Irritated when people in America speak Spanish in public, expect others do same, and won't learn English?

Question

English is the official language of the United States. It is not Spanish. There are forces to try to make the U.S. bilingual. Learning more language that one is a good thing.

But is the tail wagging the dog when those who won't speak the language of the country in which they live, stubbornly refuse to try to learn it, and instead try to shift the blame as though you, who speak the language of the land, don't speak THEIR language instead? And supposedly the problem is with YOU?

I live on the Texas-Mexico border. My town is 91% Hispanic. It used to not be this way. Now, the first thing you hear in public is Spanish, not English. Many expect you to speak Spanish. I do. But I studied to learn both languages, even though not required to learn something other than the language of my land. By sheer numbers, I'm being told "English isn't good enough if you want to get along with us". Yet this is my land. And we are over-run with illegals who won't adapt. Would it irritate you?

Also know that even legal US citizens around here who cannot speak English, work in customer service and feel no need to become bilingual. As a result, they won't wait on you if they sense you don't speak Spanish because they don't want to be identified for not speaking English. They will wait on Spanish speakers first. And I love ripping them a new one in Spanish when they give me back of the bus treatment, because I know it is the color of my skin that makes them pre-judge me this way. But boy are they surprised!

As for those talking about you in Spanish in your presence, making fun of you to mates because they think you are "stupid" and don't understand them? Rip them a new one too in Spanish...and then speak about them in another language besides English to see how they like it. I sometimes do this in French but my favorite is in Japonese. They have NO idea how to respond to that. But I tell you what. They stop thinking you "stupid" for not speaking their language.

The folks who are trying to say that I made a mistake by calling English the "official" language of the United States, are basicly trying to call a technicality as if my descriptor "official" is what nullifies my point as wrong, therefore all points containted thereafter are invalid as well. No. That is a basic error of logic. Various US states declare English as the "official' language. Read the Constitution of the USA...it is written in English. The common language spoken on the majority of streets in the USA is English. In this regard, I believe English is still the predominant language in the USA. Official in some states, but not official nationally...and there is a large movement afoot to clarify this. This is not my point.

My point is do you get IRITATED when the predominant language of the land to which you are a citizen is cast down as unacceptable by the minority of people who try to impose their culture and language on this land as they seek their influence to rule

To those who assert that all of Texas is a land that belongs to Mexico and the U.S. is just a lieing, cheating, stealing imperialist...No. The Mexican-American War was fought, Mexico was defeated, and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo established the territorial lines at the Rio Grande River...NOT the Nueces River or Tamoulipas's perceived northern border...and Mexico was paid as they agreed for the land they seceded which is now the United States.

My ancestors fought in these battles. Please don't lecture me that I am some imperialistic invading pig-dog who clings to the language that must die. English IS the tongue of the United States. And so many millions should not be spent on bilingual ballets, and so many hours spent waiting through "Press 1 for English...2 for Spanish", to placate a culture that seeks to divide an conquer.

I want to acknowledge that people are free to speak whatever language they want to when in public in the USA. The considerate Hispanics here, however, will switch to English if they are in the presence of US citizens who only speak English and who might join the conversation. The rude Hispanics are the ones who go on talking in Spanish, just assuming you don't know their language because you don't look Hispanic, and then they talk about you as if you can't understand. That was a big motivator for me to learn Spanish and I've caught these rude Hispanics many times. They'll think twice next time, or at least when I'm around.

Where it gets irritating here in this part of the country is when you are in a grocery store, a doctors office, or a waiting area of any kind...and all you hear is Spanish being spoken. You feel like this is no longer the US. It sounds like Mexico and I've been there hundreds of times. This is a "Culture War" as one news commentator has quipped. Game on!

Answer 1

Illegal immigration is a huge problem.

Some people try to claim that we should just open our borders completely. This is simply a bad idea. No country has ever done this, and no country ever will. If you completely open your borders, people will take advantage of your countries advantages, move money and resources out of your country, and spread the economic resources thinner amongst the people that do live there.

The biggest problem, which most people fail to acknowledge, is that illegal immigration is hurting the mexican-american population more than anyone else. Because of illegal immigration, many people are beginning to view mexican-americans as a lower class. Stereotypes about mexican-americans not being able to speak english and standing outside of Home Depot. looking for work are beginning to make it more difficult for an educated mexican-american to succeed in obtaining the American Dream.

Further more, many of the people that come into the united states illegal are criminals and/or drug mules. I am not claiming that all or even most of illegal immigrants are this way, but many are. A government poll indicated that 25% of U.S. prisoners are illegal immigrants.

But often times, people are not arrested BECAUSE they are illegal immigrants. A friend of mine was killed by a drunk driver who had been pulled over and ticketed 4 times for drunk driving in the past. However, because he was an illegal immigrant, the process of arresting him was too complicated for the officers to want to bother with it and they only issued fines instead. It is ridiculous to give someone who is an illegal immigrant (meaning that they've already broken the law) more chances to break the law.

the best thing to do is to completely re-write the american immigration policy. There are dozens of flaws in it which are keeping people out of our country who deserve to be here, and allowing people in that should never step foot in this country. We need to completely overhaul the system and then actually enforce a strict border.

lastly, watch this video... it proves that our immigration policy isn't even helping anyone/the extent to which it is hurting us: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7WJeqxuOfQ

Answer 2

Yes, I agree. Here in NYC, all of them speak Spanish in front of you. One time I was getting off the train and this ****** and his gf were in front of me, so I said "Excuse me". Then the guy called me a "bendejo". I then said "F you" as I exited [there were laughing after what I said], then I cursed at them in Chinese.

