Did we just compare the US to Canada and its provinces?

I'm all for a unification of the language in the US simply because, it makes life easier. I can speak partial Spanish, my sister is fluent, but it shouldn't be my position to know a different language in a country that supposedly speaks English. Of course, some hard core Brits could say "you do not speak English in the United States".

Remember just left of left is fascist

__________________

An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I want to add,

That it's not uncommon to be in an ethnic area where the immigrants do not speak English as the main language. As I already stated above, who wants to go to China Town in New York or Korea Town or Armenia Town, etc, and not have the cultural experience of navigating around foreign languages.

Do we really want the US so homogenized that any flavor of ethnic diversity has been legalized out.

Cause those of you that eat at the Olive Garden and think that Sushi would taste better if it were cooked on a BBQ with some hot wing sauce, should try to be a little more socially tolerant.

And lets be honest. It's not the first generation Americans that are apprehensive about speaking English exclusively. It is their parents, the immigrants.

And since we don't have waves of Cubans coming over in rafts anymore, isn't it a little acceptable to allow the native Cuban community to retain parts of their culture that is important to them, while their children become Americanized. It is not as if the schools in Hialea and Kendall are not teaching English.

So any language barriers that do exist in Miami will fade in time. I did not have a single latin friend in Miami that had a problem speaking, writing, communicating in English.

And don't believe for a second that not every Latin in Miami doesn't speak English. They ALL do. They can all navigate the language, read the road signs, etc. They just want a little cultural recognition in a city that is largely compromised of people from Latin decent.

Just like Boston likes to have people recognize that a majority of it's citizens are or Irish decent. And don't tell me, THE IRISH learned to speak proper English, cause I saw Gangs of New York and I couldn't understand a god damn word of that movie, lol...

B

__________________
----------------------------------------------------------

"When two people agree on everything, one of them is not necessary" - Arliss

Wow I guess it really is different on the other coast.

If you drive through Boston, you will see the vast difference from the Irish neighborhoods to the italian neighborhoods, which all maintain their traits, from the stone and tile roofed houses to the "triple deckers" and whatever other neighborhoods and attributes there are. All the signs are still in English, school is taught in english, and the police arrest you in english.

PS, my g'parents DID adapt their english. Movies are movies.

What do you mean, the other coast?

I grew up in Queens, New York. Went to school in the Mid-West, then moved to Miami where I lived for 10 years. Now I live in Los Angeles.

I think it's fair to say, between living in the biggest melting pot in the world, New York and living in the most homogenized, middle america, city in the world, Columbus, OH, I have a pretty good feel for both extremes.

As I said, I never met a single Latin in Miami that could not speak English. They just choose to speak Spanish. And that is the older generation, not the kids. And that's the same thing, I have seen, every where else in the country that has an immigrant population. The immigrants speak their native language in their community, but their children prefer English. It just so happens that the Latin community in Miami, covers a lot of the territory.

If I remember correctly, the Cuban population of Miami didn't start fighting for road signs, bi-lingual signage, etc. until the rest of the country started complaining about all the Spanish speakers. And like all silly, non-sense, any argument forces people to the extremes.

Leave Miami alone. Anyone who lives there or who has lived there, will tell you, the city works just fine.

__________________
----------------------------------------------------------

"When two people agree on everything, one of them is not necessary" - Arliss

This is totally inappropriate but, when I saw it today, I thought of this thread...
.
.

Attached Images

 

awesome.

__________________

An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Having more functional bi-liguals will be great considering global economies, etc.. However, bi-lingual education and civil services are very costly. Last time we checked, our local and federal governments are pretty broke.

If a Spanish speaking person is spending money, it is only natural the vendor or the company should provide Spanish services. However, when it comes to government agencies they shouldn't expand already depleted resources to bilingual services. (IMO)

If you go to local ethnic area don't sweat to much if you don't get serviced in perfect or mediocre English. You are simply in the wrong zip code and your money is no good there.

Having said that I wish I could pick up some Spanish so that they will stop messing up my orders at local Mexican Restaurant. But I don't take it personal.

M had a "bumper sticker" app of that on her Facebook weeks ago . It made my day!

My opinion is that the US really needs to get a handle on the illegal immigration. There continues to be a serious gang problem in parts where I used to live (it was a topic for my college app essay a while ago). Of course, MoCo practically encouraged all the illegal immigrants to move there, with its shelters and day labourer sites