U.S. Official Language?

[Janet]

You are right about America being made up of different cultures. That's fine and wonderful...but Angie, you posted in a manner to shove your opinion at others and that wasnt' right. Just because others don't agree with you. You pretty much asked for a confrontation and you got one.

I'm not going to get into it, because it's obvious you won't understand ours anymore than we understand yours.

This is probably one subject that shouldn't be discussed if it's going to cause hurt feelings....you're not the only one disappointed.

[Emmsmom]

I agree that English should be the official language. The people of Mexico are not the only ones suffering. There are children right here in our own back yard that need the help more. I will always take care of what is in my own backyard first. I think that Americans would be much better off if WE came first.

As far as learning the language...I think if you are going to come over here to live and work then learn the language. We should NOT be expected to bend over backwards to accommodate them. My husband went to Mexico a few years ago on business and not so much as ONE person who lived over there offered to help him out with the language. He had to wing it and get by on his own. He ended up staying in the hotel except to leave to go to work. Thank goodness he had a driver. The hotel had a restaurant too so he never had to leave to go out and eat either.

This is America and yes it is made up of different cultures. However, those different cultures need to learn the English language. It is only fair and right. I am sure that any other country would feel the very same way that we do.

Angie, I am sorry that you feel the way you do but I honestly think you went a bit to far. I have watched you all from a distance joke around with each other as if you were sisters. To now sit here and read your post I must say is a bit shocking. I seriously think you owe the girls an apology. You can't expect everyone to always agree on one opinion. It just doesn't work like that. You can however handle it in a more mature way.

[Tink]

Angie, I read the story and think how different it would be had that Spanish speaking person NOT been there. Sadly, that's how it is here. And we don't only have Mexicans... we have a large population of Hmong as well. Are we all supposed to learn their language as well? Isn't it discriminatory for us to cater to the one group and not the other?

Ashley furniture is our largest local employer. They just got an award from the federal government for having hired so many Hmong and Mexican workers. No one is complaining... the company continues to grow and I know many locals who also work there. The glitch is, now if you want to get a job in the offices or any type of support services, you must be bilingual. They don't care if you speak Spanish or the Hmong language, but you must know one of them. So it DOES affect others.... and I haven't heard of any incidents of tension between the life long residents and those who have recently moved here... They find housing and jobs, churches and schools are open to them. So quite seriously I don't see where they're being discriminated against. We expect the same from them that was expected from our own ancestors when they immigrated to the USA. My great grandparents all came here just over 100 yrs ago speaking only Norwegian. They had to learn English to get by. I highly doubt they left Norway just on a fluke... they came like everyone else, looking for a better life for themselves and their children; so truly there is nothing unique about that.

Please don't assume that because I don't agree that I'm cold and heartless. I've just lived with the reality of this both in the present time and within my own family as I grew up. My perspective on it is different from yours, but it's because my experience has been different too. I really don't think that makes me any more right or wrong than you.

[Gina]

I am going to venture off the Spanish culture here and tell you a story Angie about my SIL girlfriend. Let me tell you a quick synopsis about her. She is about 61yrs. old born and raised in the US. She had married and has three grown daughters, she had the misfortune of marrying a man who drank, she divorced him after many years of marriage and he passed away a few years ago.

This woman has worked medial jobs but she always works, she could have applied to welfare and have gotten food stamps. She was always to proud, till this day she works at a nursery school and makes minimal pay.

One day my SIL told her to call section 8 and see if she qualifies for assistance to help with her rent. So my SIS says I will call for you,why shouldn't you try. Well she got this foriegner who barely spoke english and she explained her friends situation. Well he says to my sil with his broken english OHHHHHHHH NOOOOOO she is not entitled to any help and went on and on. Well my SIL is an outspoken person and said do you know why, its because of foreigners like you who abuse the system and Americans who are born here are shut out.

This group of people are not considered foreigners but refugees Judy can tell you all about them for they are a heavy population in Bklyn.

My point here is that this country should help their own when needed. Other groups come here expect hand outs. If you do it for them what about the people born and raised here? Whose families have worked and payed taxes all along.

Sorry I ventured off the topic but these like this made me mad..