Este los Estados Unidos, hablamos ingles aqui!

Last night a latino couple came into the restaurant I work in. I live in south Florida, so this in itself is not uncommon. Regretfully, what happened next is also not uncommon...

The lady asked "Anyone-a speek-a Spaneesh?". While we have several bilingual employees, none were working last night, so she was told no. She turned to her dining companion and started cursing up an azul (blue) streak! My best friend while growing up was half Mexican, and I took two years of Spanish in high school (almost 30 years ago), so I am familiar with the language and it's more colorful words. I asked the woman "Cuantos anos en los Estados Unidos?" (how many years in the US?). She replied "Quince (fifteen), habla espanol?". I replied "un pequito. (a little)" She then began to curse me out. After I was instructed to have sex with my mother, I had had enough! I told her "Este los Estados Unidos, hablamos ingles aqui!!! (This is the United States, we speak English here!!!)" I was then instructed to orally pleasure a man, and she and her silent companion stormed out of the restaurant.

Now don't get me wrong, I have no problem with foriegn guests who are visiting and know very limited English (and they tend to be very patient and understanding), but if you emigrate to this country, LEARN THE FRAKKIN' LANGUAGE!!! If I moved to Germany, I would expect that I would have to learn German. If I moved to France, I would expect that I would have to learn French. If I moved to Chile, I would expect that I would have to learn Spanish. So why is it that so many come here and make absolutely no effort to learn the common language that Americans share? This is not an isolated incident. If you go to Little Havana, good luck finding anyone who speaks English! And after 15 years in this country, I don't think that it's too much to ask that this woman know at least enough English to get by in a public setting.

Sort of silly she didn't speak english. After 15 years you would imagine that it would be to her own benefit that she would learn to communicate.

If she doesn't want to speak the common language, thats her fault. She should not get upset about it.

I go to a lot of different type of restaraunts here (Thai, inidian, japanese, ect)

And there are many people who have come to America to own these places or work with their families in them. They may not know the best english sometimes (but usually pretty well) but at least they learn it.

I've seen plenty of Mexicans that have learned it, but I know there are a lot who don't.

[edit on 23-8-2009 by Miraj]

This is one of my Biggest pet peeves!!

We lived in Brazil for two years - we had HAD to learn Portuguese to communicate! This was over 20 years ago and there was Very Little in English (beyond the airport or Major Hotels).

We also live in Florida and in the area we live there isn't as much of this - yet.

But a few years ago we were in Texas and the Hotel Airport driver did NOT speak a word of English! Not one word!

Why would the Hotel even employ someone that Works in the US and deals with Hotel guests on an everyday basis. So I blame the Hotel management as much as the driver.

I can't tell you how much it 'bugggggs' me when I am asked to 'press 1 for Spanish"!!!!! Or try to read the directions on a package and have trouble finding the English over the Spanish!

To me "WE" (or the THEY=TPTB) are sending a very Clear Message that the Spanish Speaking People are NOT as smart as the rest of the world. That 'we' have to learn their language because they are too dumb to learn ours.

When was the last time you were asked to 'press 2 for Dutch' or picked up a package and the instructions were in Swedish?

Are the Dutch and Swedish that much smarter than the Spanish?

This is America. Specificilly NORTH AMERICA or The United States Of America....Not South America or Central America or Mexico or Cuba etc etc....

Why Cater to just ONE (other) language?

So - if you want to LIVE here in USA - Learn the language the same as my family had to learn Portugues in Brazil. Shoot - we didn't even have cable then for TV in English or internet or or or....

That's her fault she doesn't speak english.
But it's also the result of several years of passive encouragement of communitarism by being satisfied to let the poor A live in neighbourhoods between themselves, the rich B live in neighbourhoods between themselves, the poor C live in neighbourhoods between themselves, the rich D live in neighbourhoods between themselves. In the end, how do you want these new groups to integrate ? You need a social mix. Yes, it's sometimes difficult.

This is not uncommon at all. Why integrate when their are entire neighborhoods here that are little different then Santo Domingo or San Salvador? We have some communities here on Long Island where entire neighborhoods have every single store sign in Spanish and English is rarely spoken. There are people who have been here for 20+ years and can't speak any English beyond a few basic phrases.

Ever been to Brentwood, NY or Hempstead, NY? You would think you suddenly stepped foot in some Latin American country complete with the crime and squalor and general third worldness.

