Am I racist......?

Question

I love learning other languages and about the cultures behind them. I learned French when I was in High School and got hooked. I then took Latin in college and am currently trying to learn Italian and Japanese on my own for the fun of it.

But I refuse to learn Spanish. I am protesting this language because I live in California and everywhere they want you to learn Spanish. This is America the only language I should HAVE TO learn is English. I go to stores and need to ask someone a question and they look at me like they have no idea what I'm saying because they don't speak English. My friend had a similar experience at Walmart.

I think if you come to this country the least you can do is learn the language. When I went to Paris, people were nice to you if you at least tried to speak their language, but for those who didn't they were completely mean. And I can't blame them for that because they have pride in the language of their country. Why shouldn't Americans.

So, Am I racist

My friend is Mexican and when they came here legally, they learned English and she even thinks those who don't want to learn the language or at least try shouldn't be here.

For those saying I'm close minded. If they try I agree, its fine. but there's a lot who don't try. If I ask someone "Where's the bathroom at the store they work at, and they just stare and then smile. That's not trying. I know how to say Where's the bathroom in several different languages. Why can't they learn simple phrases to get by?"

Answer 1

You are totally not a racist! Infact I am proud that you are the type of American that you are. You are a global citizen who respects other cultures and are proud of your country. I wish all Americans would learn other languages to enhance their lives. It is joy to be able to travel and speak to people and absorb their culture. It is great the we have the choice to learn any language we wish. I too have traveled to France, Germany, Italy,Austria, and Spain. Before my travels, I learned basic phrases in all of those languages as a courtesy and to meet people. I never once recieved animosity in those countries because I made a sturdy effort to communicate with them in their languages. I was almost fulent at one point in Spanish because my Husband's mom and dad speak very little. I tried like crazy to communicate with them in Spanish for 15 years and then realized that they weren't even trying in the slighest bit to speak to me in English. So, I just stopped speaking to them in Spanish, and use my husband as a translator. They have been in the US for almost 20 years and still can't speak English because the are lazy and only watch the Spanish channels. I too, get offended when I hear Spanish spoken in public. The people dont' know English, or worse yet, they choose to speak it over English. I want my son to learn several languages, and we are starting with Spanish because His father is fluent. He speaks spanish to him at home and in public, English. Learning different languages never hurt anyone and I fully encourage all to at least try but, don't be bullied into learning Spanish beacuse Millions of immigrants don't want to learn English. Boycott away sister, after all this is your country!

Answer 2

I basically agree with what you are saying, but just because something should be a certain way doesn't mean it will be. The language problems like you mentioned will probably be around for a while, so as long as you like learning languages, why not go ahead and learn Spanish? Refusing to is a little like cutting off your nose to spite your face. It will make your life easier in the long run, plus put a smile on the faces of those who just haven't been able to master English yet, for whatever reason. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! Just look at it as another way to expand your horizons!

Answer 3

We are all racists, but not for the reason you mentioned.

Besides, what's wrong with learning a bit Spanish? If you really took Latin in college, you shouldn't have any problem with Spanish. It's a really easy language to learn-just like English.
I agree with you that anyone who intends to live in a foreign country should at least learn the language-it's the first step toward integration.

Answer 4

I think if you go in a store, the people there should speak english.I mean,if a kid got lost and was crying for their mommy,what would a non-english speaking person do?You can't expect a 3yr old kid to speak spanish.My youngest two boys don't speak any spanish and they are half mexican.My husband is an illegal and he learned english.It took awhile,but he kept trying and now only speaks to us in english.If that stubborn man can learn it,then so can everybody else :-). I mean, I speak spanish too,but I wanted him to learn english if he was gonna stay here.And he wanted too.

No,I don't think you are a racist,I just think you have a valid point. It's a common decency to speak the language of the country you are in.If I was in Mexico , they would expect me to speak spanish.Especially in the less popular areas.You know most people in their stores don't speak english,so why should it be different here?

Answer 5

Racist I think not. People from Mexico want to turn America into another Mexico and have the language to be Spanish and everything in Mexico right here so this country can go right down the gutter. America does more for the people of Mexico then it's own government and why they want that same situation here there is something really backwards about that. Most Illegals prefer you change your life to accommodate them could careless about learning anything. Their central concern is the America dollar and assuring it is sent to back Mexico. Calif is so screwed up you can now vote there with no id require America has this time really let us down.

Answer 6

Most people that immigrate to the US DO learn English at some point. However, learning a language, particularly one as notoriously difficult as English, is not easy and it DOES take time. Many of the people you may be encountering probably are trying to learn English and either they do not have sufficient fluency to converse with you or they do not yet feel confident enough to attempt to converse with you in English. The history of successive waves of immigration to the US reveals a common pattern of language acquisition irrespective of the country of origin. The first generation of immigrants will learn English with difficulty. Some of them may resist learning it at all; many others will try with varying degrees of success. The second generation, born here in the US, will learn English much more easily than their parents, though they may still identify with their parents' country of origin. By the third generation, the grandchildren speak English completely fluently and are indistinguishable from the grandchildren of non-immigrants. They will also identify culturally as Americans.

While it may or may not be prejudiced of you to assert that everyone in America should speak English, especially given that English is the language for economic success in the US; it is prejudiced of you to assume that most or all of the present wave of immigrants are neither interested in nor trying to learn English. And, given that there are so many countries around the world that you might enjoy visiting where Spanish is the dominant language, it would appear somewhat backwards and provincial of you to refuse to learn Spanish.

Answer 7

NO I don't think you are racist. I think that you have a very good point. I can understand VISITING somewhere and not know the language, but to enter this country illegally to live here ILLEGALLY, then not even remotely try to learn English is not only lazy but horribly disrespectful. This is America and when you go into places and have to know Spanish to purchase something that's when you know something is horribly wrong. I don't think it will ever get better, I'm sorry to say. But I do not think you are racist you are simply frustrated like the rest of us.

Answer 8

I don't think you're racist at all. I agree with you completely. Both times my ship was on deployment, I attempted to speak the language of the countries we visited, and they do appreciate it. Even if you totally mangle the pronunciation of the words, you're still making an attempt. More than I can say about all the illegals swarming over the border.

When you call a number for customer service, you shouldn't have to press a number to hear their menu in English. I'm so tired of that too.

Answer 9

You aren't a racist, you sound more like a patriot. If we had a second language as America it should be Italian because the majority of our legal immigrants have come from Italy. But, they learned to speak the language and adopted our culture. For a country that is a "melting pot" it is crucial to have one, unified language...American.

Answer 10

No, you are not a racist. No other country caters to those who don't speak the language of the land. We offer driving tests, applications for everything, and automated prompts on the phones in Spanish. I have lived abroad in France, Germany, Brazil and Malaysia. No one ever went out of their way in any of these countries to help me communicate my needs and wants because I was an American that did not understand. If I wanted to participate in society, I had to speak their language. They made no apologies about it either. So, needles to say, I agree with you.