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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: Mastador1

Very well stated.


61 posted on 05/28/2018 10:01:56 AM PDT by lastchance (Credo.)
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To: artichokegrower
I think it's good to raise children bilingually, if the parents speak another language, as long as they're not "activists" trying to siphon taxpayer money for the establishment of the other language and culture as a "right." No. Not a right.

I recently heard a French-speaking kid in a grocery cart in a supermarket near Baltimore Maryland, which has about zero French presence, sob-whining, "Papa! Je veux bon bons! Je veux bon bons! Bon bons" (Daddy, I want candy! I want candy! Candy!) to his poor harried dad.

LOL!! Kids are the same everywhere.

62 posted on 05/28/2018 10:05:17 AM 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: luvbach1

California is already a colony of Mexico.
That’s why your state government protects Mexican citizens from US laws, but won’t protect US citizens from Mexican citizens.


63 posted on 05/28/2018 10:05:43 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here of Citizen Parents__Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: morphing libertarian

I don’t give a shit if you speak one language or if you speak 12 of them but one of them better be English if you’re living in this country.


64 posted on 05/28/2018 10:10:54 AM PDT by mrmeyer (You can't conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him. Robert Heinlein)
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To: artichokegrower

I highly doubt this story. This sounds like race-baiting story made up by LA Times


65 posted on 05/28/2018 10:12:02 AM PDT by Lee25
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To: lastchance

I would never go to a doctor whose primary language isn’t English. I’d (1) assume he wasn’t schooled in America; and/or (2) wonder if he received his credentials via AA; or (3) if he would communicate effectively regarding my situation verbally or in writing (prescriptions, etc.). He may be a great doctor, but I wouldn’t risk it.


66 posted on 05/28/2018 10:15:30 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam (Have an A-1 day.)
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To: lastchance

I acknowledge your right to feel differently. I am not suggesting eavesdropping. I am suggesting excluding people is rude. If I am in a store and someone is speaking Spanish I am at a disadvantage. It is most likely not relevant to me and I suck it up. I would never have spoken as the woman did in the article. Her comment was more discourteous that the speaking of a child in Spanish. If I am with someone whose English is imperfect I generally use a redundant blend of the two languages so no one is excluded. The Mom could have done that. It’s not fair to expect a child to be exclusive in English or her other language in any given circumstance.

More relevant is the situation in schools where when Spanish is spoken in the hallways & there is a high level of violence I personally have had family get nervous and be in a perpetual state of Anxiety “are the talking about jumping me”?

We do not walk alone in a cone of silence; we take clues from the talk of those around us. Spanish speakers often found as though there is a problem because the language is more animated. If they conversation were in English one could discount it immediately as personal from a few words & tune out. If its in another language you are left unclear as to whether to offer assistance or move further away. Their use of Spanish in a public place isolates them and accentuates barriers.


67 posted on 05/28/2018 10:15:50 AM PDT by JayGalt (You can't teach a donkey how to tap dance.)
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To: JayGalt

the typos are slaying me...are they talking...often sound not found...


68 posted on 05/28/2018 10:18:11 AM PDT by JayGalt (You can't teach a donkey how to tap dance.)
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To: artichokegrower

Yawn....another invented piece of fiction dreamed up by some progressive media know it all just to make a “point”.


69 posted on 05/28/2018 10:18:24 AM PDT by Sir Bangaz Cracka (Sweet Saint Skittles bounced dat ole white Craka head off da sidewalk causin he was real skeered.)
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To: Still Thinking

re: If she’s growing up from that age in the US, she’ll speak English just fine.

When I first lived in Chicago, the 75 year old grandmother of a friend could not speak or understand a word of English. She did not understand Good Morning, Good Evening, How are you, etc. She was born, graduated Catholic School and lived her whole life in Chicago.

Polish was her one and only language.

My first land lady was born and raised in Chicago of Slovakian immigrants. She could speak about 100 words in English. Understand about 200 words ... and mis-understand about 400 words.

Some of my ancestors came to the US in the 1840s and did not speak English til the 1920s. Some foreigners learned English much faster than others.

I am all for learning English. I have probably taught more ESL classes to immigrants than most FReepers. I have gotten more Naturalized Citizens to vote Conservative than most FReeprs. Maybe more of us should put up or shut up.


70 posted on 05/28/2018 10:19:11 AM PDT by spintreebob
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To: lastchance
We’re not writing of terrorist plots here.

How do you know that?

And even if we dismiss terrorist activity - What if it appears to all intents and purposes that they are talking about you (pointing and giggling)? Shouldn't that be considered impolite?

Regards,

71 posted on 05/28/2018 10:19:41 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: artichokegrower

If we don’t protect this country, our culture and mores...who will?


72 posted on 05/28/2018 10:21:47 AM PDT by Altura Ct.
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To: mrmeyer

BS you can speak whatever language you want off work and out off school


73 posted on 05/28/2018 10:22:39 AM PDT by morphing libertarian ( Build Kate's Wall)
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To: artichokegrower
No comprendo.

No hablo ingles.

74 posted on 05/28/2018 10:31:18 AM PDT by HotHunt
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To: artichokegrower

How do we know the Walmart story is true?


75 posted on 05/28/2018 10:37:22 AM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
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To: lastchance

Perhaps I am not explaining this properly. I’ll use an example.

If you are getting a haircut in a barber shop where the barbers are all Italian, it would be inconsiderate and rude for them to speak among themselves in the your presence in a language other than English, unless they had no ability to speak or understand English.


76 posted on 05/28/2018 10:41:46 AM PDT by billyboy15
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To: artichokegrower

I have several comments.

My biggest beef is that we are only deluged with Spanish because of rolling over for ILLEGALS! It is NOT for legal Spanish speakers that not just gov but Lowe’s and Bank of America are marketing in Spanish. It makes me sick. If the Mexicans were legal, not one peep or marketing campaign would be put up to accommodate them. But no, libs feel sorry for the ILLEGALS and THEY get all the help handed to them.

Second, we have a very large Korean population now. As some have complained, no one is printing signs in Korean for them to feel better, but in this same area, you’ll have Spanish crap posted everywhere!


77 posted on 05/28/2018 10:48:08 AM PDT by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVs.)
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To: EvilCapitalist

Just smile and say, “dos cervezas, por favor” ;’}


78 posted on 05/28/2018 10:52:18 AM PDT by rockrr ( Everything is different now...)
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To: morphing libertarian
Some needed to be bitch slapped.

BORDERS, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE!

My mother learned English and worked in a bank. My grandmother learned English as well. Obviously they were both bilingual.

79 posted on 05/28/2018 10:52:28 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (The Obama is about to hit the fan.)
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To: EvilCapitalist
Hubby was a Captain for the fire dept here, in a town 98% Hispanic. Probably half or more of them illegal. He speaks Spanish but never did on the job. He said when they pulled up on a call and everyone was speaking Spanish to him he’d just say no habla. And then listen as they all got their stories straight in Spanish because they thought he didn’t understand them. Lol. It can be useful. 😂
80 posted on 05/28/2018 10:54:46 AM PDT by sheana
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