This is the best sign ever made!

Magnum, why not?

A good portion of our country was originally mexican/spanish territory

Because the majority is now English, the past doesn't matter. Why re-train people a language when we could just update a smaller group to fit with the rest. Like I said, I have nothing against Spanish speaking households ect. We have some family friends who are from Canada and speak French in the house. Nothing against it.

choopie911 wrote: Dune wrote: Do you live on the border? Because it's almost feasibly impossible for a business to want to succeed with workers that do not speak any English whatsoever. That would be incredibly bad business that would, as Akhmad said, reduce their efficiency and put them out of business. What if the store owner speaks the other language better than english themselves? Theres no way the interview would be conducted in english if that's the case. Also, come to Vancouver, you'll find plenty of stores where they only speak japanese, cantonese or mandarin. I've only had to deal with it once or twice, but I asked how much something was and they had no idea what I was talking about and started digging for cigarettes behind the counter and pointing to different kinds....

Then the store owner is obviously catering to a specific crowd. If they believe their business will benefit, then it is their choice. In no way does knowing another language, or even just a different language in this country have to be a bad thing. 

It's a shame that a second or third language isn't mandatory. Students all around the world speak multiple languages, and in the U.S.A. in a lot of schools its not  even required to take a language at all.

Always choose the path to expand your mind why be an ignorant fool and just say "I'm done learning, why communicate with other people?".

Apparently you don't know enough English to make sense, either.

ANARCHY_SCOUT wrote: It's a shame that a second or third language isn't mandatory. Students all around the world speak multiple languages, and in the U.S.A. in a lot of schools its not even required to take a language at all. Always choose the path to expand your mind why be an ignorant fool and just say "I'm done learning, why communicate with other people?".

Sadly I'd say a lot of students today can hardly speak english, let alone a second language. Theres far too much to fix in the education system before you can just start introducing things like that.

Try being white and military in hawaii, then claim racism...

I have on problem with immigrants working, but if they can't speak english don't put them in a job that requires conversing.   I hate when I can't get my order in at mcdonalds but I see two girls just chatting it up in the back... (no racist)

I have no problem with people wanting to retain their language for cultural purposes.

But, that being said, when you live and work in an area where the populace speaks English, you, in the customer service industry should be able to communicate with them.

If you want to speak Spanish to your family and to other spanish speaking people, cool. Its your right to do that. But when I want to order a cup of coffee and a bagel, you'd damn well better be able to talk and understand me, or yes, I will drive to another store, even if it is two minutes down the road.

No, that's not racism, and you're a fool to think it is. It's annoyance that in order to be 'culturally sensitive' I need to suffer the inconvenience of not being able to understand the dude taking my order.

And yes, I also worked (in upstate NY) with a guy who was hired who could not speak a word of English. In fact, part of the reason I was hired was because I was taking HS spanish. He could not speak, nor was he making an effort to learn English, and that, is wrong.

Heres To You wrote: Try being white and military in hawaii, then claim racism...I have on problem with immigrants working, but if they can't speak english don't put them in a job that requires conversing.   I hate when I can't get my order in at mcdonalds but I see two girls just chatting it up in the back... (no racist)

I'm not the only one who thinks Hawaii shouldn't be America, am I?

What is so difficult about learning a few extra 1000 words to be able to communicate with others around you?

I find it sad that people are willing to learn, nearly instantaneously, new, technology related words that have existed for very short time but are unwilling to learn words that have been around in different cultures for many many generations.

Unless someone lives in YOUR home or in a business YOU own, who cares what they speak?

Edited by Hades - 18 June 2008 at 8:43am