Do you make your opinion "known" - against perceived illegals, or Spanish speakers?

Question

I see a lot of people on here that are very opinionated about the undocumented being here, or, about people speaking Spanish (and I only say this one because it IS THE most commonly spoken language among the undocumented in the US). My question is this: would you approach someone that you thought to be here illegally and face- to-face tell them to "go home" or similar?

I like to think that we are a more "civilized" country than to attack people when the policy is the problem.

The reason for this question is this: I was recently in a grocery store and ran into a Spanish speaking client. I talked to her for a couple minutes, and, a very large, dirty woman approached us. I smiled to her (thinking she may have been a client at some point), and, she says to me, "If you are going to be in MY country, learn MY language." Of course, I informed her that I was born and raised here, and was bilingual..(not like she could mistake me for a Native Spanish speaker- I am very pale.) It kind of made me wonder what people are thinking when they approach a stranger to tell them what to do....

*Edit* I actually Lived in Mexico, and, the sibs in my exchange family were blonde, so, I am aware that there are blonde Latin- Americans. However, there are very few in the US that are tall & blond European (that I have seen). Also, it was only meant to express that I seriously don't look Latino- at all.

Shadowed- I would have said something, also, if I saw someone pull down and trash a flag.

Ms. LA- I don't think that all people that are against undocumented are like this person. Secondly, I would be fine with being Latina (if I were), as, there are some gorgeous Latina women. And, as far as your concern about how I feel about our countrymen, the answer is simply that from a mental standpoint, I understand the economic impact of illegal immigration. However, from an emotional point of view, I understand the plight and feel for people that are trying to better the lives of their families. As such, this issue is very much a head vs. heart for me, and, yes, with me, personally, heart always wins... But, I am glad that I am not the one making the laws....

Answer 1

You're so overly politically correct in this question. It's almost sickening.

Answer 2

No, because that would be far more rude than what ever the other person was doing. I try to read the context of whats going on. WHen I was working at a place that was all Filipino, I told them that it was OK if they spoke Tagolog as long as they don't talk about me. This is despite company police of being English only. I caught them 5 times violating that rule. ALl my suspicions were confirmed by the boss that they were indeed talking about me. THis was at work, so the rules are different than when your in the grocery store. Recently, one of the housekeeping staff was laughing at me and what I believe is making fun of me. I am annoyed by it, but I ignore it. I consider it rude of her to laugh when I walk by and then whisper to her coworker in Spanish. WHen I am with friends, and someone is speaking in a foreign language, I translate or them.


I live in LA, so I'm surrounded by foreign languages. 99% of the time I'm fine with it, but everyonce in a while, I'll get mad, because the y conversation sometimes are accompanied with a glare, or some other telltale body language. THere are always recent immigrants and tourist. I would hope people give them the benefit of the doubt, and not assume it's some illegal immigrant that has been here for 10 years and is too lazy to learn a word of English.

Answer 3

I don't give a **** if people look at me and give a dirty look just because i speak Spanish . I am Spanish [Spain ]and Cherokee ! I was born an raised here . I am a American and i speak different languages and happy to know English, Castilian , Euskera,Catalan ,and Galician and my Cherokee languages so as you can see i speak many languages and proud of it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So if people have a problem with what i speak I DON'T GIVE A ****!!

Answer 4

Well no, that would be rude! My husband is Mexican and I am a dark skinned American woman who speaks fluent Spanish and I often get looks or comments but you have to ignore them. Not all hispanics or Spanish speakers are from Mexico and not all are illegal. People are stupid!

Answer 5

First off want to say i'm sorry you had to go through that experience.Have had similar experiences also happen to me too. Guess that woman didn't know anything about manners and minding ones own bussiness.Personally i wouldn't let it get to you. If you encounter someone like that just simply put it that as far as you knew you had the right to freedom of speech and there is no official language for this country.

Answer 6

while I think it is extremely unfair for people to just jump the border to get here when other people go about it the illegal way I would not go up to someone and tell them to speak english, I live in Texas illegals are all over the place here. IT's very easy to get them to go home- Punish employers who employ them no jobs = no illegals until we do that (which conservitives are not willing to do because cheap labor = more profit) they are not going anywhere if we take away the jobs they might just might go back home and become politically outspoken and try to change their own country mexico isnt a poor country its one of the weathiest nations just riddled with corruption and this is due to them being on Reganomics or the trickle down econimics for so many years. and you have to realize when so many undocumented workers flood the job market it causes wages to go downward which is bad and unfair, also if they are here they should attempt to learn and speak english

Answer 7

No, I don't go cheering on people who are speaking Spanish. Although I agree that it is their right to speak in what ever language they like, to their own family and friends and I don't go around asking people what their legal status is.

Answer 8

This is a tricky issue i run into all the time here in California, when a waiter serves me, when I ask help at home depot, when a copito (mexican guard) tries to watch if I walk to the business corresponding to my parking spot, etc

I regularly see people who 'match all the illegals criteria at more than 90 percent' but i never know for sure so i can't tell them face to face, so my answer is no

However many times i have asked biz owners if employees were legal and they found the queston normal and non-offending and told me they are all documented (hmmm).

Answer 9

La ignorancia es atrevida..

I had a similar scene a few weeks ago in a mall when I ran into an older couple (Spanish speaking) who are a friend's parents who I know a little. We stopped and talked for a few minites and some lady who was maybe in her 30s gave us a dirty look.

I stopped talking and stared at her dead and she walked away. I was so pissed and I am still am angry remembering now.

I don't know what gives some people the idea that they have any right to say or think anything about a conversation by strangers. It's none of their damn business!

Any way it seemed to not bother them so much so I'm sure that something like this has happened to them before. I didn't want to say anything or make more of a show so I let it go.

But it's disgusting. I don't care what anyone thinks about illegal immigration. That has Nothing to do with being ignorant and rude to people. That's just totally unacceptable behaviour and inexcusable.

And BTW yes they can speak English and so can I. That's not the point.

Answer 10

I am a native Spanish speaker. I speak Spanish with my Spanish speaking friends and English with everyone else. If you were having a private conversation then I see no problem.

I think if you are in a public place and are speaking to another Spanish speaker it's okay. So long as the conversation is between the both of you and there was no English speaking persons involved in the conversation. I do think it was rude of that woman to come up to you and that. Mostly since she was not part of the conversation to being with.

I would like to point out that there are fair skinned people in Spain and in Latin America. There's a stereotype by some people even Hispanics in the US that there are no fair skinned people in Latin America. I'm guessing they have never been to Latin American or Spain. I'm from Mexico and I am fair skinned, my parents are from Spain and they are fair skinned. Many people in Argentina are fair skinned, if you go to Buenos Aires you might think your in Europe same goes for parts of Peru, Chile, Uruguay, and Mexico.

**edit** Us gueritos from Latin America do come to the US only thing is we blend in the population or people assume we are from Europe or they think we were born here. There's a lot of us gueritios in NYC, Chicago, Miami, Seattle :)

Answer 11

Tell me about sister, just the other day my friend and I were conversing in Spanish, now to say we looked good is a understatement, we had on on designer jeans, real tight, in a Jlow way, we had on our diamonds, and girl you know what I mean. Well we were in the 10 items or less line a the Shop Lift and Save line, okay we had more than 10 items, but being that we speak Spanish and had food stamps, it was our right. So this fat, ugly dumpy, American asked why we were in the 10 items or less lane, and boy did we let her have it. How dare her demand we move to the correct line just because we were talking in Spanish