Metro Atlanta Publix to have signs in Spanish. Debate... (elementary school, community college)

[AcidSnake]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Ok, first before I post the story link, let me just say that it's a good topic for debate, BUT, if people get out of hand, it'll be shut down. The terms of service for the site are still in effect here. Voice your opinion, but keep it civil.

The topic: A Publix grocery store in Norcross is now adding 1500 Spanish items to their shelves, and the store signage will now all be in English and Spanish.

Their argument: 50% of their local customers are Hispanic. Other arguments: It's an insult to Americans and causes Spanish immigrants here to not have to learn the language when you cater via signs, etc. Debate it and once again, keep it civil and on topic.

Story: Switch To Spanish Sparks Debate At Norcross Publix - News Story - WSB Atlanta

I am bothered by this language thing. We are allowing these corporations to have too much influence over our public policy and culture. Encouraging immigrants NOT to learn the English language will only ensure that this country will fragment and break apart down the road, due to these ethnic differences rather than the common similarities of being an American.

I'm just wondering why these "Conservatives" who held sway over both the White House and the Congress from the year 2000-2006 didn't priotize codifying English as the official language of the U.S. My answer? These "Conservatives" talk out of both sides of their mouths. They talk about preserving "tradition" on the one hand, on the other will dispense with that "tradition" when the corporate overlords beckon them to do so.

The U.S. is steadily becoming the Roman empire and sharing its unfortunate fate...

[AcidSnake]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Publix is a private business, and as such they have the right to post signs in Swalhili if they want to do it. They know that many of their customers are Spanish speaking aliens who haven't learned our language. They know that providing signs in Spanish may help their business. I think it's smart business on their part, while at the same time being a sad commentary on our lax immigration policy. Now I as a consumer get to decide if I want to spend my money with that business.

What I disagree with, and have a huge problem with, is when local, state, and the federal government spend huge amounts of taxpayer dollars to provide things like ballots in multiple languages, especially when voters are supposed to be citizens (who are required by law to have a basic understanding and be conversant in English).

There is a big difference (at least for now...4 years from now, maybe not) between a private company and the government.

The Mega-Corporation in my opinion has too much control over our lives. It's the Corporations that are driving this language thing and our Government is bought and paid off by them to look the other way. That's why I say a pox on both political parties!

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

The Mega-Corporation in my opinion has too much control over our lives. It's the Corporations that are driving this language thing and our Government is bought and paid off by them to look the other way. That's why I say a pox on both political parties!

Um...OK. No idea what you're talking about. A business can put up signs or sell products labeled in whatever language it wants. You, in turn, have the freedom to shop there or not, and that's how it should be. If English speaking customers feel it's not proper, then they'll vote with their feet and Publix will get the message.

[Georgia]

I think it is really cool.
Think about it, when you go to Lowe's for example you can go in the enter door, but if your hungry for health food you can go in the exit since it states that you that you can exit with a salid. Yummy
Ever drive down Pleasant Hill Road off Exit 104. Wow! Everything is in Kanji script. Kind of like pot luck, I mean I can go to Korea without the plane ride, now what time savings is that. Then I can leave Korea, travel further west toward Johns Creek and enter India. There I can get a little Poona

So Publix going Spanish? That is great. Now no matter what door I enter I can purchase Salida's.

Hey we are an "International City" why aren't ya feeling the love?

[AcidSnake]

Originally Posted by Georgia

I think it is really cool.
Think about it, when you go to Lowe's for example you can go in the enter door, but if your hungry for health food you can go in the exit since it states that you that you can exit with a salid. Yummy
Ever drive down Pleasant Hill Road off Exit 104. Wow! Everything is in Kanji script. Kind of like pot luck, I mean I can go to Korea without the plane ride, now what time savings is that. Then I can leave Korea, travel further west toward Johns Creek and enter India. There I can get a little Poona

So Publix going Spanish? That is great. Now no matter what door I enter I can purchase Salida's.

Hey we are an "International City" why aren't ya feeling the love?

I don't mind diversity, I just don't like when it's skewed too much towards foreign language at the expense of the english speakers. We Americans simplistically bash a lot of the European countries for their socialism but the one area that they are "conservative" in that I appreciate is their rabid willingness to preserve culture and codify their language.

That is one area that I would think that the so-called "conservatives" here in Georgia would appreciate and try to copy as well, being the gatekeepers of "tradition" and all. I mean, we still adhere strictly to traditional blue laws, but at the same time do not codify english as the official language? Someone explain to me that one!

[AcidSnake]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Um...OK. No idea what you're talking about. A business can put up signs or sell products labeled in whatever language it wants. You, in turn, have the freedom to shop there or not, and that's how it should be. If English speaking customers feel it's not proper, then they'll vote with their feet and Publix will get the message.

Sure we can vote with our feet. But what if EVERY store here in Georgia does the same thing as PUBLIX? Like Krogers, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, SaveRite, and so on? What then? We can codify not buying Alcohol from grocery stores on Sunday, I certainly think the same can be done for English. That's where I'm getting at.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

Sure we can vote with our feet. But what if EVERY store here in Georgia does the same thing as PUBLIX? Like Krogers, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, SaveRite, and so on? What then?

Then customers would complain, and some astute business person or chain of stores located elsewhere would seize the opportunity to take share away from the chains going with the bilingual flow. They would open English only stores and respond to the demand. If people complain and vote with their feet, stores respond.

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

We can codify not buying Alcohol from grocery stores on Sunday, I certainly think the same can be done for English.

See my thought on that in the other thread. We should not be codifying banning Alcohol sales on Sunday, as it's none of the government's business.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

The Mega-Corporation in my opinion has too much control over our lives. It's the Corporations that are driving this language thing and our Government is bought and paid off by them to look the other way. That's why I say a pox on both political parties!

This wouldn't bother me so much except for the fact that so many of them are publicly-held corporations with very little long-term vision, seemingly making corporate policy and product decisions based on their quarter-to-quarter financials and not on a well-considered multi-year strategic plan.

Sometimes large companies are a godsend to the economy and perhaps also the country (IBM, Boeing, etc.), but sometimes they are not.

[Colddiamond102]

^Publix, though, is a privately held corporation. Its employees are the only stockholders. So basically, Publix can do whatever it wants (within legal and ethical limits, of course).

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Colddiamond102

^Publix, though, is a privately held corporation. Its employees are the only stockholders. So basically, Publix can do whatever it wants (within legal and ethical limits, of course).

Of course. If people don't like what it does, hopefully it will eventually notice and change whatever it is they're doing.

I think the new signs would be a good opportunity to learn a bit of Spanish, myself.

And conversely, dual-language signs might actually aid Spanish-speaking immigrants in learning a bit of English as well.