Mexican President Calderon Visit Marred By Terrible Translation

WASHINGTON � A halting and grammatically incoherent English translation marred Mexican President Felipe Calderon's arrival ceremony at the White House Wednesday, rendering his remarks difficult to understand at times. The Mexican delegation blamed its own translator.

In Spanish, Calderon's comments were straightforward and clear as he stood by President Barack Obama on the South Lawn and spoke to the common values and principles that unite the U.S. and Mexico.

But the English translation that American viewers heard was so bad that the official White House transcript ignored it. Instead the White House used a translation provided by the Mexican Embassy and it was markedly different from the words actually spoken by the translator as Calderon talked.

For example, here's how Calderon's comments on the tough new immigration law in Arizona were rendered by his translator during the opening ceremony:

"We can do so with a community that will promote a dignified life and an orderly way for both our countries, who are, some of them, still living here in the shadows with such laws as the Arizona law that is placing our people to face discrimination."

And here's how those same comments appeared in the official transcript issued later Wednesday:

"I know that we share the interest in promoting dignified, legal and orderly living conditions to all migrant workers. Many of them, despite their significant contribution to the economy and to the society of the United States, still live in the shadows and, occasionally, as in Arizona, they even face discrimination."

The spotty translation was a surprising lapse for a state visit with all the trappings meant to showcase close cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico and allow both presidents to demonstrate their commitment to addressing immigration reform, drug trafficking and other issues.

An official with the Mexican delegation said the translator came with the Mexican delegation but apparently was not someone who regularly translates for Calderon. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue and because details of the situation remained unclear.

Comments

[InEveryLanguage]

04:26 PM on 06/04/2010

This is terrible. My first question is if a native English speaker was used (translators and interpreters should work INTO their native language) and my second question is why, if he were visiting our country, he had to bring his own interpreter with him. Wouldn't it have been a lot more welcoming for us to have found an interpreter for him? He is, after all, a head of state.

(Also, as a note to the editor, you're talking about an INTERPRETER here who INTERPRETS. Translation is WRITTEN. Interpreting is oral.)

Terena Bell, CEO
In Every Language

[priam of troy]

04:49 PM on 05/20/2010

5)The budget is squandered. In money terms the budget has grown 93% in 10 years but economic growth has been just 18%.
Under the 2 PAN/conservative governments high paid beureacracy increased by 20%. Calderon makes 20,000 dollars a month, congressmen about 18,000, Supreme Court Justices 35,000 a month. Political parties spend about 1 billion tax money a year on campaings. Calderon created the Mexican Space Agency, he's building a refinery worth 10 billion USD at a time when oil production is decreasing and the federal government will hire 80,000 unionized workers more for PEMEX (state oil co). 1 out 8 Mexicans now work for the government. Welfare payments for a poor family is 35 dollars a month. By the way Calderon said it is enough for a family of 4 to live on.
6)Monopolies on Cement, TV,Telephones, Corn and 200% interest on credit cards by rapacious banks which the government refuses to control.
So why not change all this? Well because the congress is controled by all these groups. We have 500 congressmen in which 200 are proportional representation and 128 senators which 64 are PR. And all these pressure groups infiltrate the Congress through the PR system which allows them to become legislators without having ever won an election.

So if you want to come here and invade us. I'll support you!

Roberto taxi driver/teacher/ lawyer from Can Cun

[priam of troy]

04:48 PM on 05/20/2010

3)The media slanders any politician who looks to break the monopolies the moguls have without any fear of a lawsuit.NBC and Telemundo wanted to create a 3rd network and Televisa and TV Azteca the other 2 pillorized Vicente Fox on TV so much that he welched out. 20,000 jobs were lost.
4) The Catholic Church refuses to accept any kind of sex education or birth control that isnt abstinance. Most of the people here a catholics who believe they will go to hell if they put on a condom. So they have 7 children.

[priam of troy]

04:46 PM on 05/20/2010

We do not want to go to the USA. But nothing short of a full revolution will change Mexico.
We have been kidnaped by special intrests and pressure groups. Unions, multinational corporations, the media, Catholic Church, drug cartels, big business, and the politicians they all do not want to give up their privilages. It is not as easy as saying that its the "corrupt politicians fault". Here is the gist of it.
1) For starters as business you have to file 78 tax returns in a year. 438 hours a year preparing taxes compared to 139 in the USA. They change the tax laws midway through the fiscal year and you get fined $80 x 2 for every mistake up to $1300. No surprise that only 8% of the country pays income tax. Labour suits can take up to 10 years and after you loose as an employer you can end up with no car, house or in jail.
2) Unions block any reform that would affect their privilages like the SNTE or teacher's union who supported Calderon. We have teachers making 9million dollars a year in salaries whilst others only make 450 a month. Depends on your politics how much you make.

[Zonie]

03:51 PM on 05/26/2010

Vive la revolution.

If the drug cartels can cause as much trouble as they have to the government....so can the people.

You know?

If they can get guns....so can the people.

