[Foundation-l] Plea for candidates: WMF Movement Communications Manager

[Ray Saintonge]

On 04/15/11 2:46 PM, Sarah wrote:
> On Fri, Apr 15, 2011 at 15:26, Fred Bauder<fredbaud at fairpoint.net>  wrote:
>> I don't think it is bias. Giving extra attention to the global south is a
>> legitimate goal. Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, French, English, and
>> Chinese are commonly spoken there. There are different considerations
>> with respect to each language. Actually I think more people speak Hindi
>> than speak English.
> It might be a laudable goal, but the question is whether it's lawful
> in the United States, or in California, whichever prevails. Because
> what it suggests is, if there are two candidates equally qualified --
> a person from Ireland whose first language is English (and excellent),
> and a person from Afghanistan whose second language is English (and
> excellent) -- the latter will be preferred. Not because their first
> language is one the Foundation is specifically looking for (which
> could be justified), but because they were born in a country that did
> not make them a native English speaker. That is discrimination. Try to
> imagine an ad that said: "Ideally your native language is not Urdu."

The Irish candidate would still be required to be equally proficient in 
a second language, which could be Gaelic. A specific exclusion, such as 
Urdu would be discriminatory. A native Navaho speaker would probably 
qualify.  Would it be discriminatory if the State Department hired 
foreign service workers on the basis of language proficiency? If the CIA 
hired spies that weren't fluent in the language where they would be 
posted they would be less than effective.

Ray