to be that if you don't speak English (no matter how hard you're trying and no matter what impediments are in your way to learning -- say raising a family and working full time), you somehow don't *deserve* to be part of the wider community; that you *ought* to be excluded. That strikes me as unjust and punitive. America is a pluralistic society. We ought to celebrate that fact, not work to quash it.

Daniel- Now your confusing me. Is it the Spanish version or the Mexican version of the reenactment we are having a problem with? Isn't there a difference in the languages. I did not imply they were here illegally, but has anyone checked? Of course not, we are not allowed to.

My suggestion to learn the language or bring an intrepreter with you is really cold hearted to you isn't it? The Mp3 translation sounds like a good idea to me, as long as the taxpayer doesn't have to pay for it.

By the way, your last comment is so typically Liberalspeak that it leaves me shaking my head more convinced that because of people like you, we are in the shape we are in regarding immigration.

I don't push 1 for Spanish.

Mexicans speak Spanish. Spanish is the language of most countries in Central and South America, and of course Spain. I would like to offer a couple of suggestions in this debate. First, name-calling and insults aren't helpful and distract from the real conversation. Second, we should be debating the question of whether or not there should be a Spanish translation, not whether or not immigrants should be required to learn English. Many immigrants would agree that learning English is essential to living in the US and they are doing their best to do so. Some are not. Whatever your feelings about this, the question should be, "Should the DJJD reenactment be made accessible for those that speak Spanish?" Since the translation does not affect me personally and may make someone else feel more welcome, my opinion is that we should have it. The argument that we shouldn't have the translation because all immigrants should learn English ignores the fact that even if every immigrant did learn English, they can't do it overnight. The "taxpayer spending" argument doesn't work either since the translation last year was given by a Catholic priest in Northfield who I assume didn't charge for the service. The fact is, there are many citizens and visitors of Northfield that speak Spanish. I see no reason for not offering a small gesture of kindness toward our neighbors. I think the Mp3 translation idea is a terrific one, since it could be provided in multiple languages.

Daniel- If it makes you feel good..Do it....With the committees approval of course.

Thank you Daniel Hernandez and Daniel Groll for your thoughtful comments about this issue. I appreciate your patience in trying to communicate with and persuade someone who seems to revel in being the only one to find humor in his inappropriate comments. I would like to respond to Mr Tatro, but first could you please translate the work nincompoop into Spanish for me.

Dave-It is not only humorous, it is riduclous, and I am sure I am not the only one who thinks so. You say my comments are inappropriate. To you way of thinking they probably are, but they are not illegal. If you feel you need a Touchy Feely Good cause, why don't you get on the bandwagon for Voter I.D.? Better yet, how about the requirement for E-Verify
Goodbye