Desi postmaster in England won't serve non-English speakers

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england...ire/7951778.stm

Postmaster's foreign language ban

A Nottingham postmaster has said he will refuse to serve people in his post office if they cannot speak English.

Deva Kumarasiri, who moved to England from Sri Lanka 18 years ago, runs the Sneinton Boulevard Post Office.

Mr Kumarasiri said he could not serve people if he did not understand what they were asking for.

In a statement, Post Office Counters Ltd said its "branches were open to all customers" and "steps would be taken" to ensure this at the Sneinton store.

Mr Kumarasiri said he had turned away about six customers after he said they wasted his time and infuriated other customers because they could not understand English.

"If somebody stands up and says 'sorry, I can't serve you if you can't speak English', then they'll think twice," he said.

"I am part of a service but how can I serve them if I don't understand what they are asking for?"

The 40-year-old felt he was only asking people to make the same efforts he had done himself.

"I was born and raised in a different country, my language was different, my religion was different.

"But when I came to England I obeyed the British way of life, I got into the British way of life.

"That is what I ask everyone else to do - respect the country where you are working and living."

Mr Kumarasiri said his idea was popular in the local community.

'Stereotypical view'

Ina Norgate, 49, from Sneinton, said: "I agree with him. It's a bit ignorant to come here and not speak the language. If you went to France you would have to learn French."

But Mohammed Ahmed, 22, also from the area, disagreed.

"This is a multicultural society and this is not right really," he said.

"If they come here to work, it's their right to stay here even if they speak their own language. Some people can't speak English but they can learn the language once they come here."

But Afzal Sadif from the Nottingham Racial Equality Council said Mr Kumarasiri's stance was "unacceptable".

"This is a public service, the Post Office is there for everybody and we seriously have to look at the stereotypical view he's coming across with.

"In the long run, I believe, if we're living in Britain, over the course of the years, you have to speak English to get by but you can't force it upon people."

[almaty 19]

But Afzal Sadif from the Nottingham Racial Equality Council said Mr Kumarasiri's stance was "unacceptable".

"This is a public service, the Post Office is there for everybody and we seriously have to look at the stereotypical view he's coming across with.

he is correct..if the post office is supported by taxes..then all should be served...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Mr. Kumarasiri is a dumbass.

[Bootylicious!! 2]

Mr. Kumarasiri is a dumbass.

Yep, he is. And considering my dad works for the USPS and I know some of the ways they handle things. I bet this jack@ss won't be working for them much longer.

[fozzie 41]

Surely learning the local language, if your are there to live and work, will only make your life easier, no?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Surely learning the local language, if your are there to live and work, will only make your life easier, no?

sure, but struggle builds character

[almaty 19]

and what don't kill you makes you stronger

[fozzie 41]

Surely learning the local language, if your are there to live and work, will only make your life easier, no?

sure, but struggle builds character

New York must be ranked #1 for character then.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Surely learning the local language, if your are there to live and work, will only make your life easier, no?

sure, but struggle builds character

New York must be ranked #1 for character then.

NY is only a struggle if you're not smart and rich.

[fozzie 41]

Surely learning the local language, if your are there to live and work, will only make your life easier, no?

sure, but struggle builds character

New York must be ranked #1 for character then.

NY is only a struggle if you're not smart and rich.

Lucky for me then

[almaty 19]

Surely learning the local language, if your are there to live and work, will only make your life easier, no?

sure, but struggle builds character

New York must be ranked #1 for character then.

NY is only a struggle if you're not smart and rich.

i better stay in the midwest..with the dumb and poor

[Niels Bohr 72]

I'd agree, it's a public service and that everyone needs to be served.

This postmaster is forgetting something. Everyone who migrates to a foreign country will learn that country language. Some will learn it faster than others. It's not that they're refusing to learn it, they need some time to learn it. It doesn't mean they're ignorant not adapting the language.

In the US, it's a different story. Instead of learning the language, Spainish speaking people begin to push their language in the US. This is a different story here.

[AlHayatZween 2]

Surely learning the local language, if your are there to live and work, will only make your life easier, no?

sure, but struggle builds character

New York must be ranked #1 for character then.

yes, we have lots of characters.

i'm not sure the postmaster by my house speaks English, now that i think about it.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I'd agree, it's a public service and that everyone needs to be served.

This postmaster is forgetting something. Everyone who migrates to a foreign country will learn that country language. Some will learn it faster than others. It's not that they're refusing to learn it, they need some time to learn it. It doesn't mean they're ignorant not adapting the language.

In the US, it's a different story. Instead of learning the language, Spainish speaking people begin to push their language in the US. This is a different story here.

Not true in Canada--where I've seen many who can speak Punjabi-only.

[Marina-Del 10]

I'd agree, it's a public service and that everyone needs to be served.

This postmaster is forgetting something. Some will learn it faster than others. It's not that they're refusing to learn it, they need some time to learn it. It doesn't mean they're ignorant not adapting the language.

I agree with what you said above! The people from other countries in England should make an effort to learn English, but that postmaster had no right to say that! As you stated, it takes TIME for people to learn a different language. The postmaster says that he has lived there for 18 years and I bet he still learns new things about English all of the time! And it sure as hell didn't take him only a couple months to be able to speak properly.

I'm living in Brazil now and have been living here for 2 months. I have no idea what I would say if I went to the post office! :S My portuguese is okay and I can hold a conversation more or less, but I make lots of mistakes! My verb tenses are all wrong but I am trying! Every day I study portuguese, but it's not instant!

If I was to go to the post office here -without my fiancee who is Brazilian- I think I would just show them the address on my package. I would also try to talk to them a bit and if they got really confused just tell them I'm American and trying to learn portuguese but that I am sorry my portuguese is not that great yet. Usually if I say that with a smile people are really nice! The postmaster is just a jerk and I doubt he was trying hard enough to understand the people coming in. Sure, if someone doesn't speak the same language it can be very hard to help them, BUT again, they show you the address, you type it into your screen, you write out the cost on a peice of paper, they give you money, the end!

Edited March 19, 2009 by Marina-Del