Yeah, well the reality is we have a lot of Spanish-speaking people and we have signs in English and Spanish. Nothing is about to change.
That's a rather arrogant way of putting it, don't you think?
Last I checked, the United States consisted of a representative government, in which "We, the People" had some say in how our Federal tax dollars are spent. And I, for one, am tired of paying double and triple the cost as required to print signs and materials for people who refuse to assimilate into our culture!
Shutting the American people out of the decision-making process, by insisting that "Nothing is about to change," is not going to win any friends in this debate. And that type of strong-armed politics will ultimately hurt your position far faster than you'd ever imagine.
Regards,
~dt~
It's the difference between teaching someone to fish and giving someone a fish. This "spoonfeeding" that society is now doing for the non-English-speaking isn't conducive to assimilation and succeeding in an English-dominated business world.
When given the option, human nature will revert to the easy way out. For example, I visited a foreign country last year. The language there is one I don't speak. I prepared myself by trying to learn a little of the language and carrying a pocket travelers' language book. Did I bother to use it when I found many signs there in English AND the language there? No. Did I bother to learn key phrases when I found that they were available in English? No.
But that's okay, since I was just there as a VISITOR. I didn't plan on staying. If I had planned on staying, it would have been in my interest and would have been a show of courtesy and respect to my new residence for me to learn the country's traditional language.
A friend of mine who works a retail counter was SCREAMED at and obviously BERATED by a man who went to the counter to ask questions in Spanish, and since she doesn't speak it, he became very angry and was very ugly to her. That is neither a show of courtesy or respect.