[OverIt]

03:52 AM on 05/20/2010

Still doesn't beat the shrill propagandist female translator for Amanutjob.

[citizen1787]

09:21 PM on 05/19/2010

This statement by Calderon wasn't lost in translation :

"I have said that Mexico does not stop at its border, that wherever there is a Mexican, there is Mexico,"

Doesn't get any plainer than that for me.

[sviolette]

10:15 PM on 05/19/2010

Funny the same holds true for Americans. That's why we have embassies in nearly every country. If you are arrested in almost any country in the world you can bet there will be an American visiting you soon. Wherever there is an American there is America.

[RightNow123]

05:53 PM on 05/21/2010

Yes, But we are not there illegally, we did something to violate the laws there. So what is your point? That we will have Representative from the United States their for us, And that is a Bad thing?
Not really point he was making, Rather there are no borders for Mexicans in the US.

[landofopportunity]

06:59 PM on 05/19/2010

shame on Obama for failing to protect our borders, failing to stop gang members from flourishing in our country, suing the state of Arizona for simply stopping drug dealers from crossing their borders,
and inviting the biggest drug king pin calderone to the white house.
on top of all this Obama is apologizing, "I am so, so sorry you may have to take a detour around Arizona to bring drugs, drug dealers, guns, prostitutes into the USA. What an inconvenience to the drug dealers. I apologize Mr. Calderone.
Do not worry, I stand behind drugs, drug dealers and guns. I will sue the state of Arizona."

Rather than inviting the governor of Arizona to the White House and giving her the medal of honor for making the most brave decision in the history of the USA, he invited the drug king pin Calderone to the White House so that he can apologize to him in person.

WHAT A SHAME.

[sviolette]

09:55 PM on 05/19/2010

What's really a shame is that you don't bother to state anything truthful.

If you could post a link to that quote from Obama I would like to see it.

[RightNow123]

05:58 PM on 05/21/2010

Do you watch the New at all? It was on every news channel, Check CNN or ABC or CBS, They all showed him Apologizing for the Law in Arizona.

Funny thing they have laws in Mexico that if you are caught there Illegally you will go to Jail. Why is it suddenly wrong here?

[thepoliticalcat]

02:32 AM on 05/21/2010

WHAT AN 1d!0t. You, that is.

[jttri]

06:57 PM on 05/19/2010

OK time to watch the Tour of California the greatest cycling event in America, which OHBummer knows nothing about. But you can bet all the porta- potties are cleaned by illegal Mexicans

[highground]

06:58 PM on 05/19/2010

Stage 11 of The Giro d'Italia @ 8 for me!

[sviolette]

09:57 PM on 05/19/2010

If they are they were hired by an illegal employer. You are blaming the Mexicans for the Americans that pay them to come here illegally. Start arresting the illegal employers and the illegal immigrants won't exist.

[RightNow123]

06:00 PM on 05/21/2010

Amen Something i can Agree with!!!! Start Putting the CEO's in Jail and you will not have a Immigration problem.

[highground]

06:56 PM on 05/19/2010

* Foreigners with legal immigration problems may be deported instead of being imprisoned. (Article 125)
* Any foreigners who ‘attempt against national sovereignty or security’ will be imprisoned until deportation can be arranged. (Article 126)
* Foreign visitors are banned from interfering in the country’s internal politics or they will be imprisoned until deportation can be arranged.
* Foreigners may not criticize the president or his policies or they will be imprisoned until deportation can be arranged.
* Foreigners may not participate in political organizing or they will be imprisoned until deportation can be arranged.
* Foreigners may not participate in protests, or demonstrations, or waving of a foreign flag, or they will be imprisoned until deportation can be arranged.
* A citizen who helps illegal aliens enter the country are themselves considered criminals under the law and will be subject to prison.
* A citizen who marries a foreigner with the sole objective of helping the foreigner live in the country is subject to up to five years in prison. (Article 127)
* Shipping and airline companies that bring undocumented foreigners into the country will be fined. (Article 132)

The above laws happen to be the " MEXICAN " Laws for Immigration and Conduct of Foreign Visitors
Think Arizona ’s Immigration law is Too harsh? Let’s adopt Mexico ’s policies instead!
Mexico deports more illegal aliens that the U.S. annually and Mexican President Felipe Calderon has the “BALLS”
to condemn Arizona 's immigration law and call them Nazi’s.

[sviolette]

10:00 PM on 05/19/2010

How many Americans do you think are illegally entering Mexico for work? If we stopped paying people to come here illegally they would stop coming. Arrest the illegal employers.

[RightNow123]

06:04 PM on 05/21/2010

I doubt Americans are entering Mexico to find work. If you are you are more likely going to be killed by Drug Gangs.

[thepoliticalcat]

02:34 AM on 05/21/2010

Why do you lie? Mexico changed those laws years ago - the vote was all FOR change, none against. It is now a misdemeanor to be undocumented in Mexico. Resolved by payment of a fine. No jail time.

