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'You need to speak English': Encounters in viral videos show Spanish is still polarizing in the U.S.
Los Angeles Times ^ | May 28, 2018 | Brittny Mejia

Posted on 05/28/2018 8:46:14 AM PDT by artichokegrower

Natalia Meneses was shopping at a Walmart in Georgia this year when her 3-year-old daughter began a conversation that triggered an ugly experience.

The little girl did not blurt out a profanity or otherwise say anything inappropriate. She simply pointed out flower hair clips to her mother: "Mira, Mami!"

Overhearing the conversation that ensued in Spanish between mother and child, a woman snapped at Meneses, an American citizen who was born in Colombia.

"You need to teach this kid to speak English, because this is America and kids need to learn English," she said. "If not, you need to get out of this country."

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
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To: fortes fortuna juvat

If you want to control people and supervise their kids you deserve to be slapped.


121 posted on 05/28/2018 7:04:58 PM PDT by morphing libertarian ( Build Kate's Wall)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

>>We did not invite all of these Spanish speaking people here, the Uniparty weasels did by not enforcing our laws and borders.

Bush League Republicans need to become extinct politically.<<

Your every word here expresses exactly the way I look at it. Get the Uniparty weasels and the foreign language speakers out of our faces.


122 posted on 05/28/2018 7:09:15 PM PDT by fortes fortuna juvat ( This Who are the idiots who elected this dreadful Pope? They need to unelect him. He is a disgrace.)
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To: Petrosius

>> “Who they are” are people who reject the native population and its language, and insist on identifying themselves as a separate population. If you want to live with us then join us and use our language. If you do not want to join us then leave.<<

Well and truly said. People whose native tongue is English are not doing any favors to non-English speakers living in this country by speaking in their language. I speak and understand Spanish but will never converse with anyone in that language unless I am in a Spanish speaking country.


123 posted on 05/28/2018 7:24:13 PM PDT by fortes fortuna juvat ( This Who are the idiots who elected this dreadful Pope? They need to unelect him. He is a disgrace.)
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To: bgill

>>Speak English. Not Spanish. Not ebonics.<<

Not Zulu either!


124 posted on 05/28/2018 7:25:56 PM PDT by fortes fortuna juvat ( This Who are the idiots who elected this dreadful Pope? They need to unelect him. He is a disgrace.)
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To: morphing libertarian
Some needed to be bitch slapped.

Are you talking about those who refuse to speak English or those who insist everyone does?

I'm sick and f***ing tired of hearing Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and more all damn' day long where ever I go.

Learn freaking english and speak it while here or go home!

America is a melting pot so freaking melt and assimilate already and if you don't want to do that go back to the third-world shithole you came from!!!

125 posted on 05/28/2018 7:29:21 PM PDT by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: usconservative

you should stay home and close the door


126 posted on 05/28/2018 7:36:21 PM PDT by morphing libertarian ( Build Kate's Wall)
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To: morphing libertarian

>>If you want to control people and supervise their kids you deserve to be slapped.<<

I want people who are trying to further fragment this country into warring factions by creating a tower of babel here to get out. Learn English or get out.


127 posted on 05/28/2018 7:40:01 PM PDT by fortes fortuna juvat ( This Who are the idiots who elected this dreadful Pope? They need to unelect him. He is a disgrace.)
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To: artichokegrower

I’ve lived in NM since ‘55. It’s a 60/40 Hispanic majority state. Heck a lot of folks still think you need a passport to visit here. Spanish has been a majority language for a long time and that won’t change. Native Hispanics are English speakers also, the problem being the newcomers according to the natives speak a bastardized Spanglish that the locals have a hard time dealing with and schools have no standard to teach it. Sad to say I have friends and neighbors fluent in English and Spanish having problems communicating with some newcomers and spend half their conversations with pauses of Que??? and a confused look. You can’t expect to live in this state and not hear Spanish spoken everywhere all the time. The ‘speak english only’ crowd would never make it. I am a German immigrant so I fit in just fine LOL.


