Have you noticed this?

Question

In my travels I have noticed something I find odd. I come from St Louis and our hispanic population has grown over the years, we did not always have a large population of spanish-speakers. But when I drive through New Mexico, Texas, even to Chicago, there is a hug divide in the people. The hispanic population and white populations dont seem to interact at all! When I talk to people in Spanish, they think it is the oddest thing in the world, that no white person has ever taken the time to learn it. My question is this:

If there is such a large population of white people and such a large population of hispanic people, why dont they interact more? They seem to know very little about one another. Does it have to do with illegal immigration?

wow some people are showing their true colors.

Well JD, it would be just as easy for me to say "Illegals are here to stay love it or leave it." but that doesnt make anything better does it?

Chula, there are not that many latinos here if you compare St Louis to California or Texas, but there are specific areas.

Answer 1

I think it's ignorance on the part of both groups. Each have this preconceived notion about how one will react to another so no one will dare and attempt to extend that "olive branch" to get to know one another. The last time I was in St.Louis, I really didn't see many Latinos. Everyone was very friendly,more so thann where I live. All of the people who are obsessed with bashing illegals, FYI: I know a Guatemalan kid who came here illegally and could only speak Cachiquel, in 3 months he was able to pick up English,Spanish,and Portuguese. This is just another unfair stereotype that all illegals can't speak English.

Answer 2

Unless Youve Forgotten(And I Dont Think You Have)
This Is ONE Of The Primary Issues In This Debate
The REFUSAL Of The Immigrants (Legal AND ILLEGAL)
To ASSIMILATE Into Our Society

NO-ONE Ever Said
That People Cant Speak Their Native Tongue

BUT

In Order To Become An Integrated Member
Of ANY SOCIETY
You MUST Learn To Speak The Primary Language
Of That Society
In The USA, That Language Is ENGLISH
And American Citizens Should Not Be Required
To Learn The Language Of The ILLEGAL Alien
To Accomodate Him
The ILLEGAL Alien Should Learn The Language Of ENGLISH
To Help Himself INTEGRATE Into OUR SOCIETY

If It Aint Broke
We Dont Fix It

We LIKE Our Nation The Way It Is
If ILLEGAL Aliens Want To Change A Society
They Should Start A Revolution In Their OWN Nation
Not Ours

WE THE PEOPLE Will Not Allow You To Change Our Country
You Can Learn Our Language
And Respect Our Laws
Or Go Back To Where You Came From

This Is The USA
Love It Or Leave It
****************************

Yes......
Easy For You To SAY
But Get Real And Face The Facts

ILLEGAL Aliens Are Being Deported In Record Numbers
Day Labor Centers Are Closing
Landlords Are Being Fined For Renting To Illegals
Social Services Are Being Withheld (Colorado)
Employers Are Being Subject To Sanctions

You Can SAY Illegals Are Here To Stay
All You Want
If You Like The Sound Of Your Own Voice

The Fact Is
Theyre Not
And The Sooner You Wake Up
And Smell The Deportation Papers...............

Answer 3

Fair question, we do - but under one flag one language one country. Canada is like that - they are divided. No matter where you came from, we don't want that here. Every other country in the world that came here became American, why can't they?

The pledge of alliegience says 'one nation indivisible' both of our governments are fighting hard to divide us. In the end they never have and they never will.

We are asking you as a soveriegn nation to come here responsibly according to our laws. To do otherwise is nothing less than an attack on the American way of life. But instead of respecting our soveriegnty, we are asked to only respect Mexico's sovereingty and give up our soveriegnty as a human rights issue.

That will never fly as more and more people understand what is going on. I was agahst last week when I read that a state politician in Georgia said there was no such thing as an anchor baby that no one pregnant hangs our by the border to travel to a US hospital to give birth.

Your strength has been silence. On May 1st, that ended your strongest weapon. It has only been three months and you already see the bills going through governments over this. As time goes on, you will see even more resistance. The American people have never been any other way. What makes you think they are now?

Answer 4

It has to do with a change in the philosophy of immigrants in the last 20-30 years. In the past, they eagerly tried to integrate into the greatest country in the world - learn the language, be a productive contributor to society, etc. That's the way it was for my parents and grandparents when they came over. Now, it is all about what they can get back from us, and still manage to keep their old identity. It's time to have some real national identity here, people!

Answer 5

I'm white and I speak spanish.I'm married to a spanish man.But, I understand what you are saying.People find it wierd that I speak spanish and when I talk to a hispanic person they act like it's unique or something. But not many americans want to learn a new language. Well,beyond spanish 1 in high school.

I've also found that more white people are leery of hispanics than other races. African American ppl don't seem to keep as many hostilities fowards hispanics as whites do. Nor other races either. I'm sure there are,I just haven't seen it.

Answer 6

Could be that the white people don't speak Spanish, and some Hispanics don't want to learn English.. so how should they communicate? And yes, a lot of Hispanics do speak English ... and I think you'll find they interact fine ...

Answer 7

I think it's just the difference of culture. As a Vietnamese-American, I interact with all people for the understanding of their culture. It's cool to compare and contrast our differences, but for some, this is what scares them. They are afraid if they interact they might find something in common that they wish not to know...It sucks that our country opens it's door to everyone, but not a lot of people take the chance to get to know people. I hope that those with closed minds one day will open up their eyes and see that they are less of a person for their lack of knowledge of their surroundings...

Answer 8

It has to do with illegal immigration and their refusal to learn English. Why should Americans have to learn Spanish? Its the same way in any country. Mexico too.

Answer 9

I grew up in San Diego in the 70s. There already was a racial divide back then. But, like most everything in the U.S., it's more economic based. Wealthy Latinos hang with wealthy whites, blacks, asians, etc. and poor latinos hang with poor latinos.

It's the same with every racial divide.

Answer 10

Because the illegal immigrants refuse to assimilate into our society, and sooner or later their will be big trouble, because when a Nation dose not become one common language, they start to divide. So it is up to the illegals to assimilate into our society not us into theirs. If they want to live here they need to learn English, but I hope they will be deported.