The immigration fight continues in Philly

If you can't speak english you need to get the fuck outta the US.

Is it me or did I read somewhere that they were trying to make a new amendment to declare English the National language?
Thought I saw that somewhere. Can anyone confirm that?

Glitch wrote:If you can't speak english you need to get the fuck outta the US.

They need to be able to speak english and we have to be able to understand them. If you can't understand what they are saying then they need to leave.

That and they should be here LEGALLY.

I don't care of they can't speak english. No reason to make them conform.

However, WE should not have to adapt for them. This is OUR country and if they want to get along, they can learn it. They don't have to, though.

Of course, I may be biased. Speaking spanish will help me on the job market quite a bit 😃

A private business has every right to do this.

By the way, the English as a national language law seems to me to be a huge waste of time and money. English is already widely spoken throughout the country. All laws are written in english. All politician speak english. English is already for all intents and purposes the official language of the United States. All the proposed national language law is about is making it look like congress is doing something about immigration.

Rainman wrote:
By the way, the English as a national language law seems to me to be a huge waste of time and money. English is already widely spoken throughout the country. All laws are written in english. All politician speak english. English is already for all intents and purposes the official language of the United States. All the proposed national language law is about is making it look like congress is doing something about immigration.

Just goes to show you the extent that the American government will go to to make it look like they are actually doing something. I personnally think that if they wanted to do that, it was too little, too late. Because now by passing such a thing with all the other languages in this country and foreign legal people speeking them. It will cause a lot more problems than it was intended to solve.

What the hell? Since when are immigrants "forcing" anyone to learn Spanish? So they may not speak the language, big deal, that's their problem, not ours, isn't it? Grow a pair, for God's sake, and be okay with the fact that you don't understand a damn word they're saying. No one's expecting you to, and nothing's going to happen if you don't.

I just don't see what the commotion is all about. The only possible consequence I see here from them not speaking English is guilt for not knowing Spanish and not being able to understand someone.

MacWeirdo42 wrote:What the hell? Since when are immigrants "forcing" anyone to learn Spanish? So they may not speak the language, big deal, that's their problem, not ours, isn't it? Grow a pair, for God's sake, and be okay with the fact that you don't understand a damn word they're saying. No one's expecting you to, and nothing's going to happen if you don't.

I just don't see what the commotion is all about. The only possible consequence I see here from them not speaking English is guilt for not knowing Spanish and not being able to understand someone.

But if the immagrants get jobs at fast food places and stores and things, and all they speak is Spanish, is that not forcing citizens to either speak Spanish, find a translator, or get their order wrong?

Not to mention, how are the Spanish speakers supposed to convey their own orders and requests to citizens if citizens "aren't forced" to learn Spanish?

I agree wholeheartedly with Geno's policy. And my wife is from another country. She learned English. And speaks it better than some people who were born here. Her brother lives in Philadelphia. He learned English. Besides, Pat's King of Steaks is like 150 feet away from Geno's. And their food is better. 😃

Monica wrote:But if the immagrants get jobs at fast food places and stores and things, and all they speak is Spanish, is that not forcing citizens to either speak Spanish, find a translator, or get their order wrong?

Not to mention, how are the Spanish speakers supposed to convey their own orders and requests to citizens if citizens "aren't forced" to learn Spanish?

Monica Edit: Oh my gosh, I accidently put my own post in yours O_O I dunno how but I promise it was an accident...>_<

Rainman wrote:If your server can't understand you then go else where. Free market would fix the problem if people realized you could do this.

To me, this whole business just sounds like xenophobia, because honestly, I just can't see where the problem is.

Rainman wrote:If your server can't understand you then go else where. Free market would fix the problem if people realized you could do this.

So, for example, a person who lives in a tiny town all their life who wants some McDonalds or Taco Bell or any other fast food that's in town, should drive 15 minutes away with inflated gas prices and should never have fast food or buy groceries or anything in their own town again? And next you are gonna tell me that that isn't the Spanish language forcing people out of their home town?

(Yes I used my cruddy town as an example)

I live in a small crappy town so I can sympathize with you about limited options. However, for the most part, you would only be out a few luxury items (like Mcdonalds and Taco Bell) and if the boycott is widespread enough it wouldn't take long to make change. It takes a bit of sacrifice to create change.