I worked many years with people speaking mostly spanish all day long. It was like torture and drove me crazy. It was like I was the one who left my country, not them. All other cultures have learned and use the english language, why can't they? Many of these people that have come here have no interest in this country. I said many, not all.

Imagine being in some kind of crises with people speaking only spanish? Say they are having a medical crises and can't explain what's wrong, or vice versa. This is dangerous. It is also disrespectful. We have tp press 1 for english, 2 for spanish. Imagine if we catered to all the cultures here? Hell, we'd be on the phone all day trying to get through.

No matter what anyone says, english is the language most spoken here in America. It is the language that ties us all together. People in some proffesions are outraged that they are now required to be bi-lingual.

Originally posted by ChrisF231
This is not uncommon at all. Why integrate when their are entire neighborhoods here that are little different then Santo Domingo or San Salvador? We have some communities here on Long Island where entire neighborhoods have every single store sign in Spanish and English is rarely spoken. There are people who have been here for 20+ years and can't speak any English beyond a few basic phrases.

Ever been to Brentwood, NY or Hempstead, NY? You would think you suddenly stepped foot in some Latin American country complete with the crime and squalor and general third worldness.

YES! I have seen this in places as well. All signs in spanish only, entire neighborhoods taken over, graffiti, trash and crime. I'm so sick of this!

reply to post by JaxonRoberts


Mmm, I bet the owner of the restaurant (as do most) has little issue with his busboys and bar-backs not being fluent in English.

But I guess for some people the problem arises when they have to serve them.

Having said that, it seems to me that the bigger problem in your example, if you are being truthful, is that she just happened to be a rude idiot. Her linguistic skills though you choose to highlight them, are the lesser of two issues.

[edit on 23 Aug 2009 by schrodingers dog]

Here in New Mexico, Spanish was spoken long before the gringos arrived.

Being a gringo, I think it shows style and grace to learn another language where it is used for most place names, a lot of sur names and just everyday usage. Of course that includes Spanish speakers.

My Spanish is what is considered "Cowboy" Spanish and I'm far from being fluent, but I love the sound of Spanish and the Hispanic people.

But the lady for having lived here for 15yrs must have been a moron not to have picked up enough English to communicate even in S. Florida.


Cuidado Jax.........

[edit on 23-8-2009 by whaaa]

reply to post by ChrisF231


That's the problem. How and why this happened ? Chance ?

or of course she wasnt living in the US for 15 years....and she lied to you to protect herself.

Im sure she wouldn't of said " i just rowed in from cuba 15 minutes ago "......

she sure made a scene however.

Oh man. I'm gonna get myself in trouble with this one. 51% of the population of my city is Hispanic. EVERYTHING the city does is in English AND Spanish. You can't get a job in this place unless you speak Spanish.
I grew up in South Texas and all of my friends we Hispanic. They spoke English. I think things were different then. I think people were expected to speak the language of the country they immigrated to, rather than have their new homeland print everything in six languages. It seems that in the rush to not offend anyone these days, we have become a nation of many, many DIFFERENT peoples, instead of just Americans.
It makes me a little sad to see our country watered down, not by the infusion of different colors or countries of origin, but the desperate need to accommodate everyone. We've almost lost being America, in my opinion, just so that we won't offend, or discriminate against someone that doesn't want to speak English.
I had to learn some Spanish to speak with people when I went to Mexico. If I went to China, I could count to ten, but I bet I would be hungry and have to use the bathroom real bad. I don't expect a NATION to start printing out crap in my language so that I can know where the welfare line starts. I guess that's just me.
On the plus side, I have learned that Taco Bells 'Gorditas' aren't really Gorditas. Thank you non-English speaking immigrants.

reply to post by phi1618


Actually, It's not that uncommon..
I've had several Hispanic friends growing up. One in particular, his mom doesn't speak a word of English beyond "hello" on the phone. My friend is 25 and was born here. I also had a girlfriend in High school(also born here). Her mom is from Panama and speaks English, but extremely limited. I've also worked in construction with several Hispanic men who don't speak any English at all, but have lived here for a number of years.

And to be honest, the only other non-English speaker I have ever encountered was a German speaker at the college.

reply to post by schrodingers dog


It's a corporate restaurant, so command of the English language is mandatory. While we have several bilingual employees, everyone speaks English. It is also corporate policy that English be the only language spoken by employees amongst ourselves.

