really, when was the last time you went into a store and saw signs in German or French or Japanese? Wouldn't this be considered racial favoritism??? If you spoke a different language (other than English and Spanish) wouldn't you be mad? Does this mean that businesses in America have prejudices against all other races???
2007-05-09 13:15:05 · 23 answers · asked by Stiffy 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
i have opened my mind Angela... I was looking at our nation from the view of someone from anywhere that doesn't speak Spanish. I guess that Hawaii does disciminate against all but English and Japanese speaking people... Open your mind and look at the question like I meant...
2007-05-09 13:26:34 · update #1
And this being a "country of immigrants" don't you think all languages should be available to all people???
2007-05-09 13:37:17 · update #2
I argue this point all the time. If people want allowances made for Spanish, then they better be willing to do the same for Mandarin, German, Italian, Portuguese, Tagalog, French, Russian, etc. How rediculous would it get to have things written in 90, 100 different languages - probably more?
Edit: Ok - I see some people making the argument that Spanish is ok because so many speak it. Well, using that logic, more people speak English than Spanish, therefore English should, and is, the de facto language. Right?
2007-05-09 13:24:26 · answer #1 · answered by steddy voter 6 · 15⤊ 5⤋
The Germans, French and Japanese take the time to learn English for the most part and do not ask that we learn to speak their language. Some do not speak English fluently but they know the basics and they are working on it.
To the gentlemen who says that only the middle class or above should learn our language.... Why? I would never go to another country to live and expect that the host country would provide me with interpreters, at taxpayers expense of course and I would not want to live in a country where I could not ask for basic help or directions because I did not speak the language.
2007-05-09 14:08:15 · answer #2 · answered by M B 5 · 6⤊ 2⤋
Majority, majority, majority. There are more spanish speaking people in this country as opposed to German, French, or Japanese. That's the simple and broken down answer to why you see signs and whatnot in Spanish rather than other languages.
I do believe that if you come to this country, you should make an honest attempt at learning the country's language though.
Oh and there was a comment about special treatment to Japanese in Hawaii below...well the Japanese in Hawaii are one of the major ethnic groups in Hawaii, so, there's your answer. Same thing.
2007-05-09 13:28:17 · answer #3 · answered by hopexb0undxheart 1 · 7⤊ 3⤋
i understand where you're coming from...why only the spanish language? but it's all about the business industry...like others have already mentioned, hispanics are the second largest group after caucasions...hispanics are the largest minority group and the most rapidly growing group in this country...and i dont think businesses across the country are being racist or anything like that, it's just that they are trying to keep businesses booming by appealing to the largest groups in this country...i know it's not fair, but knowing who to appeal to is a smart way to make a business successful THATS THE BUSINESS WORLD FOR YOU!
2007-05-09 15:45:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
What about this? In Florida, what about the Haitians? They have it pretty rough in Haiti. We are letting in Cubans with the wet foot/dry foot policy and we look the other way for illegal Mexicans, why can't the Haitians get in without a problem..the Coast Guard sends back a lot of Haitians, at least once a week they are talking about how the Coast Guard sent some Haitian Immigrants back...I think we should definitely let in the Cubans but we should be fair to the Haitians as well. whats right is right...
2007-05-09 14:18:50 · answer #5 · answered by Lisa D 4 · 5⤊ 3⤋
i am not prejudice. i have hispanic and german family members and friends.
i believe in order to live or work in the us you should have to know how to speak and understand english. i also believe in order to live or work in other contries that you should have to know their primary language.
what i do not understand is why these people from other contries that do not speek english are obtaining drivers liscenses when you do not find road signs in spanish, french,portuguese, etc. they are all in english. now this is scary.
2007-05-09 17:21:12 · answer #6 · answered by adk_in_ar 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because most of the ppl who can't speak English only speak Spanish.
2007-05-09 13:26:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 3⤋
It is definitely not racial favoritism, since Hispanic is not truly a race. Besides, the reason a lot of signs in the U.S. are also being posted in Spanish is because the Spanish population in the U.S. is growing outrageously. If it was the same with any other nationality or group, then they would also get their share. It is really stupid and incoherent to propose everyone should get things in their own language, when the second largest group in the country next to whites are Hispanics.
2007-05-09 13:26:19 · answer #8 · answered by Siervocal 4 · 6⤊ 8⤋
Smart businesses know who is spending the dollars and that is who they cater to.. and I don't think that is going to change.. there are a lot of people who speak both languages.. kudos to them.
2007-05-09 15:11:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
I went to Germany last year and didn't expect them to speak English. I had a book and asked for things in German.
It is ridiculous!!! All my my mailers now come in Spanish and English. My K-mart mailer is ALL Spanish. I will not shop there because of this and have told them so. I live in a historical district so my surrounding neighborhood is mainly Hispanic.
2007-05-09 13:23:43 · answer #10 · answered by tiredofaliens 4 · 11⤊ 5⤋