Why don't we just buy Mexico?

Rainman wrote:I live in a small crappy town so I can sympathize with you about limited options. However, for the most part, you would only be out a few luxury items (like Mcdonalds and Taco Bell) and if the boycott is widespread enough it wouldn't take long to make change. It takes a bit of sacrifice to create change.

Change. Here? Right, that's a good one. 😃 Oh you have NO idea, :rofl: I used it in my little story, but honestly, it's not a problem here, we live far enough away from the border. (unfortunately we have other problems) But I was thinking about if it came here, and sympathyzing with other cruddy towns...^^

MacWeirdo42 wrote:What the hell? Since when are immigrants "forcing" anyone to learn Spanish? So they may not speak the language, big deal, that's their problem, not ours, isn't it? Grow a pair, for God's sake, and be okay with the fact that you don't understand a damn word they're saying. No one's expecting you to, and nothing's going to happen if you don't.

I just don't see what the commotion is all about. The only possible consequence I see here from them not speaking English is guilt for not knowing Spanish and not being able to understand someone.

Well depending on the area, Moncia's right, businesses and such will speak only in Spanish. I've been in those areas, and I guess I was rather "huh?" but whatever, Mexican neighboorhood of mostly Mexicans speaking Spanish, that's fine by me. The problem is when they take the same attitude elsewhere. I actually transfered stores, because the one I was working at was frequented everyday by Mexicans very very pissed off that I didn't speak English, and liked trying the "yelling in Spanish instead of trying to speak English, because I am going to learn to speak Spanish that way" tactic at me all the time.

Also they were generally bitchy and hostile, and interpreted every vaguely negative thing I did as racism. Right before I decided to transfer, I was at the register in a really bad mood (I hadn't slept at all and had been fighting with my bf), and I keyed a transaction wrong and had to redo it. I thought it was pretty obviously my frustrated sighs were directed at ME being stupid with the register, but apparently the guy I was serving was Mexican (I hadn't even noticed), and the woman started screaming at my coworker in front of everyone how racist I was and how I should be fired. Wouldn't even look at me, just my coworker, even as I was apologizing and crying my eyes out, she was treating me like dirt because OMG I have pale skin and was in a bad mood, so I h8 Mexicans.. I just kind of went home after that and decided to transfer.

So yeah, not blaming that incident as common, but there's a very strong ATTITUDE of that in certain places that turns everyone into a dick after awhile and puts pressure on society. It made me really wary and rather annoyed with Mexicans in general after awhile, because I'd keeping making the mistake of greeting them and then get bitched at for not doing it in Spanish. The store I transfered to has immigrants too, but they're a lot nicer and I haven't had the same problem...only in one or two cases has no one spoken ANY English, but they didn't seem to hate me for it and I just directed them to someone who spoke Spanish. I guess it depends on the area.

Dechipher wrote:Why don't we just buy Mexico?

It's an interesting situation and I kind of agree with what he's trying to do. Reminds me of an episode of South Park, actually...

South Park, day. The boys walk down the commercial district noticing immigrants from time to time. Various immigrants greet them and try to sell them fruits, but the boys walk on. A hovering futuristic car comes up next to them, sets down, and bounces the front end up and down like a lowrider. The driver then activates the hydraulics and the car begins to dance. The boys just look in wonder as the car settles down and then moves off. Its exhaust hits the boys' faces and they cough. Next, the boys head for a Wendell's Burgers restaurant. They enter and head for the counter
Kyle: Aw, dude. The boys see that the restaurant is staffed by immigrants from the future. One of them approaches to take an order
Cashier: Gaur da'ka?
Stan: Can you speak in present-day English please?
Cashier: Uh oh... Can I help... you?
Stan: Uh yeah, I want a double cheeseburger and fries.
Cashier: Looks at the boys quizzically, then shows off the chicken sandwich to his left Chicken sandwich?
Stan: Getting annoyed No, a double cheeseburger and fries!
Cashier: Taps away at the machine's keyboard A cheeg- fry?
Stan: What?!
Cashier: A cheeg- fry?
Cartman: We can't understand you, asshole!
The cashier's manager comes up and talks to him for a bit. The cashier points at the boys. The manager takes over and resets the order
Manager: Can I help you?
Stan: I'm trying to order a double cheeseburger!
Manager: Shows off the chicken sandwich to his left Chicken sandwich?
[B]Stan: No, it's not a chicken sandwich! His parents enter the restaurant and stand in line behind him and the boys I want a Goddamned cheeseburger and some Goddamned fries you fucking goobacks!
Randy: Stan Marsh!
Stan: Aw-awwww.

