Bilingual programming on buses less than controversial

As a result of the constant lack of parking spaces available for UCLA students, I have never had my car at my disposal while at school, and, thus, I became an avid bus rider. And on a recent ride, my bus trip brought up some interesting questions about our transit system.

Over the years, I have seen vast upgrades made to our city’s often dismissed mode of public transport: Buses are now air-conditioned, a variety of specialty routes exist for fewer stops, and even the rapids have expanded in size to accommodate more passengers.

For those of you who are not familiar with the L.A. Metro, you might not be aware of their latest modification, Transit TV. Equipped in L.A. Metro buses are flat-screen TV sets that broadcast news, current events, better home-and-garden tidbits, weather, etc.

For that long commute, it’s nice to have something aside from your course reader to occupy your attention on your way to your destination.

It was on a recent jaunt that a man sitting next to me quipped quietly in not-so-pleasant terms about this new feature. He didn’t complain that it wasn’t showing actual television broadcasts or the fact that each segment moves even faster than someone with ADHD would prefer, but rather about the language of the programs.

You see, Transit TV is also shown in Spanish. I had never thought about it until up to that point, and though I strongly disagree with the expletives the man was using, he did get me thinking. Is it right to broadcast Transit TV in Spanish? I retain no hard facts about the percentage of segments aired in Spanish versus English, but from my own personal travels, I would safely assume that possibly 25 to 50 percent is conducted in Spanish.

To some of you, this may seem like culture bashing, and others reading this might be boiling over with American, English-speaking pride. Before either of you start ranting, let me finish mine. One issue must be addressed before any judgment can placed: Is the L.A. Metro privately-funded as a business, or does it receive payments from public taxes?

Again, I don’t know the answer to this, but if it is indeed the former, then there is no issue. Industries should be able to do as they please in this respect, and if a bus wants to air TV in Spanish, they have every right to do so.

The problem arises if the L.A. Metro receives funding from taxes, which I believe they do. Without getting into too many specifics, this issue is a can of worms.

For instance, I understand that Spanish Transit TV is shown because a large demographic of riders on the line are Spanish-speakers, and the L.A. Metro is catering to its clientele; however, why only Spanish then?

What about lines that pass through Koreatown or other ethnic areas with populations that make up a large customer base of those routes?

Don’t those individuals deserve TV in their native tongue too?

When one group gets an exception, it makes it unfair for everyone else.

Additionally, should public funds be used to encourage programs in which not everyone may partake? It would make more sense to me if Transit TV had Spanish subtitles or even English subtitles during the Spanish portions; to specifically cater to a language outside one practiced by the vast majority of the country means to deny the greater public access to what their taxes are paying for.

At the end of my ride, I got off with much to contemplate, but had very few answers. Regardless of my seat on the matter, the issue could not escape its trite nature.

So is there an issue that needs to be addressed here?

Probably. But rather than jump on either vehement bandwagon for possible sides of this debate, I am reserving the right to ignore the rhetoric and take a cab for the meantime, preferring to let the small things in life stay that way.

Nadler is a fourth-year world arts and cultures student.

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