And another time, this guy was right in the door. He was talking loudly with his friends. I was in a hurry to go somewhere and had no time to waste, so I screamed in his ear, "Get Out!"

Another time, this J-hole, still has his arm around me forcing me into a corner making me uncomfortable as many people had left the train. Since he still has his arm there, he obviously did speak English, as I had said "Excuse me. ". So I told him "Get your f---ing hands off me!"

They either understand English and pretend they don't, don't learn English when they are young and able, or they are HS dropouts.

There's a lot of people where I work, but when I specifically know that they're Spanish speakers, I try my English on them.

Answer 3

If your going to come to this country speaking a different language, do it the legal way and you won't bother me, but for the people who come here illegal, and expect us to get along with their language, thats what irritates me. By coming here legally you are making a commitment.
I don't think the goverment is taking as much control as possible.
people could gain jobs {LEGAL people} along the border with something to do with keeping illegal immigrants out.
And now for us legal people, job oppourtnites are being ripped away because of us not knowing the spanish language.
and now we list everything in spanish under the english brand name...o-0
I think it is okay that there would be mexicans/hispanics in Texas, being it was once their territory.

Oh yeah I think it's pretty dumb trying to stretch america out as if to make everything okay, and not make immigrants illegal. When you go into a territory you don't just walk up and build a home. you have to enter legally.

jackie91184, i would give you a thumbs up if i could.

Answer 4

Honestly, this doesn't irritate me at all. I live 15 minutes away from the Mexican boarder (San Diego) and at times I hear mostly Spanish everywhere I go. But I hear so many other languages too. Tagalog (Filipino), Chinese, Italian, etc. This is the heart of America- the diversity of it all. Hispanic immigrants come here to work hard and earn a good living. I haven't come into contact with Mexicans who expect me to know their language, however I do know some Spanish (and Porteguese) and am able to communicate with them. Learning a language is a good thing that increases your knowledge of the world around you. And I'm sure most Mexicans feel the same way.

Answer 5

Your racism irritates me. Looks like you don't know any history. Texas and other southwest territories belonged to Mexico before you Americans invaded their territory and stole their land. If you lived anywhere in the world you would also speak your native language and expect everybody to know english. By the way, it is wrong to refer to the United States as America. America starts in Canada and ends in South America in the Patagonia. Everybody is American, even the Mexicans. The only difference is that some are North, Central, or South Americans. That means that Canadians are more Northern than the citizens of the USA. Anybody can be an American citizen. It is everybody's land, not just the white people. It so happens that Africans came first than the 19th European immigrants during the industrial revolution. They also deserve the same rights. God loves everybody no matter what language you speak or the color of your skin. Maybe one day the US will have a Hispanic president. I mean, aren't all men created equal?

Answer 6

it does irritate me.

i work in a court in new york, and i'm amazed at how--even this far up north--people get aggrevated that i can't speak spanish. the state (aka my tax dollars) pay translators, but it makes the process take much longer than it would had the parties spoken english. it delays othr cases from being heard, and to top it off the people who don't speak english get pissed off when they have to wait if the translator can't come right away. it's absolutely ridiculous.

when i went to france, i studied enough french to make it through a week of being a tourist. and that was just for a vacation, not for residency!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

We have freedoms here, in theory. They have the freedom to speak Spanish, and I'm free to walk away. Where the damage is done, is when Americans patronize any store where ever, but foreigners only go where they,re understood, so pretty soon there are no American businesses.

Answer 8

i get irritated with people who speak other languages. spanish was my first language and i learned english. that was the reson why my family moved from puerto rico to ca. i do think the younger generation should learn english. but you'll be suprise on how many of them act like they dont knoow english. i live in ca. and there are alot of spanish speakers out here. but most of them know how to speak read and write in english they act. but on the other hand you cant force people to convert over i mean this land is a melting pot. full of different cultures and lanuguages. thats what makes america america

Answer 9

Put yourself in this situation- your family is poor, abused, no food, lives on the streets in extreme poverty etc. You have a chance to go to a new place where there is more oppertunity. What do you do? Obviously go! Now, say you go there and people are speaking a language you don't understand. What do you do? Learn the language! It's probably hard, because you're working hard, to provide for your family. There's nothing wrong with trying to preserve their culture! This is why people are annoyed with you not speaking their language- you're rude! They have just as much right to live here as you!

Answer 10

I applaud you for saying something! Others will try to tell you you are wrong or prejudiced, etc. but you are not alone and you have every right to feel this way. Slightly different problem where I live, but the situation is basically the same.

Don't back down! You have a right to protect your language and cultural expression in your own country!