I'm sorry but i am so sick of our great country changing its American ways to fit those who cannot understand. IF you come to this country you need to know how to read, write, and speak English! I mean seriously our ancestors came to this land to get away from the stuff they were being treated unfairly, and to be their own people. I'm sorry but my grandfathers and other relatives did not fight in terrible wars just for our country to bow down to those lower than us who cannot even speak our NATIVE LANGUAGE!
2006-10-28 13:23:13 · 24 answers · asked by mbsparks11@verizon.net 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
No i don't mean the indian language because we killed them off
2006-10-28 13:28:38 · update #1
First of all, English is NOT the native language of this land as the English settlers were not natives to this country. Second, English is not even the official language of the country...there is no official language. Third, you need to remember that people who have just immigrated to this country may not have been here that long to know all of the language yet. So before you degrade other people, maybe you should learn a little bit more about this country and its represented languages.
2006-10-28 13:27:00 · answer #1 · answered by Mary K 5 · 7⤊ 3⤋
Haha. Better than pressing 2.
Anyway. Our ancestors - who spoke English, French, and Spanish, by the way - came to this land to be free and to be their own people, as you say. Well, that's the exact same reason people still come here - to be their own people. Who's to say what language they *should* speak.
And what about the people who were here first, the ones whose language is truly NATIVE to this continent. Half of the indigenous languages of North America are extinct thanks to colonialism, most perpetrated by Spanish, English, and French speakers.
English may be the language of government, and it may be very useful to learn it if you want to do well in the U.S., but it's not the first language of all Americans, and it's certainly not the first language of America. And it's worth pointing out that only the U.S. and a few other English speaking countries have citizens who live in such luxury that they only need to learn how to speak English. Most people in the world speak *at least* two languages. Get with the standard, dude! How many do you speak? They say a man who only speaks one language knows nothing of the world.
Answer: You should press one, because the phone company needs to be able to serve people who are just being who they are.
2006-10-28 20:46:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
What seems to be missing from you is the understanding that the forefathers of this country were also immigrants and embraced those from abroad as they came upon these shores, you on the other hand do not appreciate what immigrants and others do for this country, we have all fought, died ,cried and worked long and hard for this country to be what it is today. These days young men and women born in Alabama, Mexico, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Montana and even Cuba amongst others are fighting and dying side by side in Iraq and Afghanistan, as they have done in many wars before this one. So I say to you at least we have a choice to press 1, 2,or 3, do you think you would have that choice if we were not together in this? Our country has not changed our American ways it still embraces them as we did 230 years ago when this country freed itself from English rule as Whites, Blacks, Indians and even the French fought to free this country side by side.
2006-10-28 22:23:02 · answer #3 · answered by Tunka 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I understand your frustration. But if you look back some generations ago, unless your family was originally British, then your ancestors didn't understand a word here either. It took time and effort on their part and odds are, if they weren't young, it wasn't until the second generation that you had ancestors who were fluent in English. Consider this, how would you like it if you went to another country that was too arrogant to accomdate you? I have traveled to a few dozen countries and I was lucky that I found people who spoke English in most of them. In some countries, such as France, I had an argument at the airport with the lady at the information desk because she refused to answer my question in English (I had forgotten the French I had learned in school.) She called security but luckily security was willing to listen and sided with me. I am guessing she lost her job because one of the security personnel was furious with her and let her have it. Immigrant populations who don't speak English now will have kids who do. The problem, as far as I see it, is not a demand for people to come here knowing how to speak English, but there should be a demand that people who come here (below a certain age) are educated in English after they arrive and are permitted to stay.
2006-10-28 20:38:36 · answer #4 · answered by cardesiner 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It probably have to do with the fact that English is not the native language of this land. Not even close; nor is it the first European language to be spoken on this land--that would be Spanish. The fact of the matter is that English immigrated here just like almost everything else, and the fact that it is the principal language now do not detract from the fact that many people are uncomfortable using it in daily life, including some whom people have been in this country longer than anything English has.
It's all about tact. We have to live together; there's nothing wrong with being considerate.
2006-10-28 20:31:25 · answer #5 · answered by hotstepper2100 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
What about those who are new to this country and are in the process of learning English?
What about your ancestors who probably came from Europe? Maybe they should have sent them back on the boat because they didn't know English when they got here.
I guess the task of pressing one is difficult for some people.
2006-10-28 21:57:25 · answer #6 · answered by Kayla 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Get over it! We came here and forced English upon those that were already here. What would it be like if they had come out and said the same thing "hell no, we aren't learning your language, you came to our country, you learn ours!" You wouldn't have to worry about pressing one for English, because you wouldn't be speaking it!!
2006-10-28 20:51:42 · answer #7 · answered by egbkid 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
1. Because you, like most Americans and UNlike most people born in other countries, only speak English.
2. Because the Spanish-speaking population is rapidly outnumbering the Anglos, so they have to be accomodated if you want their money.
And 3, because of dumb, ignorant people who can't be bothered to be graceful and gentlemanly towards people who are different.
But don't worry, we'll all be pushing 3 to get English, after 1 for Chinese and 2 for Hindi.
2006-10-28 20:30:34 · answer #8 · answered by thylawyer 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
This countries native language would be of those who were here before your ancestors so first learn there language then talk.
2006-10-28 20:28:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I partly agree with you. those who come here for jobs should be able to speak at least broken American. if they want a job they will have to. if they wish to speak in their native language to each other is one thing. but to demand that we make accommodations for them is another.
as long as you remember that the reverse is true if you go to another country for work.you have to learn their language not them yours.
2006-10-28 20:34:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