Is Los Angeles really mostly Hispanics?

[SoCal35]

Originally Posted by Jay100

Minority viewpoint? Says who? You? Atheists and their views are the smallest minority in this entire discussion. It is a FACT that most Americans past and present are all of the items I listed. Fortunately, you just live in a bubble somewhere, out of touch with the average everyday traditional American and non-traditional American/immigrant.

I never claimed to be a bastion of tolerance. You on the other hand, want to save the world and sing kumbaya with people who would chop your head off if given the opportunity...while attacking me for the mere mention that traditional Americans are Christians. I kind of feel sorry for you. You are naive and you are a fool. I won't even touch on the fact that Atheism makes no sense.

LOL, so much for "Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself".......

Last time I checked Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Immigrants (the legal variety who've passed the citizenship test) are ALL Americans too.

I never stated I was an atheist? I merely asked if YOU thought atheists, jews, muslims, etc. qualify as "Americans".....you say they are "legal citizens" but somehow NOT Americans.

Agan, most Americans would NOT agree with you.

[Cyanna]

Originally Posted by fatmancomics

I can understand why people are frustrated at not being able to get a job because they don't speak a foreign language but companies just want to make money and they want to pay their employees as little as possible. If they can hire cheap labor that is already bilingual, they're going to do it so they can get those dollars in their pockets. They don't care if that money is from non English speaking Mexicans, Koreans or Armenians.

It used to be required that in order to immigrate to the USA the immigrant needed to show that they could speak, read and write at least rudimentary English. Those earlier immigrants were PROUD to be able to prove this skill as it helped them to feel part of their new American community. In our current era there are many FREE and low-cost classes which teach English to non-English speakers. There is no excuse for NOT learning the language of your new host country. If the employers are creating part of the problem then they need to be brought into line.

I also find it interesting that there are no complaints about jobs being outsourced to India or Canada or Argentina (my company has outsourced call center jobs to these countries) but I guess it doesn't matter since those people are in their own countries and not in your backyard.

This is a BIG complaint with me. Outsourcing is helping to destroy the American economy and is prolonging the jobless rate. It isn't right that American companies send work to other countries, while idly watching fellow Americans struggle to find work to support themselves and/or their families.

Like I said before, hate us all you want, but know that if every brown person were to suddenly, magicaly disspaear from this country, white people would just revert to hating and discriminating against each other. Or aren't you aware that even THAT still happens in other states?

I really, really wish people would stop assuming there is hate behind every opinion when it involves any "minority" race. I am entitled to say that I am against this "must speak Spanish" fad in order to be employed, just as youare entitled to say that you think it is fair to expect this. Does that mean you hate white people? No, I don't believe so. It means you have a different opinion and there is nothing malicious behind that opinion. If every brown, black, yellow or other colored person disappeared from this country it would be a pretty bland place

[Voyageur]

Originally Posted by Cyanna

It used to be required that in order to immigrate to the USA the immigrant needed to show that they could speak, read and write at least rudimentary English. Those earlier immigrants were PROUD to be able to prove this skill as it helped them to feel part of their new American community. In our current era there are many FREE and low-cost classes which teach English to non-English speakers. There is no excuse for NOT learning the language of your new host country. If the employers are creating part of the problem then they need to be brought into line.

Really? When?

According to the 1890 census, 65% of New Mexicans and 28% of Arizonans could not speak English. Okay, we can probably assume that most of those individuals were not immigrants but those who had been citizens of Mexico before the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1848) and the Gadsden Purchase (1854) or their descendants. But some were certainly immigrants. But look at Milwaukee, which had been in United States territory for 107 years by the time of the 1890 census. In 1890, 20% of Milwaukee residents did not speak English. And 16% of foreign-born whites in the United States at the time did not speak English.
Language Policy -- Demographics

If there ever was such a historical requirement (there is now, though there are exemptions for certain qualifying individuals), it certainly wasn't enforced well.

