If you can not understand the difference between holding on to one's culture and refusing to assimilate, you have absolutely no concept of what this country's history or character are all about.
many areas in this country and you will find so called "true" Americans still eating spaghetti, kielbasa, gyros, and SPEAKING ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!
There's no reason the other employees, or the customers, need be exposed to such abusive comments, and the easiest way to ENFORCE a standard IN THE WORKPLACE is to limit speech to a common tongue also spoken by the owner or supervisor.
If these guys want to go home and speak to their families in the same manner, they are welcome to do so, but they have got to keep it OUT OF THE WORKPLACE.
Or, alternatively, they can go back wherever it was they came from and adhere to a different standard.
You really cannot defend the right of someone to heap abuse on a customer simply because the customer doesn't understand the employee's language.
The inability to communicate with one another is what divides us.
See how you are able to communicate on FR? If you typed in Arabic no one would understand. If one wishes to be American, one must learn English, if one change America to be like them, one might as well have stayed in their native country.
Welcome to Free Republic. I hope you enjoyed your stay.
English is America's language. All my ancestors who came over had to learn it. Every other European backgrounded person I've met, their ancestors had to learn it.
There was no movement to accept Italian, German, Polish, Norwegian, or Finnish. They had to learn English, there's no reason for current immigrants to not learn English
I disagree with you. When I lived in Germany I had to learn to speak and read German. If people wish to speak in their cultural language (my parents spoke German, Russian and English) at home or in private conversations amongst themselves - thats fine. But our forefathers spoke ENGLISH. Our Constitution was written in ENGLISH. Signs in Spanish are repulsive to me. Wake up - we've been invaded!
Tuus stultum est? (Or would you perhaps prefer that I make comments about you in a common language?)
No one cares what language people speak at home (see my tagline...). However, to speak around (and about) people in a language they do not understand (especially when you are in their country... and maybe not even legally) is very rude. Likewise, it is a symptom of a refusal of many of the people involved to assimilate into the culture of the country they have immigrated to.
When you move to another country, you should have the basic respect to adopt the culture of your new home. It is not an accident that Mexico is a violent Third-world hellhole with little opportunity for these people, and the U.S. is a productive land of opportunity. It is a product of the different cultures. So stop trying to change our culture to be like the dysfunctional one you left, folks!
Foods are not culture (the idea that eating spaghetti is a sign of "cultural" resistance is idiotic). Until the late twentieth century, immigrants to America all assimilated into the general American culture (sometimes slowly and painfully... but always in the end), to the benefit of both. Only in the past ~45 years have immigrants had active encouragement (from liberals and activists) not to assimilate, and it shows in the increasing balkanization in America. If people actually cared about immigrants, they would fight this, as minority cultures will almost always be the ones to suffer in societies as a whole (what demographics are most vulnerable to crime and poverty now? Coincidence?)...
If you study historical and present geopolitics, you will find that language is the great unifier and divider. Nations which are multilingual have a much, much more difficult time staying unified and peaceful than nations which are monolingual. This has been true throughout history and into the present time.
Allowing America to become bi-lingual is asking for the same problems Canada is having.
I can guarantee you that at some point, the Spanish speaking minority will begin demanding that SPANISH be the primary langauge of the United States. Then the friction begins.
No one says that you shouldn't speak your language, keep your culture and celebrate your heritage. People who come to America should be required to learn the language. You came to America, we didn't go to Cuba. Speak the language.
You are incredibly uninformed and ignorant of history. Thereis so much wrong with your statement I don't know where to begin. Are you a troll or do you seriously wish for the Balkanization of the United States?
Why is bilingualism and the ability to speak another language considered to be offensive anyway? This nation is made up of immigrants. We all come with our traditions and our cultures. If you do not believe that to be true,go to many areas in this country and you will find so called "true" Americans still eating spaghetti, kielbasa, gyros, and the like. I assure you that there is nothing American about them.
Just because someone chooses to hold on to their culture and their language does not make them less American. Our diversity is what makes us great.
What has made us great is being a MELTING POT.
As long as people want to become Americans first, which involves learning English for all public purposes, among other things, they can and should hold onto as much of their culture as they want to.
There is no way a country that does not share a common language can stay together and have a culture of it's own.
So9
What gets stronger by breaking it up? We are a single culture multi-ethnic culture. What you are advocating is anarchy, which is a step toward socialism or communism.
The Balkans have diversity; where the greatness there?
" Just because someone chooses to hold on to their culture and their language does not make them less American. Our diversity is what makes us great."
Welcome to FR.
Bump for later
I often here this, or other vitiations, and I can safely assume you mean ethnic/cultural diversity.
I'm just curious. How exactly does ethnic/cultural diversity make us great? Or by inference, how does it make us better than we would be without it? Can you describe the theory or process by which this happens?
I'm serious here. I'd like to know the reasoning behind the statement. Yes, it's what were supposed to say in polite company when discussing any issue regarding culture and such.
But what exactly does it mean?
"To believe that English is the only language spoken in the United States is shortsighted and misinformed."
I totally agree!!!!!!
1/2 of these people that respond with dimwitted remarks about how they do not like people to talk in their native language is stupid. By the way... are any of them of British origin??? I think not. Just because "white" American nationals have lost most of their European culture.. through IMMIGRATION I might add... does not mean someone else should throw their own away to make your life better!!
We must not forget that the US is a melting pot... remember??? You can't stop Globalization... so GET OVER IT!!
HOGWASH.
I come from a long line of immigrants and learning English is part of the UNITY of this nation.
I was important to learn the language of the old country but it is equally important to know the language of the new HOME.
English is the unifying language of this nation. It is the glue that builds assimilation and only those who want to stop assimilation oppose mandatory learning of english.
The law in the USA is very specific. Contracts in English are enforcable even against those who sign and do not speak english because EVERYONE doing business in the USA knows english is the common language. If you are going to sign a contract then bring a translator to read it for you. (family member, friend, whatever) There is actually a famous case out of miami where a car dealer took the case through the court system because a line of hispanics were saying they should not be bound by non-spanish contracts. The courts sided with the car dealer. (I believe the plaintiff in that case was "Machado")
Knowing a second language and using it is business is a CONVENIENCE for the customer but it does not relieve the customer from the OBLIGATION of knowing english.
Save your ethnic stereotyping for the next clan meeting.
Those who enjoy the ethnic foods of their roots are true americans who have given sons' and daughters' blood for this nation to build this nation. The USA is home and heart. We are the melting pot not the multicultural balkanized cafeteria tray the left is trying to foist upon us via divid and conquer.
Language balkanization is just a way to seperate us. NO THANKS.