As to my truthfulness, come on SD, I thought we were friends!

reply to post by JaxonRoberts


I feel you! I live in SoFla as well, I myself am hispanic (first generation American). Even my parents speak english (my dad's favorite saying "This is America Jack!")

Not to be prejudice, but I find a lot of latinos here in South Florida have absolutely no respect for this country, especially with the whole Wet Foot Dry Foot thing going on....either way it pisses me off.


edit: spelling

[edit on 23-8-2009 by bandaidctrl]

reply to post by JaxonRoberts

If I moved to Germany, I would expect that I would have to learn German.

You sir, are correct! Late last year, I moved to Germany with my wife, who is German. We went to the immigration office, and after I got my residency permit, I got a couple papers. On one, it had a list of schools I could go to to take German, near my locality here in Nord-Rhein Westfalen. The other paper, basically was a paper that I had to sign that said that I agreed that, within two years, I would learn German enough to get a certificate to say that I can speak/read/write in German fluently or, I would leave the country. So, German gives every immigrant two years to learn the language or get out!

The interesting thing is, German doesn't care who you are either. Everyone has to take the classes, regardless of one's current level of German. Unless, naturally, if you're from Austria or a German speaking Swiss person. An example of this is that there is a woman in my class who taught German in Russia for five years or so, and she has to "learn" the language. I think it's kinda funny.

I know what you mean, OP, about people in America not speaking English. It's ridiculous. I from South Florida as well and, well you know the sorry state of affairs down there. The US not having a common language, officially, will lead to it's downfall, as, the people then aren't united. The people will always be paranoid about what that person in the supermarket just said about them. This breeds distrust, dissent, and things of the like.

There is no reason for anyone to get upset about not having their language spoken. People move all over the planet and there is no universal language, though English is pretty close. But I must say, slinging verbal abuse just shows bad form.

Having said that, the USA has no official language. It's a big country and there are pockets of any number of world languages spoken all over the place. Generations of people there speaking their native tongue.

In my personal view, the only point at issue here was the hostility. That's her problem though. I wouldn't give it another thought.

Estamos en los Estados Unidos, Aqui hablamos ingles!

While your Spanish is very good just like my English some grammar is going to hunts us all the time.

I think it was a provocation to bring a situation and prove a point.

If everybody that spoke English in the restaurant had gotten up and told the woman to take a hike back to her country things would have gone better.

But in America everybody else is a winner as long as the real American citizens keeps their mouth shut and let somebody else run their business.

America is not for the American people anymore and has not been in a long time.

Wake up patriots.

[edit on 23-8-2009 by marg6043]

reply to post by CosmicEgg

There is no reason for anyone to get upset about not having their language spoken.

When you choose to live in a country, you should learn the language that is spoken by the people there.

People move all over the planet and there is no universal language, though English is pretty close.

Yes, people move all over the planet but, in every nation but the US is you immigrate there, you have to learn the language!

It's a big country and there are pockets of any number of world languages spoken all over the place. Generations of people there speaking their native tongue.

But, many of these people still know English. You can go to places where people, at home, will speak only German. But, when they go into public, they're fluent in and use English as well. If you choose to live in America, where the majority of the people speak English, it will be beneficial to learn it. It is good for the nation as a whole because, a common language is one thing that unites a people.

Originally posted by JaxonRoberts
reply to post by schrodingers dog

 

It's a corporate restaurant, so command of the English language is mandatory. While we have several bilingual employees, everyone speaks English. It is also corporate policy that English be the only language spoken by employees amongst ourselves.

Well, as you know, most restaurant low level jobs in the US, especially in metropolitan areas are filled by hispanics. So my point was more to the fact that a lot of people don't seem to mind when folk who don't speak English well are washing their dishes or picking their crops.

Listen, English is my 4th language, and had to learn it to operate functionally here and the world over. But as frustrating as it may sometimes be, when immigrants come to reside in foreign countries they naturally seek their respective communities. The Irish, the Greeks, Chinese, Italians, etc, all did it that way. Heck, there are still people who only speak Greek in Astoria and the same goes for most other communities.

The first generation always has the most difficult time adapting but if they are responsible parents, their children will be in the school system and eventually, with every passing generation, the family integrates further into the home society.

This is the way diaspora works.

As to my truthfulness, come on SD, I thought we were friends!

We all have selective memories when recalling a heated event. I didn't mean to imply you were intentionally deceptive. My apologies if it came off that way.

[edit on 23 Aug 2009 by schrodingers dog]