“Why Aren’t You Speaking English?”

To all of the First Admendment know-it-alls, it does not address anything about language in it, just CONTENT of speech. Any considerate individual that is smarter than a brick, would try and learn some of the language of the country they decided to live in.

Originally posted by blockhead
To all of the First Admendment know-it-alls, it does not address anything about language in it, just CONTENT of speech.

Nope. Sorry, you're mistaken. It protects ALL speech and expression, verbal or non-verbal, visual and symbolic (flag-burning is protected by the First Amendment) from government prohibition. There are exceptions to the First Amendment (sedition, obscenity, defamation, etc.) but language isn't one if them.

Originally posted by ThirdEyeofHorus
Well, the way I see it is, if the job entails anything besides the need to translate, then they are not an equal opportunity employer.

Right, equal opportunity employment is a commie idea. Part of this Marxist Socialist Utopian agenda. Yes I read your post following the one I am replying to. Funny how people flip-flop.

reply to post by hotbakedtater


I understand what you are saying sir, but we are not shown the same respect in other countries now are we? If I get caught up in a small Mexican town(or almost anywhere in the world for that matter) I am not getting an English interpreter now am I?

reply to post by Sherlock Holmes


Well, it is half way there:

English Only legislation first appeared in 1981 as a constitutional English Language Amendment. This proposal, if approved by a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate and ratified by three-quarters of state legislatures, would have banned virtually all uses of languages other than English by federal, state, and local governments. But the measure has never come to a Congressional vote, even in committee.

Since 1981, 24 states have adopted various forms of Official English legislation, in addition to four that had already done so. Subtracting Hawai'i (which is officially bilingual) and Alaska (whose English-only initiative has been declared unconstitutional) leaves a total of 26 states with active Official English laws. These measures are unrelated, however, to the process of amending the U.S. Constitution.

Full text for the above

Originally posted by premierepastimes
I understand what you are saying sir, but we are not shown the same respect in other countries now are we?

Are you saying that since other countries don't have the same standards as we do (based on the US Constitution) that we should just ignore Freedom of Speech? Who cares what happens in other countries???? We're talking about THIS country. OUR laws and rules. OUR freedoms. This has nothing to do with other countries.

If I get caught up in a small Mexican town(or almost anywhere in the world for that matter) I am not getting an English interpreter now am I?

It depends on the country. The more civilized ones will most definitely provide an interpreter, if THEY don't speak English, which they probably do.

Originally posted by premierepastimes
reply to post by hotbakedtater

 

If I get caught up in a small Mexican town(or almost anywhere in the world for that matter) I am not getting an English interpreter now am I?

Actually the most recent changes to mexican immigration law says that the mexican government is obligated to provide a translater free of charge to anyone detained in their country who does not speak spanish. Also you will have government appointed counsel, the right to contact the embassy of your country of origin and other very US like provisions.

Who cares? In a "free country" you allegedly have the freedom to speak whichever language you choose. The US isnt a dictatorship (though many would like it to be).

reply to post by Scoriada


I agree with the senator also.

I posted in another thread recently about this exact language issue. Here in Texas, it is a huge problem. I am as white as a white person can be and speak english. Granted, I have learned and picked up a little Spanish simply because I almost can't communicate without it anymore. But, if I am approached by someone who only speaks spanish, I play like I have no idea what said person is saying. Especially in the store I work at. Guaranteed at least 3 Hispanic people per day will approach me and get angry when I don't speak spanish.

What gets me the most are the ESL students who never learn 2 sentences in English all the way through High School and yet somehow pass their English classes and get diplomas. English is my only language and even I had trouble at times. This country caters to illiteracy/ignorance and stupidity and makes it twice as hard on those who aren't any of the above.

My position is with the Senators. It is insulting to come to OUR country and not learn OUR language. Screw the statistics. Forget the fact that there is no OFFICIAL declaration of what our national language is. Primary language here is English, plain and simple.

reply to post by Scoriada


I am glad that there are at least a few people commenting on the fact that the USA really doesn't have a national language. The USA is a melting pot. That's what we stand for. However, it seems more and more so recently that people are becoming intolerant.
All that being said, living in a country for 23 years and still being ignorant of the predominantly spoken language is a bad idea on that man's part. It just seems like it would make his life easier to learn English, but by God if he doesn't want to let him be that way.

nothing wrong with requiring someone to learn the language of their new country...some peole are just lazy by nature

en.wikipedia.org...

