Do you mind that Spanish is spoken in the US?

Question

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3694870&page=1

In a new ABC "National" Poll 1/3 of Americans don't mind that Spanish is spoken in the US.

My question, who are they polling? Shouldn't they poll people who are at the center of the issue? People in Texas, California, and Arizona? These three State deal with the Illegal immigration problem the most. Last time I checked these States held 70% of the Illegal immigrant population. So why do we care or why should we care what someone in Iowa or New York thinks?

My concern is that people will get the wrong impression from this poll. The impression that people don't care. Since people typically have a herd mentality then they will become ok with this.

Keep in mind Illegals tax our medical system, school system, and lower the average wage for the poor.

i robot- I live in Texas and no one I know wants to deal with someone who does not speak english in any business situation.

Most of you got the wrong impression about mny question especially the person who called me racist. Most of this article delt with the immigration problem but none of you botherd to read it.

"People who are bothered by interactions with Spanish speakers are decidedly more negative about immigration policy. In this group, 92 percent think the government isn't doing enough to keep illegal immigrants out;"

Had you people read the article and judging by your answers you would have the same issues with this as I have.

To quote 7 thumbs up guy, "I don't care what they speak in their homes but they need to learn and speak English everywhere else." Thats what this article deals with and what the poll was about.

Answer 1

Not at all. I don't mind if any language is spoken here. However if you're coming here to live, plan on receiving this country's benefits from tax dollars and have children who will be educated here, I think it would that learning to communicate demonstrates respect for that country and it's citizens.

Answer 2

1.- I consider for legal and all public documents must be the ENGLISH.

2.- The ENGLISH MUST BE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE, UNIVERSAL at the UNITED STATES.

3.- At school must request the English as first language.

4.- EDUCATION MUST TEACH BILINGUAL LANGUAGE. Spanish, English and French. The reason is Canada, Mexico are neighbors countries.

5.- United States is not an ISLAND, is not isolated from the real world, ignore that reality is to keep in the ignorance of the problems that challenges the society today.

6.- Education in different languages open the mind to have access of more information. The success in this challenges of survival is to have skills that let you get more ways to overcome differences and tolerance.

7. If the United States wants to compete in all kind of markets, and develop a better education for their citizens is to bring them a better education. The United States has to review why other countries are getting more well educated people and why the USA natives are losing opportunities to success? they speak the language and despite that they do not success o much, the minimun wage is not the only answer... why they are losing markets? why Europe is taking markets? and why other ones overcome the strugles and survive despite the adverse circunstances.

I think this world of today people must speak at least 3 languages: ENGLISH, SPANISH, FRENCH.

In high school must teach LATIN AND GREEK, those are the mother of the roots of the European languages. Terminologies in the specialites in Medicine, Geography, Mathematics, Law, etc and Technical specialities come from those languages.

Elective languages as asiatic and or mideastern languages can be consider offered at Community Colleges.

Strong support is important to develop in the mind of the UNITED STATES people.



And "I don't care what they speak in their homes but they need to learn and speak English everywhere else." Thats what this article deals with and what the poll was about.

Answer 3

Dude, I live corn-belt Ohio and when I fill up with gas in the morning the convenience store is full of Spanish-speaking contractors getting ready for the day.

This has no relationship to my views on immigration, but the immigrants go where the jobs are, the dont just pitch a tent in Texas.

Answer 4

"Shouldn't they poll people who are at the center of the issue? People in Texas, California, and Arizona? These three State deal with the Illegal immigration problem the most."

Here's a perspective from someone who is "at the center" of the issue. First and foremost these states mentioned historically have had a large and influential Hispanic population. Thus, the supposed "phenomenon" of the growing widespread use of the Spanish language is nothing new. Deal with it.

Answer 5

No, I don't mind at all but we need to define Spanish. True Spanish is not what the Mexicans are speaking. True Spanish is spoken by people from Spain. It's like the difference between England English and American English and also the reason so many Mexicans get Cs and Bs in Spanish class.

Answer 6

¨Do you mind if Spanish is spoken in the US?¨ that is the question you ask. However,in the space given to you to develope the question, you actually pose another very different question: ¨Are you as concerned as I and others are about the rise in illegal immigration?¨(my words,not yours, that sum up what I believe you were expressing)

To address,as briefly as possible,the question you left up in the air, my answer is YES. I am deeply concerned about ILLEGAL immigration in our country and the key word is ILLEGAL. We are not a lawless state and the principal equality that we should be concerned with is that everybody be equal before the Law. Turning a blind eye to the illegal acts of some but not of others will undermine this basic principle.

