Why are there 2 American flags at the bottom of this page??

Question

One for English and one for Spanish? Isn't it time English became our national language and anyone living here was required to learn it and not the other way around?? If I moved to Russia I'd learn Russian, I wouldn't expect the country to make English a second language. Aren't you tired of having to choose between English or Spanish on automated phones when Spanish shouldn't even be an option? Isn't it time we became a little less worried about offending someone and a little more worried about our own heritage and values as Americans slipping away??

Answer 1

you said it well. you are soooo right. god bless you. it should only be American flags in America. if they want to be here. then they should abide by the American ways.

Answer 2

I went to high school with a whole lot of native Spanish speakers and a handful of Vietnamese boat people. The Vietnamese were a definite minority in So. Texas and nobody coddled them by translating every little thing for them. They learned English and the kids went home and were under "orders" by their parents to teach the parents they told me.

I work with people who speak Spanish too. The couple who came here aren't getting any better in their English because they don't even try to speak it at home together to practice. At work, two together will speak Spanish instead of English even when I am present. Sometimes they talk about things like non-working equipment or lost deliveries and I may know something about these but won't have a clue from their conversation except that I know some Spanish.
I find that I think it's kinda rude personally but perhaps this is overly sensitive?

PS- German and English once vied for top spot. You can read here- http://www.watzmann.net/scg/german-by-one-vote.html

My opinion is that if we're going to translate one language we should translate them all. Just imagine having to go down the line . . press 1 for Albanian, #2 for Bulgarian, . . . it's a long way to Spanish and even longer for Vietnamese or Welsh!

Answer 3

As one person has already observed, there are Spanish-speaking areas under US jurisdiction, so the principle of "1 for English, 2 for Spanish" is OK in my view. I do, however, have two pet irritations.

Firstly, I find it offensive when you hear the Spanish first. The vast majority of this country speaks English.

My second irritation is, I think, a much greater problem. To be able to vote in the USA requires one to be a citizen. To become a citizen by naturalization requires one to demonstrate an ability to speak English. I would love to know, then, why Congress deems it necessary to have official electoral literature printed in certain languages if a certain percentage of the locality's population has that ethnic background. Again, the only argument for Spanish is in places like Puerto Rico

Answer 4

There are NOT 2 American flags on the backside of my web page except I click on at the one then I have spanish language however nonetheless just one American flag. The different 2 are as individuals are telling you Italy and mexico. I must say even as I have and ear or eye I trust each and every one right here its time for the American Citizens to rise up even as we nonetheless have a Country..they are coming in quick!

Answer 5

I looked it up online, the status of each country. At one time the only language sited for America was English, but to my disappointment, it now shows English and Spanish! The way things are going, eventually I think we'll see it reversed, it'll say Spanish and English. Give it a little more time, it'll say Spanish only.

How many jobs that require you to be bilingual will turn away someone who speaks only Spanish? My brother-in-law in San Diego, who only speaks English was replaced with a man who only speaks Spanish. This is a business that requires applicant's to be bilingual (it's a hidden agenda to make sure everyone speaks Spanish). I think that speaks volumes.

Answer 6

I disagree completely. Forget about "what you are sick of" and think about being a decent human being. Think of how your actions, words, and reactions could possibly make someone else feel. It's not that America is accommodating a second class citizen or second class people. It is that "these people" are here to stay, like it or not. As a compassionate person, you should accept that and move on. Perhaps if you moved to Russia, you would learn Russian. But how comforting would it be to know that you had the option of hearing your native language if you so chose. And when you say we should be "worried about our own heritage and values," well what exactly are OUR heritage and values? Wasn't America built on the idea that ANYONE could seek refuge and comfort in our country? America doesn't have one set heritage!!! They are all different. And it is people with closed minds who instill fear of the unknown among everyone else. That fear is what drives hatred in OUR country. Perhaps it is time to stop looking out for "number one" and try to comfort someone else. If everyone had that mind-set, perhaps our country would not be so selfish. So am I offended when I see two American flags at the bottom of the page? Absolutely not. I am proud that our country has had the compassion to think about someone other than ourselves for once.

Answer 7

Yes, I agree totally. My husband came to this country from Mexico in 1987. The first thing he did was get a job, the second thing he did was go to night school and learn to speak english. Its not difficult people. We shouldn't be pushing "dos" for spanish. Everything should be in english and they should learn our language. There are plenty of free classes.

Answer 8

The second America flag is for the Republic of Puerto Rico which has not been part of the US all that long really and it is completely acceptable for them to speak Spanish. It isn't only because there is English and Spanish on the continental US as you seem to think.

Answer 9

LOL!!! You are quite observant.

Use your talents at the polls on Tuesday. Show up with your video camera and talk with people on the street about their experiences with the machines. November 7th is a great day for Americans. They're more interested than every in preserving a true voting process so come along and create or join a vigil. Check it out:
http://bluerevolution.us/

Answer 10

They ask the same question in every other country about English. Go to France and see how mad they get when they have to put English signs in the Louvre.

The whole world should just pick a language.

Answer 11

That's what I said, and people started calling me racist. You're right. If we went to Mexico and waved the American flag, they would be pretty mad