English/Spanish Bilingual PREFERRED (illegal immigration, Congress, rating, poverty)

[Grasonville]

Originally Posted by barinnas

One thing is what you wish, another what realitiy brings you, like I said
way too late, already a bilingual society, so, give it up and join the club,
learn spanish! BTW, one of the most beutiful on earth.

Give it up? NEVER - if I CHOOSE to learn a different language - that will be my decision (and on my own dime) - if I get a chance to VOTE for a national language that saves my taxpayer self money - I will vote ENGLISH.

When will the apologists understand that bilingual is NOT the same as English and Spanish - it means TWO languages - such as Quebec is a bilingual culture of French and English.

Why do i have to learn the language of any other group who CHOSE to come HERE - isn't it their obligation to learn the language of their chosen new home?

[camping!]

Originally Posted by barinnas

Too late, we live in a bilingual society, and Spanish will only continue growing.

No, we don't live in a bilingual society. The way this is going is we have two rival societies. On the one hand, we have Spanish speaking immigrants who refuse to learn English. There is no excuse for it, if the Sudanese, Vietnamese, and Russians can do it so can the Mexicans and South Americans. On the other hand we have native English speakers, government agencies, and businesses that have to put up signage in Spanish and provide Spanish interpreters (at tax payers expense).

This is not a bilingual society, it is a society that is catering to the demands of the few, effectively infantilising and marginalising them in their new country. Myself, if I were a Spanish speaking immigrant I would be insulted that activists and the US at large think I am too stupid to learn English, and that I need crutches that other immigrants don't need. But hey, thats just me.

[Grasonville]

Originally Posted by camping!

Myself, if I were a Spanish speaking immigrant I would be insulted that activists and the US at large think I am too stupid to learn English, and that I need crutches that other immigrants don't need. But hey, thats just me.

Nope - not just you - great post!

[Dave Rosarito]

Originally Posted by camping!

Myself, if I were a Spanish speaking immigrant I would be insulted that activists and the US at large think I am too stupid to learn English, and that I need crutches that other immigrants don't need. But hey, thats just me.

It's hard to get insulted when you consider the source of the "insult".

[camping!]

Originally Posted by Dave Rosarito

It's hard to get insulted when you consider the source of the "insult".

Or if you can't understand the language in the land in which you have chosen to reside.

Instead of calling names perhaps you actually have a well thought out rebuttal, or explaination on why Spanish speakers are held to a lower standard of intelligence then other immigrants?

[sassyone]

Originally Posted by camping!

Or if you can't understand the language in the land in which you have chosen to reside.

Instead of calling names perhaps you actually have a well thought out rebuttal, or explaination on why Spanish speakers are held to a lower standard of intelligence then other immigrants?

You might be surprised how many do speak english. Go to Mexico, I have not met one that could not speak english and are teaching their children english. Where do you get the idea that Spanish speakers are held to a lower standard of intelligence than other immigrants?

[Grasonville]

Originally Posted by sassyone

Where do you get the idea that Spanish speakers are held to a lower standard of intelligence than other immigrants?

Why is it that we need to have "press 1 for English" or State Motor Vehicle pamphlets in English AND Spanish?
How is that other groups who have been coming here for 100's of years expected to (and did) learn to read and write ENGLISH.

It seems like by "accomodating" this particular sub group it is saying that they are not capable of getting with the program

[sassyone]

Originally Posted by Grasonville

Why is it that we need to have "press 1 for English" or State Motor Vehicle pamphlets in English AND Spanish?
How is that other groups who have been coming here for 100's of years expected to (and did) learn to read and write ENGLISH.

It seems like by "accomodating" this particular sub group it is saying that they are not capable of getting with the program

You cannot buy a vacume cleaner or any appliance that does not come with several languages, is it a pain in the rear to have to look for english on those things, yes it is. I don't really like it, but I accept it.

[camping!]

I'm not talking about products that are shipped throughout the world, I'm talking about signs at Home Depot that are in English and Spanish, the self checkouts at many stores are in both languages as are government forms.

Look, if I move to Germany or Brazil or China I would be expected to learn that countries language. And I would, to do anything else would be rude and presumptous. I just wonder why it's not so here in the US for Spanish speakers only.

And if many do speak English, then why all the signs, etc...?

[sassyone]

Originally Posted by camping!

I'm not talking about products that are shipped throughout the world, I'm talking about signs at Home Depot that are in English and Spanish, the self checkouts at many stores are in both languages as are government forms.

Look, if I move to Germany or Brazil or China I would be expected to learn that countries language. And I would, to do anything else would be rude and presumptous. I just wonder why it's not so here in the US for Spanish speakers only.

And if many do speak English, then why all the signs, etc...?

I guess to make them feel welcome.

If you go to other countries they do have english there also. A lot of people travel to other countries on business and if they did not speak the language they would have a problem.