The current reality is that many immigrants attempt to learn English and do so. And some don't. But that's always been the reality, modern myths of "Our wonderful ancestors from Europe all learned English immediately" notwithstanding.

[Cyanna]

Originally Posted by Voyageur

Really? When?

According to the 1890 census, 65% of New Mexicans and 28% of Arizonans could not speak English. Okay, we can probably assume that most of those individuals were not immigrants but those who had been citizens of Mexico before the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1848) and the Gadsden Purchase (1854) or their descendants. But some were certainly immigrants. But look at Milwaukee, which had been in United States territory for 107 years by the time of the 1890 census. In 1890, 20% of Milwaukee residents did not speak English. And 16% of foreign-born whites in the United States at the time did not speak English.
Language Policy -- Demographics

If there ever was such a historical requirement (there is now, though there are exemptions for certain qualifying individuals), it certainly wasn't enforced well.

The current reality is that many immigrants attempt to learn English and do so. And some don't. But that's always been the reality, modern myths of "Our wonderful ancestors from Europe all learned English immediately" notwithstanding.

You are correct. Quite a few did arrive here without really knowing the language first, even though it was a requirement. I've been a genealogist for over 28 years, so I've learned a few things about the "tricks of the trade" regarding immigration. You have to keep in mind a few things... most immigrants, BEFORE arriving here on our shores, would have had their first contact with an agent of one of the shipping lines. It was their job to get as many immigrants as possible to agree to go to the USA. These agents were generally paid a commission per immigrant. These agents also made sure that immigrants knew a few key American words and phrases, such as "What is your name?," "Where are you from?," "Where are you going?" "How old are you?" and they lerned "Yes" and "No." As long as the immigrant could answer the key, standard questions they were okay. Once they were in the country and settled most did learn English.

[BRinSM]

Originally Posted by Cyanna

This is a BIG complaint with me. Outsourcing is helping to destroy the American economy and is prolonging the jobless rate. It isn't right that American companies send work to other countries, while idly watching fellow Americans struggle to find work to support themselves and/or their families.

this is a very naive statement and doesn't consider how complex the american economy and global economy are. american companies have been outsourcing jobs for decades now and until recently we still only had a 5% unemployment rate. just think of how expensive everything would be if all these jobs came back to the US. if you went to sears to buy some pots and pans and everything was made in the good ole US, it would certainly cost more than the set than you can buy now that was made in China. also remember, that you have the ability to speak with your wallet and not buy chinese made goods from walmart. but that's the problem, most people are only concerned with the sticker price, and i don't blame them, especially now in this recession.

sure there's a balance and we may have gone beyond the tipping point, but there are millions of people in other countries who depend on these jobs as well.

[Jay100]

Originally Posted by SoCal35

LOL, so much for "Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself".......Last time I checked Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Immigrants (the legal variety who've passed the citizenship test) are ALL Americans too.
I never stated I was an atheist? I merely asked if YOU thought atheists, jews, muslims, etc. qualify as "Americans".....you say they are "legal citizens" but somehow NOT Americans.
Agan, most Americans would NOT agree with you.

You don't make sense.

[Jay100]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

. american companies have been outsourcing jobs for decades now and until recently we still only had a 5% unemployment rate. just think of how expensive everything would be if all these jobs came back to the US. if you went to sears to buy some pots and pans and everything was made in the good ole US, it would certainly cost more than the set than you can buy now that was made in China.
sure there's a balance and we may have gone beyond the tipping point, but there are millions of people in other countries who depend on these jobs as well.

I disagree about the cause of the problem. The USA let in too many people, who are demanding too many resources. Higher demand = higher prices, for gas, housing, education, water, electricity, land, food, jobs, you name it. Unfortunately, with cheap labor available, which includes outsourcing, wages haven't kept pace and that means the middle class is left out of the equation. When the middle class disappears and you import 3rd world people to cater to the upper class and elitists, you're going to have a 3rd world country.

[uptown_urbanist]

This has evolved beyond a LA-specific topic; please continue the conversation in the immigration forum or the legal immigration forum.