Habla Español?

[rigney]

We are very congruous in this country. If I began trying to name the nationalities making up the US, I probably wouldn't even come close. So why?, Why, when you pick up the phone and call your bank, an accountant, the grocery store or your PCP, you're asked up front; Press 1 for English, then the voice changes to Spanish?????? What in the hell is going on? Listen!, I have nothing against anyone living here in the states. But freedom reaches out only so Damned far. Why don't we extend the same courtesy to Germans, French, English, Russians, Poles, Slavic, Arabic (in all dialects), and Chinese, (in all dialects) and etc. etc. and etc.? Have we gone totally "BONKERS"? Or has our "ass kissing" gone beyond retrieval, or is Californinia running this nation? English, that has been our native tongue for over four hundred years, why compromise now?

Edited October 1, 2010 by rigney

[insane_alien]

because a large portion of the united states populace speaks spanish. the same can't be said for the rest.

[iNow]

How very one sided a view you hold, rigney. Why does it bother you? You have an option for English. They have an option for Spanish. It's optional. Good god, man. And IA is right... it's about population percentage and cost.

 

Are you suggesting that you would not appreciate it if you were living abroad in Asia and they had the option for English on their phone recordings? Good grief, man. There's no need to be so jingoistic and crude. How does it harm you that we have the option for spanish on some phone systems?

 

Hint: It doesn't, so grow up.

[rigney]

because a large portion of the united states populace speaks spanish. the same can't be said for the rest.

 

Know why the people from European nations, middle eastern and Asians speak English? They want to assimilate. And you must either be a a kid to have such a view as you do, or perhaps you live somewhere other than the states?

 

How very one sided a view you hold, rigney. Why does it bother you? You have an option for English. They have an option for Spanish. It's optional. Good god, man. And IA is right... it's about population percentage and cost.

 

Are you suggesting that you would not appreciate it if you were living abroad in Asia and they had the option for English on their phone recordings? Good grief, man. There's no need to be so jingoistic and crude. How does it harm you that we have the option for spanish on some phone systems?

 

Hint: It doesn't, so grow up.

 

I'm going to reply only because you don't live here in the states! I'm not sure where you're from, but I pity your plight. Maybe you can pity mine at a future date?

Edited October 1, 2010 by rigney

[insane_alien]

not all europeans, middle easterners or asians speak english.

 

SOME do, but not all.

 

a large number of people living in your country speak spanish, hence a spanish option.

 

just like canadians have a large french speaking population.

 

if you don't like spanish then just select the option for english and move along.

 

oh, and don't try to make inow out to be the asshole here.

Edited October 1, 2010 by insane_alien

[ydoaPs]

Know why the people from European nations, middle eastern and Asians speak English? They want to assimilate. And you must either be a a kid to have such a view as you do, or perhaps you live somewhere other than the states?

Iirc, IA is from the UK. I, on the otherhand, am a fully grown adult American who happens to be a veteran and I agree with him as well as iNow.

 

edit(obligatory xkcd):

Edited October 1, 2010 by ydoaPs

[ewmon]

I've taught ESL to non-European Hispanics. While most of North America and Europe enjoy a very high literacy rate, most of South America does not, and I found many of them who were illiterate in their own native language.

[rigney]

Iirc, IA is from the UK. I, on the otherhand, am a fully grown adult American who happens to be a veteran and I agree with him as well as iNow.

 

edit(obligatory xkcd):

 

Veteran of what? Army, Navy, Marines, Al Queda? Saw your "beefs" before lad, and see you only as a troubled soul.

Edited October 1, 2010 by rigney

[iNow]

I'm going to reply only because you don't live here in the states! I'm not sure where you're from, but I pity your plight.

What are you talking about? I've lived in the US my whole life. Wow... Just... Wow.

 

 

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[rigney]

not all europeans, middle easterners or asians speak english.

 

SOME do, but not all.

 

a large number of people living in your country speak spanish, hence a spanish option.

 

just like canadians have a large french speaking population.

 

if you don't like spanish then just select the option for english and move along.

 

oh, and don't try to make inow out to be the asshole here.

 

No!; Wee Scotch Laddie, you'll do just fine being the a--hole. C'mon over and I'll teach you English! Und brang Lassie wit' 'ya also.

She probably stands a better chance of larnin' our reasoning than you?

 

What are you talking about? I've lived in the US my whole life. Wow... Just... Wow.

 

 

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Pardon me, I simply had a notion you were still in puberty and just wanted attention.

Edited October 1, 2010 by rigney

[iNow]

Pardon me, I simply had a notion you were still in puberty and just wanted attention.

I'm still waiting for a coherent response from you. Perhaps I expect too much?

[ydoaPs]

Veteran of what? Army, Navy, Marines, Al Queda? Saw your "beefs" before lad, and see you only as a troubled soul.

