Author: dmonroigprats
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The fine line between Freedom of Speech and Hate Speech
Defamation is not something new. It dates back to 17th century England, where the growth of the press and publication industry led to a simultaneous growth of libel. In simple words, libel are defamatory statements that are published or broadcast. What makes libel illegal is that those statements are false but are still published and…
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Balancing Act: Navigating the Debate Between Judicial Restraint and Activism in Constitutional Language Interpretation
Just recently I have been learning and reading up about the differences between judicial restraint and judicial activism. This is a debate that stems purely from a linguistic point of view and impacts the way all Supreme Court rulings are dealt with today. In case you are not familiar, judicial restraint is the point of…
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Unpacking the Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling: A Step Back or a Leap Forward in the Pursuit of Equality?
Though this topic strays from the focus of this blog, it is a topic I am particularly passionate about, and have taken time, out of the last few days to investigate and see the reasoning behind the decision making of the 6 justices that decided that affirmative action, the way we know it, was unconstitutional,…
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Language Privilege: Exploring the Power Dynamics and Global Impact of Language Proficiency
Language Privilege. You may be wondering how this is really a thing. Let me tell you why the chance and the opportunity to learn languages allows one to immerse and learn about different cultures, opening up their global perspective. Since early childhood, I’ve held an enduring fascination for diverse cultures and locations. Consequently, my inquisitive…
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Bridging the Language Gap: Empowering Immigrants Through Effective Communication
Centuries ago, America was built upon the principle of immigration. Historically, time and time again, the US has thrived on the infusion of waves of new immigrants (Davis, 1985). From the settlement of many Germans on the Ohio river, to the Irish in Boston, and the Italians in New York, the country has undeniably thrived…
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Breaking Down Barriers: The Struggles Faced by Immigrants in the US
Disparities in the visa application process are evident when comparing the experiences of different individuals. For instance, my family, originating from a European nation, was able to secure their visas in under six months, while their dedicated domestic worker, Margarita, a woman of color from the Dominican Republic, faced a prolonged wait of three years.…
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The US’s Language Learning Gap
Over this past week, while reading my high school’s newspaper, ‘The Tower’, I came across a detailed article about the percentage of people in Princeton that speak different languages. An overwhelming amount—about 40%—only speak one language. It is important to note that Princeton, NJ, is a wealthy town with a average household income of around…
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How Miami was built on Cuban Sweat, tears and joy.
This past week, spring break for Princeton high schoolers, I visited Miami for the very first time. I spent a total of 6 days in this wonderful city and, to my surprise mostly only spoke Spanish. I could very clearly see that Spanish was the first language in this part of the US. The service…
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