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Does anyone else see a similarity with the perceived "pushiness" of Hispanics and the "pushiness" of gays? I hear the same people complaining about both.
I don't feel that either group is threatening me in any way...but I keep hearing how things are being "shoved down our throats".
Language changes over time. We have French words, German words, slang words, etc. that enter the mainstream and change it.
The English language is FLUID. I don't think anyone is calling for the elimination of English here.
Not even close. There is a difference between when one group says we are American we want to do our own thing in the privacy of our bedroom and potentially have the same rights as married people. And when a group says we may or may not be American, but it does not matter: America needs to change us to accommodate us and every American business, government office, etc. has to learn our language because we do not wish to learn the lingua franca of America.
I have been to San Antonio 3 times staying in the predominately Mexican section around downtown and the airbase and almost every person I met that was obviously hispanic spoke perfect english.
Now on the other hand I lived in Miami where almost everyone does not speak english,but they aren't Mexican,they are from South and central America,and the islands.
That's because San Antonio is a predominately Mexican City. Many of the people who live there that are Mexican have had their families there for hundreds of years. And, living there is very different than visiting it 3 times. I do agree, from what I hear about Miami, that it is vastly different in people speaking English.
Soooo, what is your point? That we emulate the fable of babel and speak whatever we want? That teachers should learn five or six different languages because students will be given the choice to remain monolingual?
The truth is that language can be a great uniter or a great divider. Do we want to be able to communicate with our neighbors, coworkers, trashguy, boss? Or do we want the US to become balkanized -- a nation of ethnic/linguistic enclaves? Because that is what you seem to be favoring?
I'm just saying it's up to the people to decide. You all want government to dictate what language people speak. Seems very socialist to me, which is what you're advocating by dictating what language people are "free" to speak in our "great society". Just embrace your inner liberal! That's all I'm asking. Hug a tree! Marry a gay! Bang a pot for Chavez! Let government dictate whether you can carry a gun or speak a language!
The reason people all conformed to English before was because there was violent bigotry against immigrants who didn't. The fact that people feel comfortable not conforming is a sign of progress toward a peaceful, more inclusive society.
Does anyone else see a similarity with the perceived "pushiness" of Hispanics and the "pushiness" of gays? I hear the same people complaining about both.
I don't feel that either group is threatening me in any way...but I keep hearing how things are being "shoved down our throats".
Language changes over time. We have French words, German words, slang words, etc. that enter the mainstream and change it.
The English language is FLUID. I don't think anyone is calling for the elimination of English here.
I don't think language has very much to do with being gay.
You haven't been in Texas long enough to notice how things have changed.
This is true. It's easy for people who live in areas of the country that have experienced only marginal change from the overwhelming influx of illegal immigrants to be cavalier and all kumbaya about it. It's quite a different story for people who have seen their communities go downhill on a daily basis. There's not a damn thing wrong with the assimilation of Hispanic culture into American culture. It makes, in fact, for an interesting and delightful mix (I grew up in Texas). But the current situation is truly a nightmare.
I'm just saying it's up to the people to decide. You all want government to dictate what language people speak. Seems very socialist to me, which is what you're advocating by dictating what language people are "free" to speak in our "great society". Just embrace your inner liberal! That's all I'm asking. Hug a tree! Marry a gay! Bang a pot for Chavez! Let government dictate whether you can carry a gun or speak a language!
The reason people all conformed to English before was because there was violent bigotry against immigrants who didn't. The fact that people feel comfortable not conforming is a sign of progress toward a peaceful, more inclusive society.
Really? You actually believe that on something as important as language there should be no commonality?
Are all those immigrants who are redefining Texas / the Southwest really illegal? If not, do they have any idea what percentage is?
It's kind of an interesting situation when you consider that the areas being disputed the most were originally Mexican territories. No easy answers, that's for sure. At least we have an administration that understands the complexity of the border situation and isn't just building a wall to try and solve the problems.
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