I was a nuclear operator in the the United States Navy. I made Petty Officer Second Class in two years.

 

The only person in this thread who appears troubled is you.

[rigney]

I'm still waiting for a coherent response from you. Perhaps I expect too much?

 

iNow, First of all, are you an American citizen? Otherwise "bug off". I just don't beat up on foreigners unless they have crashed my pad, uninvited! You want answers, be civil; don't expect subserviency or me to placate your???, or what ever.

[A Tripolation]

I've lived in America my entire life. However, my mother is from Panama. They didn't have ESL programs or phone options when she first moved to the States when she was 10. Needless to say, she had a very difficult time grasping an entirely new language with no assistance whatsoever. Rigney, I'm having a really hard time figuring out why you find, "Para espanol, prese cinco", to be as torturous and cold as the ninth circle of hell.

 

It's six seconds of your life. Press for English, and move on with your life.

 

iNow, First of all, are you an American citizen?

 

He is. He stated that. Being able to read in English as almost as important as being able to speak it, rigney.

 

And by the way, for such a die-hard American patriot, your grammar is appalling. And half of your sentences are either incomplete or suffering from verb-tense disagreements. Just thought you should know.

Edited October 1, 2010 by A Tripolation

[iNow]

iNow, First of all, are you an American citizen?

Por qué preguntas?

 

 

Otherwise "bug off". I just don't beat up on foreigners unless they have crashed my pad, uninvited! You want answers, be civil; don't expect subserviency or me to placate your???, or what ever.

Likewise, I only beat up on ignorant fucktards, academically dishonest ideologues, and hateful bigots.

Edited October 1, 2010 by iNow

[rigney]

I've lived in America my entire life. However, my mother is from Panama. They didn't have ESL programs or phone options when she first moved to the States when she was 10. Needless to say, she had a very difficult time grasping an entirely new language with no assistance whatsoever. Rigney, I'm having a really hard time figuring out why you find, "Para espanol, prese cinco", to be as torturous and cold as the ninth circle of hell.

 

It's six seconds of your life. Press for English, and move on with your life.

 

 

 

He is. He stated that. Being able to read in English as almost as important as being able to speak it, rigney.

 

And by the way, for such a die-hard American patriot, your grammar is appalling. And half of your sentences are either incomplete or suffering from verb-tense disagreements. Just thought you should know.

 

Thanks for that bit of edification since I need it from time to time. Hopefully I don't give you the impression of trying to be overly educated, which I'm not. We'd both know that to be BS. I'm a Hill Blly, nothing more, nothing less; and proud of it. Your Mom and I could probably share the same glove. But at ten years old, I see no reason why English should have been so hard for her to learn? I have had and have friends, who stole away from oppression back in the fifties and didn't speak a word of English when they came to this country. School, perseverence, and just plain, "I"m gonna do it" made them good citizens.

[ydoaPs]

I see no reason why English should have been so hard for her to learn?

English is one of the most haphazard and unintuitive languages and is thusly one of the most difficult to learn.

[A Tripolation]

Thanks for that bit of edification since I need it from time to time. Hopefully I don't give you the impression of trying to be overly educated, which I'm not. We'd both know that to be BS. I'm a Hill Blly, nothing more, nothing less; and proud of it. Your Mom and I could probably share the same glove. But at ten years old, I see no reason why English should have been so hard for her to learn? I have had and have friends, who stole away from oppression back in the fifties and didn't speak a word of English when they came to this country. School, perseverence, and just plain, "I"m gonna do it" made them good citizens.

 

I...wow...

Perseverance was all she had. She was dirt poor. Her family couldn't afford a tutor. It was completely her own determination that she mastered English.

...Are you implying my mother wasn't a good citizen because she spoke in Spanish when she was here?

 

I'm from Kentucky. So I already know your type. You hate everything that's different. You hate Spanish because it's not the antiquated country dialect you've known all your life. You hate Mexicans because they're "taking jobs", even though they're some of the hardest workers I've ever met in my life. They work 18 hour days when the most I can handle is 12. Why opening a topic on something you know you're not going to change your mind about? Just leave.

[rigney]

I...wow...

Perseverance was all she had. She was dirt poor. Her family couldn't afford a tutor. It was completely her own determination that she mastered English.

...Are you implying my mother wasn't a good citizen because she spoke in Spanish when she was here?

 

I'm from Kentucky. So I already know your type. You hate everything that's different. You hate Spanish because it's not the antiquated country dialect you've known all your life. You hate Mexicans because they're "taking jobs", even though they're some of the hardest workers I've ever met in my life. They work 18 hour days when the most I can handle is 12. Why opening a topic on something you know you're not going to change your mind about? Just leave.

 

Sorry you feel that way Amigo!. So, being from Kentucky; you assume to know my type? I think our present government is doing you a disservice by leaving you out in the hinterland when they need you so desperately. I'm only kidding! You're angry at something I said. When you reach my age I'll have probably been gone from here fifty years or so. I hope then you can look back and correct some of our mistakes. Majana!

