It is a dynamic thread!! why not in Spanish you say? why in Spanish is the thread topic, Yes, not to be cruel but your love for a fellow co-worker is admirable in the human sense!! but not in the real world sense pertaining to jobs, finances, education, pensions, healthcare, insurances, taxes, & just fair labor practices!!!!!
My response to the premise of 'Why in Spanish?' is:
Why Not? We need the communication.
I'm not attempting to threaten the topic's sovereignty.
How do you detach the human sense from the real world sense?
I for one believe if we as a human race apply sound principles in the human sense, the
real world, as you say, would be a much better place and these issues might see sound solutions quicker if they would become issues in the first place.
Furthermore, it's not as if these
real world issues that you've given were in great shape before this influx put its burden upon them anyway. There is no question that there is a burden, and some of it is obviously unfair, but that isn't going to infect how I treat Spanish speaking people. Nor will it blur my vision about why things, even in our industry, are available in Spanish.
I gave the account of my limited experience with Sergio as a real life example about a point of contact I have with the situation that clarifies a real world need to educate and communicate industry related topics as a priority above their English as a second language needs.
Not to pull on heart strings, though there be a human element to the account. I will not separate the two, because it is that human element that illustrates perfectly the need for communication here.
We need communication!! why? I communicate fine as do others & there is no need to learn a different language, those of you who find this "the new best thing" or think its an advance in future relations..SCARE ME how soon you forget most are here illegally & with all the legal methods of entry into this country why cater to em? they are given more opportunity than any of us & are given it through a manner of amnesty & pity!! many of you are the same who would bash me or any one else for crying or whining & would say its up to the individual, why so different a view in this case?
You just said it yourself and answered your own question perfectly. "...there is no need to learn a second language..."
Like it or not, the Spanish speaking people are here and communicating things of importance are paramount to waiting for them to acquire English as a second language.
I believe it is to their benefit to learn English, just as I believe it's to my advantage to learn Spanish. It's optional, but the reality(real world) is that I'm going to be around them, and often times in charge of them, I'd like to know what they are saying and direct them safely.
I worked a retail leather store in college here in Champaign, IL. home to the University of Illinois. You talk about a multicultural melting pot! I would be dealing with customers that spoke about everything and speak English to me only when necessary. I felt that it was rude, but I lived with it was a part of the reality of the situation.
You see my friend, sometimes we need to deal productively with a situation regardless of how we feel about it. That is another answer to "Why Spanish?"
Anyway, This Spanish speaking couple comes in one night and pulls this usual stunt on me. I am fair enough with my Spanish to pick up that one asked the other if he knew how long the sale would last.
I answered before he could in English and smiled. Mind you friend, it was a bluff, but it worked. They spoke English the rest of the sale. Why? Because they had no way to know just how good my Spanish was for one, and second the only advantage had seemingly vanished. Perhaps they honored me with English the rest of the way out of embarrassment for their rudeness, or because I knew Spanish as an American and being in America they felt it more appropriate to speak the English language. Who knows really. I finished the sale, after they thanked me in English, with a little Spanish in parting. It was fun, but I learned an important lesson. One that I will apply in this industry and beyond. You are at a clear advantage to understand and speak Spanish. If for no other reason than to understand what they are saying while they figure you for an English speaking gringo. I find the same advantage around some of the German speaking Anabaptists as I have enough German from college to be dangerous as well.
Overall, my point is one of communication and the importance of it. You surely understand the need for communication in this industry, I'm just taking it one step further and seeing the need in a multilingual sense, regardless of these other issues and how we feel about them.
Furthermore, I'm not bashing you, nor do I support illegal immigration or any of its tenants. I suppose you misunderstood me when I mentioned that I see points on both sides. I meant the general arguement with respect to solutions in tandum with the general arguement concerning the impacts and effects on the workforce along with other areas of concern with regards to legals and illegals alike. It's clearly a problem, but the supposed topic of this tread is "Why Spanish?" If you or others choose to use it as a springboard to voice frustrations concerning other semi related topics then who has gone off topic?
our forefathers came here to avoid tyranny, taxes & to set up a new land with freedom in thought & many more reasons.... you think they werent looked at differently by the native american`s, some helped our forefathers & look at what it got them!!!! wait till you have a plot on a reservation designated American!!
Really we are comparing apples and oranges to a great extent here. My comments to this are simply reactive to others just to point out that our forefather’s invasion and subsequent immigration wasn't entirely without reproach. That doesn't grant a bye for those that are invading from the south, just puts things in perspective as it removes any illusions of purity to reveal the truth of our history. One we ought to keep in mind when we consider the Mexican plight in its entirety. It doesn't make them right, but it helps us to understand, and helps us to remove judgment from a position that we do not truthfully have. I should think that this would assist in helping us come to fair solutions while treating them properly in the meanwhile.
I don't agree with all that is being done and not being done, but I stress that this is besides the premise of this thread.
Besides, we shouldn't punish those that speak Spanish that are here legally for the ones that aren't here legally, even if they hold a majority. Thus 'Why Spanish?' gets another credible answer.
I believe wholeheartedly in GOD!! & wish that everyone could prosper but at what expense? I think those that defend this problem have the greedy intent you speak of, they dont pay em the same to me its a type of labor slavery, while my view may seem harsh it is for the better of all!!
I'm glad to hear of your faith, but faith without works is dead. We need to exercise the tenets of our faith no matter the time, nor place, nor political climate.
If an illegal came to me with a need, I stress need, and it was in my power to give it I would. If I could communicate(see the need) then I would stress their need to be here legally. I'd help them in that endeavor if I could. I'd help them get home if I felt a phone call would do any good. Howbeit if the government fails to uphold its own laws and create a quagmire, I will help my fellow man in the midst of it.
There is greed in those that support the breakings of the law, greed in those that lend a blind eye from a position of political power, and honestly there is a greed found often among the illegals. They have foolishly lent themselves to a type of slavery, but to them it is beneficial. They do threaten the very system that affords them this obscure opportunity.
I have the solution in one somewhat overlooked Achilles tendon. Housing. Take away their ability to live in overloaded housing situations and their ability to undercut and work for peanuts is no longer of any advantage and the realities of expense appear seemingly out of nowhere. Then the new opportunities in their homeland don't look so bad.
I feel some of your frustrations, but meanwhile in the midst of the reality of the situation, I feel a higher calling to treat Spanish speaking people as I should and see a need to communicate one way or another. That is my answer to the original premise.