To answer your MAIN question: No,I do not mind that Spanish, or any other language, is spoken in the U.S. If people with a legal right to be in the country in ANY capacity (residents or visitors)wish to converse or communicate in Urdu or Sanskrit our Bill of Rights assures them the liberty to do so. As a practical matter,they might have a hard time getting directions to the corner grocery store but that is THEIR problem and necessity will oblige them to learn whatever it takes to survive . If they live in Chinatown,San Francisco that just might be Chinese.

I think what you are really suggesting is that we legislate that the language needed to survive in our country has to be English. You want to impose by law(therefore restricting one of our freedoms) a specific language for the whole country. You have not said so in so many words,but I do get the impression - from the way you word your question- that were the ILLEGALS to be immigrants from Australia, New Zealand or certain parts of Canada(but not others) who expressed themselves in English,that you would not be so worried about their ILLEGAL status. After all,you did ask ¨Do you mind that SPANISH is spoken....¨

With respect specifically to Spanish,contrary to ignorant and popular belief,English was not the foundational language of this continent(though it may have been 200 years later of the U.S.).

The first permanent settlements in what is today the U.S. were Spanish and that was the first European language spoken,read and taught and in which records were kept,as early as 1513 when Ponce de Leon travelled through Florida and kept a diary. Soon afterwards,civil,military and ecclesiastical censuses were taken and recorded in all of the Hispanic south and southwest of what is today the U.S. The first literacy campaigns, schools,universities,libraries,government archives, and tribunals in what is today the U.S. were introduced by the Spanish by the middle of the XVIth century. The first literary works published in what is today the U.S. were in Spanish. The first scientific ethnographical paper written about the lands later to become the u.S. were in written by Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1542( ¨La relacion¨) in Spanish. No Pilgrim had even stubbed his toe on Plymouth Rock and uttered the first 4 letter Anglosaxon expletive and was not to do so for many years.

Jamestown,the first English settlement, was not founded until more than 50 years after Spanish was already widely used , about the same time that in Santa Fe,NM that the ¨Palacio de los Gobernadores¨ was constructed, a unique architectural undertaking that the Spanish invented,using native-american building materials and architectural styles. It still stands today.

I would argue that Spanish is a historical and cultural legacy of our country as much as English is and that it is the right(if not the obligation) of all U.S. citizens to know it. If some of us choose to learn it and use it in our daily lives we are only that much richer. There is no reason why Spanish and English can not co- exist as equals in this great country and every historical reason why they should.

Answer 7

I do not personally mind that spanish is spoken in the U.S. I don't connect the speaking of Spanisg directly with illegal immigration. The problem is not a language one. The problem is that many people cross the borders of the U.S. illegally and live and work here illegally. The illegals themselves do not tax our medical or our school systems, nor do they lower the average pay for the poor. These are problems that result from the hiring of illegals to work for lower pay, but higher pay then they would recieve in their home country. Take away the jobs, you take away the lure to come here.

Answer 8

The Spanish language and illegal immigration are two separate issues. I have no problem with a legal resident of the United States speaking his or her language of origin.

Answer 9

How racist and simple minded you must be to have it bother you that a language other than English is spoken in the US. If it really bothers you that much your life must be so inconsequential. I feel sorry for you.

I don't see why this is such a big deal. When you poll, you take a random statistical population and break it down. You do not go specifically to places seeking a certain result. That's called a biased poll. A good poll doesn't generally target a specific demographic.

Answer 10

I worked in a large metropolitan hospital, we had people there of all races, nationalities and languages. I became a nurse to help people and that has been my passion for a Long time. However, it makes it very difficult to understand what is wrong with someone, or if brought in by ambulance, or if no friends or family present if they want treatment and if yes, what options that are available are they asking for? Even with the simple things you ask them, there is no communication.

It really is frustrating if you are unable to find an interpreter. Often there is no interpreter available for any of the many languages people speak. You cannot violate legal and ethics.
Now, to your question. I think it is great they keep their heritage and pass it along with their homeland's language. However, if you live here please speak English. I would like to see a mandate in that effect. There are so many problems with people who do not speak English in this country and the medical situation is only one of them.

Answer 11

Of course I don't mind what language people choose to speak in thier home and in thier community or whatever but I mind BIG TIME that there are times I will go out to eat and the person taking my order cannot speak english. I think English should be the official language of our country.