Now tell me that you guys didn't see this comming.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13272368/

It was only a matter of time.

Being PC totally sucks ass. I wanna make fun of black people again! I wanna joke about gays! I wanna make wisecracks about women!

Fucking Beaurocrats.

I don't know what's bringing about your guys' beef.

I live half an hour from Juarez. For anyone who doesn't know that is the official name for Mexico's unwiped inflamed asshole(great place to go get smashed). Anyway, restaurants and other businesses have lots of spanish speaking employees who don't know a bit of English. Never once have I had a problem. These people aren't taking my order, asking me to learn another language, or Inconveniencing(sp?) me in anyway.

I've worked construction with people who couldn't speak English. No problems. The little Spanish I knew and the little English they knew and lots of signing and some trial and error and it was all go. Not ideal but in know way a bother.

Any place only offering services via one language has bad business skills and will eventually conform or be pushed out if demand is high enough. You might construe this as forcing businesses to offer spanish services but that is far from true. If a business chooses not to offer bilingual service to a bilingual society than they choose to not have that business. If a restaurant opens with only spanish speaking employees that is their right also, either learn some lingo or don't eat there.

And you guys are going to somehow try to tell me that the English-only policy your so in support of has not a lick to do with your racist views, right? I don't buy it. It boils down to racism, and that's it.

Places around the world have many languages clashing and mixing in daily life, whole nations with multiple official languages, people who know many tongues their whole lives. Why not a big deal there? Because they're not Middle American racists.

If a few people in Philadelphia (of all places) are upset over diversity, then they can move to Idaho or Oklahoma or someplace that will support their diversity phobic views.

Toolie wrote:And you guys are going to somehow try to tell me that the English-only policy your so in support of has not a lick to do with your racist views, right? I don't buy it. It boils down to racism, and that's it.

Places around the world have many languages clashing and mixing in daily life, whole nations with multiple official languages, people who know many tongues their whole lives. Why not a big deal there? Because they're not Middle American racists.

If a few people in Philadelphia (of all places) are upset over diversity, then they can move to Idaho or Oklahoma or someplace that will support their diversity phobic views.

Toolie wrote:then they can move to Idaho that will support their diversity phobic views.

No, fuck that! We have enough ignorant mouthbreathing hicks as it is.

Toolie wrote:And you guys are going to somehow try to tell me that the English-only policy your so in support of has not a lick to do with your racist views, right? I don't buy it. It boils down to racism, and that's it.

Places around the world have many languages clashing and mixing in daily life, whole nations with multiple official languages, people who know many tongues their whole lives. Why not a big deal there? Because they're not Middle American racists.

If a few people in Philadelphia (of all places) are upset over diversity, then they can move to Idaho or Oklahoma or someplace that will support their diversity phobic views.

Breaking news: everyone's racist.

Damn those Asian, everywhere you go theres fortune cookies and fried rice. Its an Asian invasioN!!

Daarkseid wrote:

Toolie wrote:
then they can move to Oklahoma that will support their diversity phobic views.

No, fuck that! We have enough ignorant mouthbreathing hicks as it is.No, fuck that! We have enough ignorant mouthbreathing hicks as it is.

Yes, fuck that. We also hate gays, btw.

Lilith wrote:Breaking news: everyone's racist.

Well, I suppose if everyone doesn't include me and a lot of people I know.

Actually, I've read about an interesting theory that holds that 20% of the population is racist, 20% is not, and 60% just follow whichever side happens to be popular at the time.

While I doubt your numbers, that's qualitatively pretty much how everything works in this country. A few people on either side of an issue have actual opinions based on thought, and the rest in the middle are too lazy to think it out for themselves, so they allow themselves to be manipulated by whoever is better at on those two opposite sides.