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I don't have a problem with people speaking a foreign language here. BUT I DO find it concerning that so many immigrants refuse to learn our language and insist that we speak a foreign language in our own country to cater to them. This refusal to learn English is especially widespread among Mexican and other Latin American immigrants. There's also more of a trend where even the children of immigrants are given Spanish first names instead of American first names and many still follow the naming conventinos of their country with two last names, etc vs do it the American way with a first name and a last name and maybe ONE middle name.
Wrong again.
Latino immigrants assimilate and acquire the English language just as fast as anyone else. Just because they speak Spanish in public and among themselves doesn't mean they can't or won't speak Spanish.
What people name their kid is their own business, and if they want to give their child a traditional name, more power to them. Indian Americans tend to name their kids traditional names. Heck, your state's former governor Bobby Jindal's given name was Piyush. So is your name Billy Joe Jim Bob Chang?
The person who made those comments was out of line. Part of freedom of speech is that people have a right to speak a foreign language. NOw yes, speaking Spanish makes you appear less American, but people most definitely have the right to speak the language of their country even when they come here.
I don't have a problem with people speaking a foreign language here. BUT I DO find it concerning that so many immigrants refuse to learn our language and insist that we speak a foreign language in our own country to cater to them. This refusal to learn English is especially widespread among Mexican and other Latin American immigrants. There's also more of a trend where even the children of immigrants are given Spanish first names instead of American first names and many still follow the naming conventinos of their country with two last names, etc vs do it the American way with a first name and a last name and maybe ONE middle name.
Oh wow.. That's a pretty hilarious thing to be upset about..
Oh wow.. That's a pretty hilarious thing to be upset about..
Yeah just tell us what we should think and accept why don't you.
It's just flat rude and unacceptable to constantly break into a country, help yourself to whatever you can get and congregate and speak loudly and unpleasantly in a foreign language in public and never even try to assimilate. I think that might be why some people's patience with Spanish has worn thin.
There's also more of a trend where even the children of immigrants are given Spanish first names instead of American first names and many still follow the naming conventinos of their country with two last names, etc vs do it the American way with a first name and a last name and maybe ONE middle name.
Why is that any of your business what names they choose for their children???? And FYI every name you think of as "American" actually has its roots somewhere else.
Using ethnic names is not a "trend," it's been happening for years. Everyone I know who is 1st or 2nd or even 3td generation American has a name that reflects their mother or father culture. My 1st name is Norwegian, as is my mother's, my father's first name is actually his Sephardic Jewish paternal grandmother's maiden name.
As for the last names I know of one person who took on a 2nd last name - my Puerto Rican ex when his mother died he started using her maiden last name after his own, out of RESPECT for her.
I started learning Spanish as a second language around Kindergarten age, and I attended a bilingual school for many years in SF Bay area in CA. I have used Spanish as one of my daily languages for most of my life.
While I served in the US Army in the mid-1970s, after basic training and AIT I was stationed in Germany for the remainder of my 4 year enlistment. Unlike the vast majority of US troops in Germany at the time, I studied German in evening classes. I spoke German frequently when I was on duty, often while working or training with troops from the German Bundeswehr (Army). Was I being distasteful? Often, I spoke German while I was interacting with German civilians, while I was in my US Army uniform. I thought I was being friendly, trying to show respect to the people in the country where I was stationed. Was I distasteful?
I had some fellow soldiers in my unit from Puerto Rico. I was from California, and had never known anyone from PR. I got to know them real well over a period of 3 years, and we spoke in Spanish on duty and off duty. Spanish was their first language, and they knew enough English to get by, but struggled with fluent conversation in English. They were glad to have another friend to talk to without language barriers (besides some slang from PR that I did not always get). Was it distasteful for me to make friends with and communicate in Spanish with my fellow soldiers from PR, who were also citizens of the United States?
Yeah just tell us what we should think and accept why don't you.
It's just flat rude and unacceptable to constantly break into a country, help yourself to whatever you can get and congregate and speak loudly and unpleasantly in a foreign language in public and never even try to assimilate. I think that might be why some people's patience with Spanish has worn thin.
While woman who made the comment was rude, why does every stupid encounter require a FB gripe thread? I don’t see what the problem is with the soldier speaking Spanish in her uniform so I do sympathize with her but it seems petty for there to be a news article over a comment.
People speaking Spanish in public doesn't bother me. Never has. I have 99 other issues to worry about. What language a person speaks is not one of them.
People speaking Spanish in public doesn't bother me. Never has. I have 99 other issues to worry about. What language a person speaks is not one of them.
It wouldn't necessarily bother me if some Americans spoke Spanish or gibberish in public per se. But if people are coming here illegally or even properly immigrated, are refusing to learn and speak English and making a racket, I want them to leave or be removed.
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