Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I'm not arguing that people should not learn English. English is the de facto language here. What I'm arguing against is the crowd of folks who get all choked up if they hear someone (anywhere) speaking a foreign language. My feelings on the matter is that it is none of their business unless it's being done in some official capacity or they themselves are being addressed.
I base my views (beyond the fact that I'm fascinated by languages) on the idea that freedom of speech does not mean freedom of speech only when speaking English. I do not believe in cherry picking freedoms that are only suited to our own individual tastes or what we each do in our personal lives. Liberty is liberty and not liberty... except that you can't XXXX. (assuming it's not infringing on others' rights)
Again, I have no qualm with people who live in the US needing to have the ability to speak English. I just feel that, from there what they speak on their own time should be their choice.
And I'm not arguing that point either.
I'm just commenting on what I see in school due to this attitude.
The Hispanics are self segregating themselves when they compromise a majority.
Some of you people are so hung up on illegal immigration. I don't like it either--I say enforce the laws or change them. But there is a certain reality that many of you fail to see. Why do you think the problem is allowed to persist? I know some of you are going to say, "to get votes for the democrats." Really? Do you think that is all it is? That may be part of it, but I think it's a small part. Also, some of you will say, "to tear down our culture!" Really? Hispanic culture, in the whole big scheme of world cultures is very close to ours. We're very similar from a world-view. I don't buy that one at all.
Here's what I see: I see, as I'm going about my daily activities, that nearly every function in our society (job) that involves any significant physical work is being performed by Hispanics--quite often immigrant Hispanics. They build your homes, they collect your garbage, they cut your grass, they weed your garden, they pick your strawberries, they cook your big mac, etc. My opinion is that a significant reason for allowing the immigration to continue is for a supply of surfs. Because obviously you are too good to do those sorts of things. And if they don't get done, your society crumbles.
And I know exactly what you are going to say; something like this, right? "If they were run out of the country all of our own citizens on welfare could get work." Not going to happen. Sorry. The vast majority on welfare do not want to and will not work. You may as well forget it. Those workers that come from south of the border, as much as you want to denigrate them, know how to work. They work their asses off. You won't get that from a welfare recipient that wants to watch TV and play x-box all day.
All of this is moot anyway. It has nothing to do with the Spanish language per se. It just so happens that most immigrants speak Spanish. But it wouldn't matter if they spoke Georgian. It's not a language issue. I think most of you need to just face the fact that you do not like to hear other languages spoken around you, sadly. It offends you. I can hear you saying right now, "But what if they are talking about me?"
I pains me to read such clueless posts such as yours and we are talking about illegal aliens and their negative impact on our language and everything else....not "immigrants". Learn to know the difference!
And besides that, if the English Only crowd were seriously worried about English only, they'd be speaking Old English from before the twelfth century. THAT was English. What we speak is not really English per se.
I offer this with a bit of hesitation because I don't want to cause any seizures or strokes for the English Only folks, but... well... ummmm... ahhhh... half of the language you speak is really French and Latin. Oh lord... there goes Martha. She's clutching her chest. She's twitching. Call an ambulance.
Maybe we should adopt French and make it unanimous. Oh, god, Martha stopped moving. Is she dead?
Who's talking about English "only"? All we are saying is that "American" English is our de facto national language and the official language of many of our states. It is just respectful to learn it and speak it especially out in public. I don't give a damn what language one chooses to speak at home. If any English speakers living in other countries aren't doing the same then they gain my disdain and get called rude also but two wrongs don't make a right either.
I suggest you keep your sarcasm and ridiculous analogies to yourself cause it says a lot about you. I think I have read enough hatred on your part for Americans, our culture, language and laws to not reply to you or read any of your posts again. Buh, bye.
Who's talking about English "only"? All we are saying is that "American" English is our de facto national language and the official language of many of our states. It is just respectful to learn it and speak it especially out in public. I don't give a damn what language one chooses to speak at home. If any English speakers living in other countries aren't doing the same then they gain my disdain and get called rude also but two wrongs don't make a right either.