He doesn't have to speak English just because Americans are racist. English is our de facto language, and legally, he can speak whatever language he wants, especially Spanish like 12% of America does. I agree he'll have trouble in America without speaking English, but he has his rights just like white English speakers.

reply to post by amcdermott20


every body on these boards are all about cutting government waste well if this guy didnt provide the translator himself then he shouldn't be heard unless hes speaking english.

Originally posted by daskakik

Originally posted by ThirdEyeofHorus
Well, the way I see it is, if the job entails anything besides the need to translate, then they are not an equal opportunity employer.

Right, equal opportunity employment is a commie idea. Part of this Marxist Socialist Utopian agenda.

Yes I read your post following the one I am replying to. Funny how people flip-flop.

You Socialists want equal opportunity employment, it jolly well better go both ways.

Originally posted by daskakik

Originally posted by premierepastimes
reply to post by hotbakedtater

 

If I get caught up in a small Mexican town(or almost anywhere in the world for that matter) I am not getting an English interpreter now am I?

Actually the most recent changes to mexican immigration law says that the mexican government is obligated to provide a translater free of charge to anyone detained in their country who does not speak spanish. Also you will have government appointed counsel, the right to contact the embassy of your country of origin and other very US like provisions.

edit on 20-6-2011 by daskakik because: (no reason given)

That's just common sense. But living in a country for 23 years and then having the State pay for a translator so that you can protest laws cracking down on illegals cause all your friends and family in another country are waiting for the next coyote crossing is just insanity. I don't buy into that progressive nonsense and I know what the agenda is.

reply to post by ThirdEyeofHorus


23 years in this country and testifying about illegal immigration in a his native language that he "feels more comfortable" in

the question that needs to be asked is the dude legal himself.

its the liberal progressive agenda that seeks to promote the difference in people instead of uniting them like taking the name of american and speaking english.

meh burns me up.

Originally posted by daskakik

Originally posted by ThirdEyeofHorus
So what! I can go to Tunisia and find products printed in Danish. Does that mean that Tunisia has to have Danish as a language taught in school or as a primary language beside French and Arabic/Berber?

You said and I quote:

Companies print labels in Spanish because they want Spanish speaking people to buy their product.

It's part of NAFTA. No one said anyhting about teaching spanish in american classes.

I was merely pointing out that having product in a foreign language does not necessitate it having special status. The Tunisians speak French because of French colonization, not because they wanted to. And who said NAFTA was a good thing to begin with?

reply to post by ThirdEyeofHorus

You Socialists want equal opportunity employment, it jolly well better go both ways.

Equal Opportunity employment is a socialist idea so if your calling the employers in these cases out on that then YOU are calling for socialism. Saying the employer is free to choose whomever he wants to work for him is rather capitalistic.

That's just common sense. But living in a country for 23 years and then having the State pay for a translator so that you can protest laws cracking down on illegals cause all your friends and family in another country are waiting for the next coyote crossing is just insanity. I don't buy into that progressive nonsense and I know what the agenda is.

The post being answered specifically said that if he got in trouble in mexico he doubted he would get a translater. Everything else you bring up is besides the point.

I was merely pointing out that having product in a foreign language does not necessitate it having special status. The Tunisians speak French because of French colonization, not because they wanted to. And who said NAFTA was a good thing to begin with?

Don't know where your going with this but your post was in reply to me pointing out that products appear with different languages all over latin america so people in the US blowing up over spanish being on their labels are just being naive. I think we agree.

My post does not cast judgment on NAFTA. It's just a reminder that its existence is the reason for english/spanish/french labels in north america.

Originally posted by neo96
reply to post by ThirdEyeofHorus

 

23 years in this country and testifying about illegal immigration in a his native language that he "feels more comfortable" in

the question that needs to be asked is the dude legal himself.

its the liberal progressive agenda that seeks to promote the difference in people instead of uniting them like taking the name of american and speaking english.

meh burns me up.

Speaking in spanish and being for illegal immigration musn't have helped his case any. If he isn't comfortable speaking english after 23 years, he never will be.