128 posted on 05/28/2018 7:42:30 PM PDT by redcatcherb412
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To: fortes fortuna juvat

never happened in the history of the country and never will


129 posted on 05/28/2018 7:43:53 PM PDT by morphing libertarian ( Build Kate's Wall)
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To: redcatcherb412

There are about 8 people on this thread who would volunteer to come to NM and walk around in public and tell people to speak only english.


130 posted on 05/28/2018 7:45:37 PM PDT by morphing libertarian ( Build Kate's Wall)
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To: lastchance

Good story!


131 posted on 05/28/2018 9:01:00 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (We're even doing the right thing for them. They just don't know it yet. --Donald Trump, CPAC '18)
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To: morphing libertarian
Wrong. They should learn ENGLISH and ASSIMILATE. My parents came here, learned ENGLISH and took the citizenship test IN ENGLISH. It should be a requirement (LAW) else ship 'em back home to the third-world shitholes they came from.
132 posted on 05/29/2018 4:54:26 AM PDT by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: usconservative

I agree, the citizenship test should be in English.


133 posted on 05/29/2018 5:50:03 AM PDT by JayGalt (You can't teach a donkey how to tap dance.)
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To: lastchance
Why would they be speaking about a complete stranger?

I dunno! Maybe because... reasons!

(Seriously: It is possible that they would be speaking about a complete stranger. Me thinks you don't want to understand / are playing "dumb.")

And if they were why would the words of complete strangers matter one fig to me?

They might be complete strangers with whom you are being forced to interact (e.g., service personnel, waitstaff, baggage handlers, airport security - or maybe just sit right next to in a crowded subway) - Is it really so inconceivable to you that there might be good cause to be irritated / offended / worried if strange people in your vicinity are mumbling excitedly in a foreign language and eying you angrily?

Unless there was suspicious behavior involved.

Unfortunately, one doesn't necessarily recognize that something nefarious is going on until it's too late.

Does that happen a lot to you?

Everyday! I live in Germany, and about 30% of the other passengers in my morning commuter bus - here deep in the province / boondocks - are usually chattering away in a variety of non-European languages.

Finally: Maybe you're a big, strapping youth who can take care of him- or herself in a pinch - but a lot of older people (esp. ladies) have good right to worry.

- And no, I'm talking about a mother cooing to her child / an old geezer in a wheelchair whispering to his nurse, etc.

Regards,

134 posted on 05/29/2018 9:01:23 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: lastchance
"...We’re not writing of terrorist plots here. ..."

How do we know that?

We don't.

135 posted on 05/29/2018 11:13:59 AM PDT by T-Bone Texan
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To: morphing libertarian
Hah ha, no.

"...suggests you stay out of armenian and russian neighborhoods..."

There should be no such thing as "armenian and russian neighborhoods" in my great country.

136 posted on 05/29/2018 11:16:06 AM PDT by T-Bone Texan
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To: T-Bone Texan

What a strange world you must live in. Such a reach to justify outright rudeness.


137 posted on 05/30/2018 9:35:03 AM PDT by lastchance (Credo.)
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To: alexander_busek

If you are interacting with them, then yes that is different. But we are not discussing service personnel we are discussing people you are not having any contact with except their conversation is in range of your hearing.

Well then everyone better get ready to show their papers if others don’t understand their personal conversations. Speaking in a foreign language is not nefarious behavior just on its own. Let me know if they buy burner cells and open an account with a chemical company using cash.

Well then why aren’t they all speaking English?

People always need to be alert to their surroundings. I strongly recommend “The Gift of Fear.” One big point of the book is to trust your instincts. So I will end with this even if everything appears to be fine and you still get a hinky feeling- go with your gut and act accordingly to make yourself safe. I am a female.


138 posted on 05/30/2018 9:42:45 AM PDT by lastchance (Credo.)
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