I suggest you keep your sarcasm and ridiculous analogies to yourself cause it says a lot about you. I think I have read enough hatred on your part for Americans, our culture, language and laws to not reply to you or read any of your posts again. Buh, bye.
Is it disrespectful for people to whisper or talk in low tones so that you cannot hear in public? What about use words you don't know? Or talk shop about an industry you are not familiar with, using lots of jargon? Is it disrespectful for strangers on the street to not include you in their conversations?
Were the English "respectful" of the Dutch who were here before them?
Were any of them "respectful" of the Native Americans?
In a country where a countless number of states, cities, streets... have names of non-English origin, what monolith of culture is it exactly that people are supposed to be respectful of?
Respectful of our national de facto language by assimilating to it, that's what! Why are you bringing up dead people and what they did or didn't do long ago? We live in the present and we aren't them anyway. If you don't know that English is a part of our identifying culture then I feel sorry for you. Or maybe you just hate that fact?
I pains me to read such clueless posts such as yours and we are talking about illegal aliens and their negative impact on our language and everything else....not "immigrants". Learn to know the difference!
Yes, I know. Isn't it haunting? And in the face of such an authority on the matter.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldglory
It is just respectful to learn it and speak it especially out in public.
Disagree here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldglory
I don't give a damn what language one chooses to speak at home.
Agree here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldglory
If any English speakers living in other countries aren't doing the same then they gain my disdain and get called rude also but two wrongs don't make a right either.
I won't fault you to a great degree for this attitude. It's common in most countries. It's especially prevalent in France where the French are quite "strong-willed" about their language. And even if you do try to speak French, you'd best make sure you do it very well without much accent or error--otherwise you are worse off than if you didn't try at all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldglory
I suggest you keep your sarcasm and ridiculous analogies to yourself cause it says a lot about you. I think I have read enough hatred on your part for Americans, our culture, language and laws to not reply to you or read any of your posts again. Buh, bye.
I only reflect the attitude that this forum displays constantly. If I didn't get any sarcasm or personal insults, I would not administer them. But I do, so I will continue to administer them. When they stop, mine will stop as well.
You accuse me of hatred. Is that not the exact same thing you are preaching to me about not doing? Can you show me where I have ever specifically said I hated Americans?
Man, I live right here in the USA. 70% of the people in my state are the descendants of Europeans who settled here 400 years ago, over 100 years before the American Revolution. Spanish is the language they brought here from Europe.
Don't worry, though, Spanish has become a second language for the vast majority of them, and the number who only speak English, practically no Spanish at all, is quite high.
I suspect the same is true for all the illegals that are cooking your food and cleaning up after you.
What's that last crack have to do with it? Illegals aren't by law allowed to cook our food and clean up after us or don't our laws matter to you? Most Americans don't hire illegals and we can either do those things for ourselves or hire citizens/legal immigrants to do them. Nice try, but no cigar.
Spanish wasn't the only language brought here by the Europeans, English was also. English was adopted as our national de facto language and our Constitution, etc. are all written in English.
No, when you have millions of Spanish speakers colonizing our country especially via illegal immigration assimilation isn't occurring. Even many of those here legally demand that everything be pandered to them in Spanish.
Just because someone is bi-lingual Spanish/English doesn't change the fact that we are a mostly English speaking country either. Doesn't matter where one's ancestors came from. It is what it is.
Is it disrespectful for people to whisper or talk in low tones so that you cannot hear in public? What about use words you don't know? Or talk shop about an industry you are not familiar with, using lots of jargon? Is it disrespectful for strangers on the street to not include you in their conversations?
If it is within earshot of others who don't speak that foreign language.......yes it is disrespectful.
Is it disrespectful for people to whisper or talk in low tones so that you cannot hear in public? What about use words you don't know? Or talk shop about an industry you are not familiar with, using lots of jargon? Is it disrespectful for strangers on the street to not include you in their conversations?
The point is that its rude. Catch a clue!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