 

I was a nuclear operator in the the United States Navy. I made Petty Officer Second Class in two years.

 

The only person in this thread who appears troubled is you.

 

Yes!, I'm troubled. A nuclear operator?, "A Nuclear operator"? Would you run something involving that synopsis by me one more time? Please, I'm intrigued.

Edited October 1, 2010 by rigney

[ydoaPs]

Sorry you feel that way Amigo!. So, being from Kentucky; you assume to know my type? I think our present government is doing you a disservice by leaving you out in the hinterland when they need you so desperately. I'm only kidding! You're angry at something I said. When you reach my age I'll have probably been gone from here fifty years or so. I hope then you can look back and correct some of our mistakes. Majana!

Actually, from your posts, he seems to be correct. And you should stop trying to feel superior because you're old. Age does not necessitate wisdom. In fact, in this particular example, your age would make you more likely to fit Trip's description.

 

Yes!, I'm troubled. A nuclear operator?, "A Nuclear operator"? Would you run something involving that synopsis by me one more time? Please, I'm intrigued.

Hot rock makes water hot. That hot water boils other water. That steam turns a turbine and gets condensed to be reboiled. I operated, maintained, and was generally in charge of everything fluid and mechanical in that process. The proper title was Chief Reactor Watch. I have operated several reactors including an experimental prototype with Lockheed Martin.

[insane_alien]

No!; Wee Scotch Laddie, you'll do just fine being the a--hole. C'mon over and I'll teach you English! Und brang Lassie wit' 'ya also.

She probably stands a better chance of larnin' our reasoning than you?

 

wow, that was just offensive and wrong on every level.

 

all i said was that you were being unreasonable towards inow, and pretty much everyone on the forums knows i don't get along too well with inow, we just don't see eye to eye on a lot of things.

[Mr Skeptic]

!

Moderator Note

That's quite enough rudeness in this thread. Locking for 24 hrs before things get out of hand.

[Mr Skeptic]

Oh, sorry forgot to unlock the thread. I hope everyone has calmed down by now. Rigney had earned himself a vacation for his violations of rule 2.1 in this thread, but I guess no one actually gave it to him and it's a bit late for that now.

[John Cuthber]

At least I get to point out that one answer to "Know why the people from European nations, middle eastern and Asians speak English?" is that some Europeans ARE English.

[jackson33]

I had this written, when the thread was locked, seems irrelevant now but will post for what it's worth....

 

 

rigney; Overall US Legal Immigration Policy has changed many times but until 2003 or so, speaking, writing or understanding English was not an issue or a requirement. It was an implied requirement for a successful transition (melding) into the society.

 

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aanewtest.htm

 

Factually and to your point however, people wishing to come here for the most to participate in the affairs of Society and Government, would learn English and encouraged to do so for a prime reason of being successful to the purpose of their coming here in the first place, learning the language, culture and traditions of their chosen residence. It has obviously worked and no doubt should be continued and today for citizenship, applicants are REQUIRED to have an understanding of the English Language.

 

How it has got to the current paradox, IMO falls under two major issues, political and economical and under the disguise of being politically correct. Whether by State action or at the Federal level and noting Illegal Immigration...

 

1- Political; At least since 1965, possibly before all US political Parties have fought over minority groups and there vote at the voting booth. Since it's pretty much up to States/Controlling Party, to control registration and voter eligibility, local laws and enforcement of those laws has been directed at gaining those votes.

 

2- Economical and probably the most important; Whether a small business, the largest manufacturer selling a product, or any local, State Government wishing to gain revenue, the objective being the individual/family and their potential participation.

 

 

While I agree, if exceptions are being made to accommodate one language over another seems unfair, in any area where a large segment of the society is first generation and speaks usually two languages, you'll find much the same, in that local area. As for those that speak Spanish and not illegal, I'd bet the farm they prefer hearing English and are very much aware, to get anyplace in this Country or any Country, it's best done understanding the native language.

 

As to the replies; It should be the Governments obligation to promote the use of English in the US and for the most part I think they are, it's a simple matter of assimilation and if you don't mind a courtesy due the Nation, THEY CHOSE. I have no idea how bigotry got thrown into this discussion, melding or to encourage being part of that choice, if anything is the opposite of bigotry.

 

Tripo; Your mother (10yo) and assuming her parents moving from Panama to the States and claiming to have trouble mastering English, seems a little dramatic. I could and do understand the parents (your grandparents) as a good share of original immigrants do have problems, children in my experience with Latino's have little to no problems. I have no idea what being dirt poor has to do with learning something, but I see nothing written, indicating not speaking English makes for a bad Citizen and your personal success as a second generation immigrant, speaks volumes for the millions that have come here and built what you can now enjoy...