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This question is for people who are not obviously of Mexican or Latin American ancestry. A few times (and always in an illegal alien heavy area) I have had illegal aliens come up to me and automatically speak to me in Spanish, without even asking me if I spoke Spanish. As if I am supposed to know it!!
Now I understand why if its true some French people will refuse to speak English to American tourists even if they understand English if the American is rude and doesn't ask first if the Frenchman speaks English. Even though I am conversationally fluent in Spanish, I refuse to speak it to illegal aliens because this is America and they should learn our language here. On the other hand if I travel to Mexico I will try to speak as much Spanish as possible and not demand that the native people cater to me.
This question is for people who are not obviously of Mexican or Latin American ancestry...
Why?..
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Lennox 70
...A few times (and always in an illegal alien heavy area) I have had illegal aliens come up to me and automatically speak to me in Spanish, without even asking me if I spoke Spanish...
Define "illegal alien heavy area". How are you identifying them as illegal aliens? What are examples (in Spanish, to get the true context, it will then be translated to English) of what they are saying to you?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Lennox 70
...As if I am supposed to know it!!...
But you state below that you do know it, maybe they can sense that, or that is common for the "illegal alien heavy area"...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Lennox 70
...Now I understand why if its true some French people will refuse to speak English to American tourists even if they understand English if the American is rude and doesn't ask first if the Frenchman speaks English. Even though I am conversationally fluent in Spanish, I refuse to speak it to illegal aliens because this is America and they should learn our language here...
By the same context, you would refuse to speak Spanish to a U.S citizen, Legal Permanent Resident, or anyone lawfully transitting the United States?...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Lennox 70
...On the other hand if I travel to Mexico I will try to speak as much Spanish as possible and not demand that the native people cater to me.
This question is for people who are not obviously of Mexican or Latin American ancestry. A few times (and always in an illegal alien heavy area) I have had illegal aliens come up to me and automatically speak to me in Spanish, without even asking me if I spoke Spanish. As if I am supposed to know it!!
Now I understand why if its true some French people will refuse to speak English to American tourists even if they understand English if the American is rude and doesn't ask first if the Frenchman speaks English. Even though I am conversationally fluent in Spanish, I refuse to speak it to illegal aliens because this is America and they should learn our language here. On the other hand if I travel to Mexico I will try to speak as much Spanish as possible and not demand that the native people cater to me.
You speak Spanish as fluently as my dog speaks Latin. I'd bet my life on it.
You speak Spanish as fluently as my dog speaks Latin. I'd bet my life on it.
Why, i know plenty of americans who speak spanish, as well as other languages.
That is not the point. How come hispanics who have been here 15 plus years, still can't speak english.
I happen to know some who don't and never took the liberty of learning our language, and save the excuses please.
Could not get away with this in another Country.
My son speaks spanish, as well as italian, and a bit of french. That is not the point, the point is why should we in this Country, have to learn spanish, because hispanics, can't and won't take the time to speak english.
But don't have a problem with demands.
Hispanics often walk up to my son and speak fluent spanish, and sometimes he does not understand them.
We are italian, and he has olive skin, guess they just assume he is spanish.
ALL the time, not just illegals either. Even worse is their look of extreme annoyance that I don't respond to them in Spanish.
What's getting really bad lately are the telemarketers calling me up in Spanish.
Yo tambien hablo espanol -- pero cuando estoy en mexico.
I guess having flaming red hair keeps people from speaking Spanish to me. But; I've known several "Hispanic" looking anglos or Black people catch hell for NOT speaking Spanish from real Hispanics.
This question is for people who are not obviously of Mexican or Latin American ancestry. A few times (and always in an illegal alien heavy area) I have had illegal aliens come up to me and automatically speak to me in Spanish, without even asking me if I spoke Spanish. As if I am supposed to know it!!
Now I understand why if its true some French people will refuse to speak English to American tourists even if they understand English if the American is rude and doesn't ask first if the Frenchman speaks English. Even though I am conversationally fluent in Spanish, I refuse to speak it to illegal aliens because this is America and they should learn our language here. On the other hand if I travel to Mexico I will try to speak as much Spanish as possible and not demand that the native people cater to me.
I tend to focus on communicating, rather than declaring that they absolutely speak English. This is ugly American-think IMO. If they speak to me in Spanish, I'll try to understand. I can't speak Spanish very well, but if we can understand one another through certain words and gestures, and effectively communicate, that suits me.
About France, IMO nothing is more insulting to the French than some pompous white American tourist loudly making a fool of themselves by the many ways these "ugly Americans" do it. These tourists show a lack of respect for the culture and insist on being treated as if Americans who speak English are superior to everyone else. It is this attutide which is offensive, aside from the fact that the "ugly American" assumes that the typical Frenchman speaks English.
Why, i know plenty of americans who speak spanish, as well as other languages.
That is not the point. How come hispanics who have been here 15 plus years, still can't speak english.
I happen to know some who don't and never took the liberty of learning our language, and save the excuses please.
Could not get away with this in another Country.
My son speaks spanish, as well as italian, and a bit of french. That is not the point, the point is why should we in this Country, have to learn spanish, because hispanics, can't and won't take the time to speak english.
But don't have a problem with demands.
Hispanics often walk up to my son and speak fluent spanish, and sometimes he does not understand them.
We are italian, and he has olive skin, guess they just assume he is spanish.
Really? There are Americans who can speak Spanish?
Please. Obviously plenty of Americans are fluent in Spanish. I am not incredulous that an American speaks Spanish, I am incredulous that this particular one does.
Honestly who cares? If you can't speak Spanish or don't want to speak Spanish just ignore them. Who cares if they don't speak English? When has it ever mattered? Have you ever tried to get a mortgage and the banker didn't speak English? Did you ever go to a job interview and your potential employer only spoke Spanish? Who cares if these people don't speak English? When has it negatively affected anyone ever? Why would anyone even waste their time getting angry? The only people who get angry about it are the people who be angry about them being here even if they spoke the most elegant English in the world. In others words: racists.
If you want to try and help people who come up to you speaking Spanish knock yourself out, if you don't, this tip is for free: "No hablo Espanol" and be on your way.
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