[Zonie]

03:53 PM on 05/26/2010

Hahahaha....I dare you to try crossing their Southern border with a group from Guatamala in broad daylight.

I double dog dare you.

[highground]

06:56 PM on 05/19/2010

* A national Catalog of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and immigrants. (Article 87)
* A national Catalog of Foreigners assigns each individual with a unique tracking number. (Article 91)
* Foreigners with fake immigration papers or who enter the country under false pretenses may be fined and or imprisoned. (Article 116)
* Foreigners who sign government documents ‘with a signature that is false or different from that which he normally uses’ are subject to fine and imprisonment. (Article 116)
* Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined and or deported or imprisoned as felons.
* Foreigners who fail to obey a deportation order are to be punished. (Article 117)
* Foreigners who are deported and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. (Article 118)
* Foreigners who violate the terms of their visa may be sentenced to up to six years in prison. (Articles 119, 120 and 121)
* Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visa– such as working with out a permit – can be fined and or imprisoned as felons. (Articles 119, 120 and 121)
* Under Federal law, illegal immigration is a felony. A penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of $24,000 to $40,000 will be imposed on the foreigner who enters the country illegally. (Article 123)

[highground]

06:55 PM on 05/19/2010

This means no welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs.
* Foreigners may be barred from the country if their presence upsets ‘the equilibrium of the national demographics. (Article 37)
* Foreigners may be barred from the country when deemed detrimental to ‘economic or national interests. (Article 37)
* Foreigners may be barred from the country when they do not behave like good citizens in their own country. (Article 37)
* Foreigners may be barred from the country when they have broken federal laws. (Article 37)
* Foreigners may be barred from the country when they are not found to be physically or mentally healthy. (Article 37)
* The Secretary of Governance may ‘suspend or prohibit the admission of foreigners when it is determined to be in the national interest.’ (Article 38)
* Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request, i.e., to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants. (Article 73)
* Federal authorities must keep track of every single person in the country and have a record of each foreign visitor.
* A National Population Registry keeps track of ‘every single individual who comprises the population of the country and verifies each individual’s identity. (Articles 85 and 86)

[highground]

06:55 PM on 05/19/2010

An excerpt of el prezidentayz laws* There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools of foreigners.

* All ballots will be in the national language.
* All government business will be conducted in the national language.
* Foreigners will NEVER be able to hold political office.
* Foreigners will NEVER have the right to vote no matter how long they are here.
* Foreigners are admitted into the country “according to their possibilities of contributing to national progress.” (Article 32)
* Foreigners may invest in the country, but it must be an amount at least equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.
* Foreigners may buy land . But, options will be restricted. Certain parcels including waterfront property are reserved only for natural born citizens of the country.
* Immigration officials must ‘ensure’ that ‘immigrants will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their sustenance’ and for their dependents. (Article 34)

[Brooklynindy]

07:56 PM on 05/19/2010

Full of yourself?

[highground]

08:13 PM on 05/19/2010

What are you afraid of, these are actual laws I am only stating fact. Is this all you can add to the discussion. Hopefully you have learned something.

[Roguewolf]

06:50 PM on 05/19/2010

Take a look at your own laws Mr. Calderon before you critique ours.

[Tecsim]

06:53 PM on 05/19/2010

That's exactly what Ahmadinejad says whenever we criticize Iranian policies.
Thanks for playing, though.

[LabRat]

06:46 PM on 05/19/2010

Come on, given the uber-huge number of bilingual spanglish speakers they can't find one for the Presidents?

[Foxxy]

06:46 PM on 05/19/2010

The Mexican leader lecturing us on immigration? Take a look at what Mexico does to illegal immigrants. His talking about "his people" being discriminated against. Why don't "his people" stay in "his country". And all the time Obama stands there and takes it. I am truly ashamed he is President of the U.S.

[Tecsim]

06:58 PM on 05/19/2010

Yep I'm sure it must come as quite a shock to you that cowboy foreign policy is over; that "bring'em on", "smoke'em out", and "shock and awe" didn't work; and that a common-sense mutual-respect approach is now in town.

What a shame that this approach (which, by the way, Regan himself employed quite heavily) now has gotten us more international collaboration, not to mention the most significant nuclear arsenal reduction treaty in the history of the world.

What a shame!!! I want out!!!! Arghhhhh!!!!

[RightNow123]

06:13 PM on 05/21/2010

Why do they Show so Much Love for a Country {Mexico]that they almost die trying to leave?
Seems a little strange to me that you are flying a flag from a country that you left that has so much Corruption and full of Drug Lords that would kill anything in it path, And all the while and to some extent look down at United States.

[Zonie]

04:06 PM on 05/26/2010

Nonono

Regan= http://old.spublication.com/journal/?q=system/files/Exorcist0013.jpg

Reagan= http://i.ytimg.com/vi/z4BDOOULLQI/0.jpg

But then...don't feel badly.....someone at the post office got confused too....

http://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/24000/Regan-Reagan-Stamp--24455.jpg

:)