JustAnotherVictim
Supramania Contributor
It only creates separation if you bitch about it. I could care less if someone speaks another language as long as when they speak to me I can understand what they're saying.mc_h said:
Was it Racism ? Hope this an an isolated thing :(
- Thread starter suprastanger507mgte
- Start date
For the record, the United States does not acutally have an official language. Becasue if its ass backwards education system though, the majority of non immigrant people here are only taught English.
My take on the whole language thing: If your children are going to attend our schools, they should learn English, as it is what school is taught in. Every student/teacher should not be required to learn the language of immigrants, it should be the other way around (especially when many of the immigrants feel they should not have to help pay for everyone else to learn thier language) This is a country THEY opted to come to after all, they should expect to speak whatever language is spoekn here.
That does not exuse blantant remarks like the one that the lady made towards you. I have no problem with people speaking other languages (I myself speak English and some Japanese) but when they are interacting with people in a public place, they should be using English (ie they are working or asking for assistance/service from someone)
If i were to go to another country, I don't think they would start talking in English for me, so why should I start talking in Spanish for people that came to MY country (or any other lanugage for that matter) Most business is done in English here, as it always has been. If you want to come to our country, learn to speak our language when dealing with us
Wow, that was a lot of typing, sorry for the length
My take on the whole language thing: If your children are going to attend our schools, they should learn English, as it is what school is taught in. Every student/teacher should not be required to learn the language of immigrants, it should be the other way around (especially when many of the immigrants feel they should not have to help pay for everyone else to learn thier language) This is a country THEY opted to come to after all, they should expect to speak whatever language is spoekn here.
That does not exuse blantant remarks like the one that the lady made towards you. I have no problem with people speaking other languages (I myself speak English and some Japanese) but when they are interacting with people in a public place, they should be using English (ie they are working or asking for assistance/service from someone)
If i were to go to another country, I don't think they would start talking in English for me, so why should I start talking in Spanish for people that came to MY country (or any other lanugage for that matter) Most business is done in English here, as it always has been. If you want to come to our country, learn to speak our language when dealing with us
Wow, that was a lot of typing, sorry for the length
Actually, the country I come from, and the level of English they teach by Grade 12, most of the students including myself will cruise through most of college level English here. By the time I was done, I had done and memorized at least 3 or four Shakespeare plays and quotes, and in that weird English too, ha-ha! I myself had to be placed in a higher English class just after a week in an ESL class that was recommended by my counselor in college here. That is after I had passed all the testing. He said just because I was a non -native speaker...wtf. Anyway, that was some years ago.Northstar24 said:
The point I am trying to make is I am no stranger to the English language. I have been speaking, reading, and writing in English since I started the very first day of school.
To give you an idea of how seriously English language is taken in my country -for any grade 1-12 or in University, if you do not get a minimum of 50% in the final / exit exams ( mind you these are tests prepared by the NZ and Australian and British education departments – All three English speaking countries) , you will have to REPEAT the whole school year.
I myself scored one of the highest scores in English in my final year, and that was highest in the country, and I have papers to prove it.
Everyone in my country does speak English daily so speaking, reading and writing is not an issue here.
As I stated earlier, if I need to address someone, I do so in English if they are in a business place. If I am outside in a parking lot talking to my friends who are of the same culture, then of course I will speak my language......I don't have to speak English just because I am in America...and the trees and insects and birds may not understand me...
I was not addressing that lady, nor were any of my comments directed towards her; she just butted into our conversation....
Whew ....I wrote a lot too...
lol
Happens all the time up here in Canada, atleast on the pacific, especially with a certain group of ethnic background (anyone here would know exactly who i am talking about). There is nothing wrong with speaking with your pals or family in your own language when its on your own time. As a professional, when you are working, yes you should keep away from it. I work with a couple individuals at work who are always speaking their language together and CLEARLY talking about someone in the imediate area, laughing and joking around or whatever about them. That is NOT right. If you do not have something nice to say to/about someone, say it so they can understand it. If its just a conversation with your friends and its not concerning anyone and its not around your work place (especially customer service), go for it. :icon_bigg
suprastanger507mgte said:Actually, the country I come from, and the level of English they teach by Grade 12, most of the students including myself will cruise through most of college level English here. By the time I was done, I had done and memorized at least 3 or four Shakespeare plays and quotes, and in that weird English too, ha-ha! I myself had to be placed in a higher English class just after a week in an ESL class that was recommended by my counselor in college here. That is after I had passed all the testing. He said just because I was a non -native speaker...wtf. Anyway, that was some years ago.
