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We may not get everything right ... but in the greater scheme of things, Texas tends to inject a larger dose of common sense more frequently than a lot of other states.
My spouse lived in Sicily while in the Navy, and she lived off base in the general community. Of course, when she arrived, she didn't speak a word of Italian .... and the locals were very accommodating for a reasonable length of time ... such as allowing her to point to items she wanted to buy in the market. And this particular market that she always shopped at ... this Italian lady finally crossed her arms, and would no longer allow her to just point to items (this happened within the first few weeks), but made her call the items by name, in Italian ... or she didn't get the items! The lady wasn't being mean about it ... but was making a point, and educated her in the native language which ultimately was like receiving free language tutoring. And it wasn't long after that that my spouse could go anywhere and converse on a very basic level ... be it a shop, restaurant or what have you. After two years there she spoke decent Italian ... not fluent, but passable, and the locals treated her like a member of their family.
The moral to he story is that it is arrogant and unacceptable to live in a community and refuse to adapt, expecting everyone else to accommodate you, while you do nothing to acclimate to them.
I don't see where it says that he can't speak English, just that he chose to express himself in Spanish for this occasion. Maybe he knew that people express themselves best and most accurately in their native tongue, and a professional interpreter can translate that into another language more easily and accurately.
It's a common phenomenon that first-generation immigrants have more trouble learning a new language (no matter what it is). Of course, there are exceptions; there are linguistically talented individuals in every culture. I personally know a man who is fluent in SEVEN languages. He is originally from Iran, and his family left before Khomeini took over (he was fifteen at the time) and emigrated to Canada. On th e other hand, my husband's grandmothers, who immigrated to the US from Poland in the 1910's and died in the 1970's, never learned enough English to really get along. It was very broken, very heavily accented, and so they went out with people who could translate Polish to English and vice versa.
So I think this senator's outrage is just a put-on, a show for his constituents who hate the immigrant population. While I don't think people should be here illegally, I don't think we need a political circus to deal with the problem.
The man has been in the US for 23 years and he can't speak English?
Outrageous.
That is ONE of the problems with the Hispanic immigrant community - they are more likely to NOT acclimate to the traditions, customs and language of this country.
This is a stereotype that isn't true. While many Hispanics advocate for illegal immigrants, there are many others that are against them.
This is a stereotype that isn't true. While many Hispanics advocate for illegal immigrants, there are many others that are against them.
No, you're wrong. The idea that all birds can fly is untrue ... as some cannot. But to say that most birds can is an accurate statement. Is it a stereotype? Of course it is ... "fly like a bird". Is it true, of course it is.
It's funny how the word "stereotype" has been relegated to the status of being automatically false, negative, and untrue. The reality is, stereotypes are very legitimate in many of it's common usages. Then there are some that aren't.
Here in central Texas, the Latino community speaks Spanish amongst themselves more than they speak English. I see this in the grocery store every time I'm there ... I often feel as if I'm in a foreign country with the chatter all around me. In fact, it's the EXCEPTION to hear English spoken. That's a fact.
I don't see where it says that he can't speak English, just that he chose to express himself in Spanish for this occasion. Maybe he knew that people express themselves best and most accurately in their native tongue, and a professional interpreter can translate that into another language more easily and accurately.
It's a common phenomenon that first-generation immigrants have more trouble learning a new language (no matter what it is). Of course, there are exceptions; there are linguistically talented individuals in every culture. I personally know a man who is fluent in SEVEN languages. He is originally from Iran, and his family left before Khomeini took over (he was fifteen at the time) and emigrated to Canada. On th e other hand, my husband's grandmothers, who immigrated to the US from Poland in the 1910's and died in the 1970's, never learned enough English to really get along. It was very broken, very heavily accented, and so they went out with people who could translate Polish to English and vice versa.
So I think this senator's outrage is just a put-on, a show for his constituents who hate the immigrant population. While I don't think people should be here illegally, I don't think we need a political circus to deal with the problem.
Then he shouldn't be the spokesperson for a organization thats based in the United States.
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