I'm not sure how these things get started but the newest one involves Pakistani truck drivers losing their CDL license because they can't read English. I've seen meme's from one extreme to the other. I'm in the camp of how did they manage to get a license in the first place? After retiring from the Navy I worked for a firm that manufactured road flares. I was asked to occasionally make a delivery and a class B CDL license with a hazardous material endorsement was required. I studied the appropriate materials before taking that written examination. When I took that exam it was entirely in English, I don't recall being asked if I needed a translator, or someone that could read for that matter.
After passing the written exams I and the driving test I was sent to the window to get my license. I had to turn in my class C license which was valid at that time. Thing was I had to provide all the documentation to obtain that CDL B license. Yes, all the paper work had to be presented, birth certificate, proof of residence and social security. Because I needed that HAZMAT endorsement a background check was required. The fact that I held a secret clearance while in the Navy made no difference whatsoever. I had to pay for the background check and be investigated. And that was for a CDL B license, not a Class A combination capable of driving 80,000 lbs of material down the highways.
For that reason I do question how these people manage to get a license. I wonder just how prevalent that really is. Social media does have a tendency to grab onto an incident and create the proverbial mountain out of that. But still, if those people can't read and understand English they certainly have no business driving trucks on the interstate highways of America. Several memes' mention the driver has been driving for 15 or more years and now his family will be devastated! 15 years and you still can't read English! I have serious doubts about that. While in the Navy I learned to recognize some basic words in many different languages. Granted I wouldn't want to be given a map in any of those places and told to go anywhere, I know north and south, east and west, but it wouldn't end up well.
Another issue I keep seeing is about those wearing a burka. I see these memes insisting we must allow and endorse that because it is their religion. Well, the thing is here in the United States we do not have a state religion. That was explicitly stated so there would be no confusion about that. You are free to practice your religion in this country. That is to say, believe whatever you want. So, alright if your religion demands you dress in a burka, you can dress in a burka. But if you are the same people claiming ICE agents can't legally cover their faces you are a part of the problem. Those agents feel it is necessary to conceal their identity. Why is that? Because there are those that would attack them whenever the chance presented itself, attack their families as well. Those folks that support inclusion, diversity and are so concerned with the rights of others are a real threat to those officers.
There is a sign on the door of my bank, it says, please remove your hat and sunglasses. They don't want you concealing your identity. I was told the same thing at the DMV. There wasn't anyone there wearing a turban on that day. In Maryland they would get a religious exemption, same with the ladies and their hijabs, or burkas for that matter. I could not however claim a religious exemption for my New York Yankees ballcap. Only one religion is recognized for exemption. That doesn't seem right in a country that has religious freedom. That freedom guarantees you the right to believe as you wish, not do as you wish.
Seems to me it is a bit of political pandering! Is there some religious exemption from reading English? Should all road signs now have to be in Arabic as well? Or should reading English be a mandatory requirement to obtain a drivers license in this country. Amazing to me, the state of Maryland has no such language requirement. There is however a federal requirement for a CDL. That's the reason these drivers are losing their license. Are all drivers being asked to read a children's book? Probably not. Most likely just the ones speaking with a heavy accent, wearing a turban. That's not profiling, that's predictive. They are the most likely to not be able to do that. When I was in the Navy I was told, try not to look American, in certain ports of call. It's the same thing, a prediction. Americans would be the targets.
I'm just sitting here watching the news, following some trends on social media as a casual observer. I'm often amused by the reaction of people to such things as truck drivers. There are some willing to stage a protest, storm the DMV and demand changes. There are others in full support of those drivers, they are just hardworking, dedicated professionals, the very lifeline of America! They don't need to know how to read and write to drive a truck! It's just prejudicial! Most of those folks will have other postings about how bad those diesel trucks are polluting the atmosphere and should be banned. You would think they would be happy whenever a driver is removed from the highway and the planet is being saved. But no, they are upset that the driver is required to read English. Go figure.
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