The point I am trying to make is I am no stranger to the English language. I have been speaking, reading, and writing in English since I started the very first day of school.
To give you an idea of how seriously English language is taken in my country -for any grade 1-12 or in University, if you do not get a minimum of 50% in the final / exit exams ( mind you these are tests prepared by the NZ and Australian and British education departments – All three English speaking countries) , you will have to REPEAT the whole school year.
I myself scored one of the highest scores in English in my final year, and that was highest in the country, and I have papers to prove it.
Everyone in my country does speak English daily so speaking, reading and writing is not an issue here.
As I stated earlier, if I need to address someone, I do so in English if they are in a business place. If I am outside in a parking lot talking to my friends who are of the same culture, then of course I will speak my language......I don't have to speak English just because I am in America...and the trees and insects and birds may not understand me...
I was not addressing that lady, nor were any of my comments directed towards her; she just butted into our conversation....
Whew ....I wrote a lot too...
I understand what you're saying there but what I still don't understand, is: why speak a different language specifically when you're with people from the same culture? I mean, what's so different in that instance than if you were speaking with some random person you didn't know? Just my opinion, but it's an example of why it COULD be looked at promoting the racism/segregation "agenda" so to speak on the flip side: You yourself look at people of the same culture differently than others because you can speak your native language with them - Not trying to knock you down by saying that, but that's how I see it...It's being a bit counter-productive in that sense
mc_h said:
When you speak a language from childhood...and everyone else that grows up around you speaks it, its kinda hard not to. Its automatic.
JustAnotherVictim
Supramania Contributor
Why should you forget where you came from just because you live in America? That's ridiculous IMO.mc_h said:
Ice put it very well. In the workplace and areas where you go to shop and the workers clearly speak English yes you should also. When speaking to your friends it should have no bearing on what anyone else thinks.
/thread, or move it to off topic. We don't need a racism debate in the NW section. Racism is everywhere, sorry guys...
I only read the posts on the first page so if I am repeating what anyone said already, I apologize.
So here I go...
Ignorance is just ignorance. I am a minority and I have been in a situation where ignorant and prejudice comments have come my way. I usually just ignore it because the person being ignorant doesn't even know what they are talking about. Just like the woman who siad that you should speak English, she's just ignorant.
I am not trying to defend her or anything but...
I do wonder, what if she said that to a french person? or a german person? Then would she be a racist? I think not, like I said, she's just ignorant.
So here I go...
Ignorance is just ignorance. I am a minority and I have been in a situation where ignorant and prejudice comments have come my way. I usually just ignore it because the person being ignorant doesn't even know what they are talking about. Just like the woman who siad that you should speak English, she's just ignorant.
I am not trying to defend her or anything but...
I do wonder, what if she said that to a french person? or a german person? Then would she be a racist? I think not, like I said, she's just ignorant.
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91T breezen' said:
It's been pretty civilized and I don't think it's a 'racism' thread. It's pretty much been a cultural/philosophical/manners thread.
If you think speaking a language other than english in public, in the u.s. of A is a big no no (with exceptions for commerce and Govt. functions) then I would recommend you take a nice long trip to a country (as a civy, where applicable) where english isn't the dominant form of verbal communication. Make sure you walk at least a mile with those shoes.
Born and raised PacNW, USAF (AWACS) Vet,
-Gerard
have a nice day
^^ He brings up a good point. As an American living in Japan and not being able to speak Japanese very fluently I know exactly how many of the immigrants in the US may feel. Whenever I am out in public with people, guess which language I speaK? English. When I was living back in Portland the majority of my friends that I had in middle school/h.s. were either from Russia or Ukraine. Sure they could speak English fluently but the language they spoke when amongst themselves or around me? You guessed it, Russian! Now I personally have no problem with people speaking foreign languages at all. But if you dont at least make an effort to learn the language of the land then you have no business living permantly( did I spell that right?) in the country. If you want to succeed in the US you must have a command of the English language, be it reading, writing and speaking. Now I am trying to learn Japanese but being that my native tongue is a Western one its more difficult then I previously thought. But at least I try. Now also with regards to that lady, I doubt she was truely trying to be racist and I think its sad that people these days are hyper sensitive to stuff like that. though I think she was a jackass for saying something like that, people need to realize that the right to not be offended is NOT a protected right. We do have our Second Amendment Right( freedom of speech for those not in the know) that we like to excercise vigorously.You though had just as much right to cuss her out as she did to say that blowharded statement to you.