What I Meant by 'Third World' Miami

[Fandango 1,440]

so what's the tragedy canada is suffering because of bilingualism? I don't see them suffering or crying

i agree though that yes, english in the USA is what makes people from all races americans.. but i fail to see what's the threat of bilingual or trilingual or whatever populations.. if the new immigrants are able to communicate in english and other languages, I don't see where the problem is..

i don't see immigrants imposing languages.. if they go to a store and there are not bilingual clerks, they go to another store, and so on and on, or some bussinessman grabs that opportunity and hires someone who speaks their language (i.e. the hmongs(sp?) in the western area of NC).. most workers seem offended because of businesses looking for 'bilingual preferred'.. but, isn't is as computer skills? i know a lot of people don't get hired in simple clerical jobs because they can't use a computer.. so, don't hate the game..

on the governemnt well, although I rarely use the spanish service (because they can't speak it properly lol), the time i had to settle a mistake with the IRS, the spanish line came in handy.. if i had to do it in the english line, it would have taken 1 hour instead of 20 minutes..

Trust me, if you live in Miami and you don't speak Spanish, you're screwed.

I look Spanish. I'd be walking down the street & people would come up to me all the time and start speaking Spanish. At that time I was only just Spanish-literate enough to say 'I only speak a little Spanish. Do you speak English?' and you wouldn't believe the annoyed looks I would get, and people literally huffing off cos I couldn't speak their language.

Also, I vaguely remember back in the 80s or 90s that there was a resolution on the ballot to remove English as the official language of FL.

As a South Floridian, I understand the perspective of where he's coming from, although I didn't read the whole speech, the bit I did read seemed accurate.

Edited December 20, 2006 by LisaD

[Laveau 67]

so what's the tragedy canada is suffering because of bilingualism? I don't see them suffering or crying

i agree though that yes, english in the USA is what makes people from all races americans.. but i fail to see what's the threat of bilingual or trilingual or whatever populations.. if the new immigrants are able to communicate in english and other languages, I don't see where the problem is..

i don't see immigrants imposing languages.. if they go to a store and there are not bilingual clerks, they go to another store, and so on and on, or some bussinessman grabs that opportunity and hires someone who speaks their language (i.e. the hmongs(sp?) in the western area of NC).. most workers seem offended because of businesses looking for 'bilingual preferred'.. but, isn't is as computer skills? i know a lot of people don't get hired in simple clerical jobs because they can't use a computer.. so, don't hate the game..

on the governemnt well, although I rarely use the spanish service (because they can't speak it properly lol), the time i had to settle a mistake with the IRS, the spanish line came in handy.. if i had to do it in the english line, it would have taken 1 hour instead of 20 minutes..

Trust me, if you live in Miami and you don't speak Spanish, you're screwed.

I look Spanish. I'd be walking down the street & people would come up to me all the time and start speaking Spanish. At that time I was only just Spanish-literate enough to say 'I only speak a little Spanish. Do you speak English?' and you wouldn't believe the annoyed looks I would get, and people literally huffing off cos I couldn't speak their language.

Also, I vaguely remember back in the 80s or 90s that there was a resolution on the ballot to remove English as the official language of FL.

As a South Floridian, I understand the perspective of where he's coming from, although I didn't read the whole speech, the bit I did read seemed accurate.

Same ####### happens to me here in Texas. I look 100% mexican or whatever. Unfortunately, I do not speak fluent Spanish. Some people sure do get their panties in a wad when I politely say: "lo sient. no hablo espanol bien. hablas ingles?" I'm always very polite about it. I'm not a retard. I have been living here in TX for years now so I have picked up a lot. See, thats the thing that gets me, too. How is it that I can learn some Spanish but many people who live here for the same amount of time or longer cannot learn the same amount of English? I had an ex from Peru. He spoke more Eng than I did Spanish but his bro who had been here for over 10 years didn't speak any English. How the f is that possible? When I spent a month in Romania I felt that I had learned more Romanian than some of the spanish-speakers here in texas learn English. Anyway, i'm rambling now. Sorry.

[pedroh 21]

so what's the tragedy canada is suffering because of bilingualism? I don't see them suffering or crying

i agree though that yes, english in the USA is what makes people from all races americans.. but i fail to see what's the threat of bilingual or trilingual or whatever populations.. if the new immigrants are able to communicate in english and other languages, I don't see where the problem is..

i don't see immigrants imposing languages.. if they go to a store and there are not bilingual clerks, they go to another store, and so on and on, or some bussinessman grabs that opportunity and hires someone who speaks their language (i.e. the hmongs(sp?) in the western area of NC).. most workers seem offended because of businesses looking for 'bilingual preferred'.. but, isn't is as computer skills? i know a lot of people don't get hired in simple clerical jobs because they can't use a computer.. so, don't hate the game..

on the governemnt well, although I rarely use the spanish service (because they can't speak it properly lol), the time i had to settle a mistake with the IRS, the spanish line came in handy.. if i had to do it in the english line, it would have taken 1 hour instead of 20 minutes..

Trust me, if you live in Miami and you don't speak Spanish, you're screwed.

I look Spanish. I'd be walking down the street & people would come up to me all the time and start speaking Spanish. At that time I was only just Spanish-literate enough to say 'I only speak a little Spanish. Do you speak English?' and you wouldn't believe the annoyed looks I would get, and people literally huffing off cos I couldn't speak their language.

Also, I vaguely remember back in the 80s or 90s that there was a resolution on the ballot to remove English as the official language of FL.

As a South Floridian, I understand the perspective of where he's coming from, although I didn't read the whole speech, the bit I did read seemed accurate.

Same ####### happens to me here in Texas. I look 100% mexican or whatever. Unfortunately, I do not speak fluent Spanish. Some people sure do get their panties in a wad when I politely say: "lo sient. no hablo espanol bien. hablas ingles?" I'm always very polite about it. I'm not a retard. I have been living here in TX for years now so I have picked up a lot. See, thats the thing that gets me, too. How is it that I can learn some Spanish but many people who live here for the same amount of time or longer cannot learn the same amount of English? I had an ex from Peru. He spoke more Eng than I did Spanish but his bro who had been here for over 10 years didn't speak any English. How the f is that possible? When I spent a month in Romania I felt that I had learned more Romanian than some of the spanish-speakers here in texas learn English. Anyway, i'm rambling now. Sorry.

mhh, that's an interesting question.. and yes I know what you mean.. some of my customers have lived for more than 8 years in this town, they KNOW english, they just don't use it, why? beats me... it's interesting how they adapt the environment around them.. their wives or girls (trailer park mammas who like dem mexicans) speak a very fluent spanish lol.. but i dunno

I'd say because it depends also on the kind of job they do.. around this area it's full of food processing plants, so they really don't need to speak english, on the other hand, their supervisors are bilingual, but it's not for free, of course they charge more.. I don't understand why people get so mad with the bilingual thing, if it's something that actually has quick benefits.. you get paid more, or in my case, have more customers.. look for example nurses, a bilingual nurse and a nurse have a difference of almost 10k (in this area).. so is not something you're doing a sacrifice for, you're getting paid for having that knowledge..

anyway.. yea lisa, my old regional vp told me that in FL if you don't speak spanish, you basically can't find any retail job.. but i've never been in Miami, well, ORlando when i was like 10.. but it's not the same experience..

Peejay, on the Tancredo thing, lemme get home.. the store firewall blocks almost every other site lol