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I agree that upon moving to a new country one should learn the native language (can you imagine moving to Denmark and expecting everyone to speak English for your benefit? As a side note American tourists do tend to expect everyone to speak English, and many people dislike us for that reason, and if it's a rude and childish thing for Americans to do elsewhere it's a rude and childish thing for anyone to do anywhere). However, as a practical point it would be helpful for police in Hempstead to know some Spanish as many of the residents do only speak Spanish, although I do resent a "demand" for the police to speak Spanish.
I agree with ypu. It'll help the residents to learn English and not to demand it from the police. The police should have some spanish-speaking officers on each shift so they can call for back-up when needed so they can know what's going on immediately, even for their own safety.
The pattern of learning language are no different for latinos than prior groups - first generation don't learn the language, second generation do. My Italian grandmother spoke no English and there was a different group of Americans annoyed at her back in those days.
BTW, I'm not saying the police department should go out and hire different officers. I just think they should make the current crop of officers learn a new skill - namely, speaking Spanish. It's just a part of keeping up with the changing demands of their jobs; just like learning to use computers or new technology. Our county is and will always be changing - why would we want police officers operating the same way they did when they started the force (in some cases over 20 years ago)?
BTW, I'm not saying the police department should go out and hire different officers. I just think they should make the current crop of officers learn a new skill - namely, speaking Spanish. It's just a part of keeping up with the changing demands of their jobs; just like learning to use computers or new technology. Our county is and will always be changing - why would we want police officers operating the same way they did when they started the force (in some cases over 20 years ago)?
Your post gave me an idea. Does anyone know if cops get additional pay for foreign language proficiency?
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" Charleston South Carolina"
(set 7 days ago)
Location: home...finally, home .
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Spanish is such an easy language to learn and to read. It should not be a problem for anyone to study it & it's rewarding to be able to have a skill that helps other people.
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"Let this year be over..."
(set 21 days ago)
Location: Where my bills arrive
19,219 posts, read 17,088,442 times
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This situation is occuring all over the country. I agree with the posters that have stated people who have chosen to come and live here (legally) should learn the language. I am sure if I moved to any other country they would not accomodate my speaking english. Having an officer or two that is proficent in the prevailent non-english languages of the community wouldn't hurt when dealing with older people that haven't learned english.
Aside from violence, I thought that the only other language spoken there in Hempstead is ghetto ebonics.
Good thing that Muslims aren't running the show there, it's going to be too hot this summer for burkas, the road stones aren't big enough for stoning,
and the paved streets are not really conducive to burying IED's. We've certainly come a long, long way from the Rivoli, the Calderone, the arcade at
the bus terminal, and the wholesome values that once drew us to Hempstead.
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Aside from violence, I thought that the only other language spoken there in Hempstead is ghetto ebonics. 
