[vpcats]

I guess you're right. You get A for effort!

[Angelrocks]

Well, thanks! You know, when I toured Europe most everybody spoke many different languages.

I think I was in London or in Paris (can't remember), but I remember a kid, age 8 or 9, who was waiting in line with us. He told me he was from Belgium, and he spoke five different languages. He told me he learned this in school. Then he asked me what languages I spoke. I replied, "English and a little Spanish!" Like, what the heck? This is what upsets me about American schools. We really should have been taught many different languages from a very young age. I remember taking Spanish, which helped a little. But, keep in mind, I met a four year French major, in France, and she told me that even she couldn't remember all that she learned.

That's when I decided that I should at least give it a shot. English was always my best subject. Since I enjoyed English, I may as well learn other languages. I really wish American culture would include learning more languages than a year or two of a foreign language. It takes more than a year or two to speak a language fluently, unless you move to an area where you have to learn. Let's face it, you can learn French very fast when you can't find anybody that speaks English in Paris. But, in Miami so many people speak Spanish that it's convenient just speak Spanish. Everybody needs to at least try to educate themselves.

Hey, at least try to master your own language before you take on another. It's confusing to try to figure out what your writing when it's not grammatically correct.

[Nirvana-Guy]

Originally Posted by nothingman

Of course, label me (and others) a racist because that’s all you can do. I have no problem with different cultures and in fact, I embrace them, unlike most of the people here in Miami who have their own ghetto sub-culture going on – a culture filled with hatred, i.e. Cubans hating Americans, Cubans hating Nicaraguans, Puerto Ricans hating Cubans, etc, etc, etc. Don’t talk to me about not being bilingual – I happen to be pretty fluent in French, but I also speak German too. I haven’t bothered to learn Spanish since being here because I just don’t feel like it, especially when people don’t exactly appreciate your efforts anyway, even when you do try. I disagree with you too – Americans DO know what it’s like to be poor, so god knows where you got that particular ignorance from. The Cubans here have not had it as tough as the black people who came here as slaves and had to fight tooth and nail to end slavery and segregation before they were even able to be equal citizens. Difference is that you f**kers came here and had everything handed to you on a plate – fair play, but you have no right to complain and no right to try to “take over” and drive Caucasian/other Americans and anyone else you don’t like away, just because they don’t like your Mia-ME-ME-ME/selfish b*stard culture.

But of course, you’ll call me a racist for this, even though I am just expressing my views. I am done wasting my time with people who are too blind and too ignorant to embrace someone else’s point of view, even if they don’t agree with it. I am done posting in the Miami forum because certain forumers in there decided to pull the same s**t and some launched a personal attack on me when I made my final post in that particular subforum. Oh my god….I DARED to refer to Miami as “La Republica Miami-Dade”….oh nooooo….boo, hoo, hoo…what an evil racist!!!

There are plenty of these problems in FL. Like it or not, it's a sad reality, although I do not follow your exact ideas on how to deal with it, I certainly understand the problem of out of control illegal immigration and the problem of immigrants NOT WANTING to assimilate and become Americans as people have done so for over 300 years.

The lack of assimilation and building countries within the US is my biggest beef. No wonder we have a ton of people in FL that do not speak English. We even have kids being born in the USA that either hate America or because the parents live in a "country within the USA", the kids do not even know they are part of the USA. That is horrible!

[vpcats]

I think a whole new world opens up when you learn several languages, at least more than one. It is very common in Europe, and mandatory. It's true that if you don't use it, you lose it but, like riding a bicycle, you never really forget. Just need a little practice to pick it up again. The best way to learn is to really immerse yourself in the language whether it's by choice or necessity.

I have a theory about why Europeans speak so many languages and it's natural for them. Countries there are fairly close together and it's easy to travel from one to the other. Much like we go from one state to another here. The only difference is that the US is all the same language from coast to coast whereas in Europe, you only have to go from FL to GA to get into another language/culture. Their business dealings take them across the languages also and Europeans have longgggg vacations and they do take full advantage of the time and travel a lot.

Aside from the argument about how some people refuse to learn english (which I will not get into), sometimes it seems to me like Americans find the idea of learning another language offensive.

[eaglecall]

have yall seen that all those racists and hate posts (like that one in Spanish) always come from users with 1, 2 or 5 posts? I guess they join here knowing where to go and what to write. That means, there is a high probability that people already posting here create alters to express their hate. I would call them "latin extremists" That attitude makes me remember "scarface" when the indians came from Bolivia looking for Tony Montana. lol

[summergal]

Moderator cut: Read the rules, please. "English is the only language to be used this board, use translation software if needed"

[backtofla]

yes, i've noticed.

[jbravo]

Don't worry folks... NothingHam has no life; he'll be back under another screen name and IP address.

OPEN LETTER TO MODERATORS:
Where are you?

[Miami Vice]

Originally Posted by eaglecall

have yall seen that all those racists and hate posts (like that one in Spanish) always come from users with 1, 2 or 5 posts? I guess they join here knowing where to go and what to write. That means, there is a high probability that people already posting here create alters to express their hate. I would call them "latin extremists" That attitude makes me remember "scarface" when the indians came from Bolivia looking for Tony Montana. lol

I guess that it works both ways then.

[OoAnd1]

When all cultures and races have groups of people that negatively represent the majority, it's unfair to focus in on only one culture. Everything said here may be true, but unless there are 20 more threads focusing in on every culture in the U.S.A and their negative aspects then I can understand how Hispanics (or specifically Cubans) may feel picked on. I think if this thread had some balance and not only pinpointed at Hispanics then no one could feel insulted.

For example, if you and your brothers all failed your final exams and your parents only focused on you, and only grounding you...although you still deserve the criticism and punishment.... you'd feel picked on. It's human nature. And no matter what culture or race we are, we are all human.

I'm not claiming anyone's comments are wrong, hateful or racist. I'm just saying that the Hispanics that come to this board and read your comments are not part of that "sub-culture" that has been criticized here. And it's important to know who your audience is and who you may be unintentionally hurting.

But if venting on an internet board prevents people from taking their anger and attacks to the people in the streets, then so be it.