discrimination

decides2dream

onelongsong wrote:

i can speak and understand spanish enough to get by. i should have explained that the "victims" i was referring to applied for regular jobs that shouldn't require 2 languages. the jobs didn't pay enough to warrant the person to learn a second language. they are single mothers trying to make ends meet with no time to study a second language.
the fact remains that if we are to cater to the spanish speaking; we should cater to all other languages equally. if i have to push 1 for english and 2 for spanish; i should also have the option to push 3 for german; 4 for french; 5 for polish; and so on. this would be equality. someone coming from germany must learn english; but now spanish too? doesn't this discriminate against the german? are mexicans better than european immigrants? talk of equality is just that; TALK. your point about americans in other countries also brings the fact that other countries don't change the national language for it's visitors or immigrants. the discussion is based on americans born in america; taught english their entire life; and too busy trying to survive to learn another language. the standard for air traffic control the world over is english. i'm not saying english is better or should be the standard world wide; i'm saying that a country that spoke english for over 200 years should not require it's native born citizens to change language to survive in their own country. when i visit mexico; i must speak spanish. that is their national language. canadians speak french and english; should they now have to learn spanish to do business with the US? should the germans have to learn both english and spanish to do business with the united states? how is this fair?

obviously, a business must cater to their clients. if the bulk of their clientele are spanish, an employer is fully within their rights to make being bilingual a requirement. if it is stated upfront, it is your choice to aplly or not. you are not being discriminated against. there are plenty of jobs that do not require one to be bilingual, so one should apply for them if they are not.

funny too..weren't you one to use the 'majority' thinking in regards to religion? something about 87% being believers, so thus doesn't majority rule? i disagreed b/c it is a far different idea in my mind...but if you are to aplly such logic there, why not here? WHY is spanish the biggest language here after english? b/c the majority of those who english is not their first language are spanish. pretty simple concept. also too, as i mentioned earlier....spanish is considered the official second language of the US, if you don't like that...you have to take it up with your elected official.


*simply to clarify...bolded points.

onelongsong

decides2dream wrote:

obviously, a business must cater to their clients. if the bulk of their clientele are spanish, an employer is fully within their rights to make being bilingual a requirement. if it is stated upfront, it is your choice to aplly or not. you are not being discriminated against. there are plenty of jobs that do not require one to be bilingual, so one should apply for them if they are not.

funny too..weren't you one to use the 'majority' thinking in regards to religion? something about 87% being believers, so thus doesn't majority rule? i disagreed b/c it is a far different idea in my mind...but if you are to aplly such logic there, why not here? WHY is spanish the biggest language here after english? b/c the majority of those who english is not their first language are spanish. pretty simple concept. also too, as i mentioned earlier....spanish is considered the official second language of the US, if you don't like that...you have to take it up with your elected official.s

the upcoming lawsuits will force the "officials" to make the decision. are you saying that the majority of americans are spanish? i don't understand your point.
the job in question was working at a gas station in america. why would one require spanish in that job?

denverfan

reborncareerist wrote:

Some of you guys must be brighter than I am, because I don't just learn a new language on a whim. It is pretty tough to do, without being immersed in a culture and hearing the language constantly. Hooked On Phonics (Spanish version) would most definitely NOT work for me.

Thats where the immersion class comes in...it really is amazing what ou can pick up within these settings, well worth the time and money! I beleive most provide a money back guarantee, at least mine did. What would you have to loose? Course if you have no need then who cares.

Damn Boy...five languages! thats impressive, my next language I'll pick up is French. Planning this winter which is my off season for business.

decides2dream

onelongsong wrote:

the upcoming lawsuits will force the "officials" to make the decision. are you saying that the majority of americans are spanish? i don't understand your point.
the job in question was working at a gas station in america. why would one require spanish in that job?

i had PMed but since i have returned, again..at least for a bit...thought sure i'll respond here too.

the majority of people who english is NOT THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE, are spanish, in this country...and it is also the official second language of our country.

to answer your question...if one owns a gas station in a very dominant, hispanic community, it would be in the business owners best interest to have staff that can speak both english and spanish..to best serve the needs of their clientele. i already addressed this. there is nothing in our laws that says a business owner can't require it's staff to be bilingual, MANY a business does. if you aren't or don't like it..apply elsewhere. your rights are not being infringed upon.


btw - i know there is a community in florida, wish i could remember the name...but anyway, it's entirely finnish. everyone can and does speak finnish, and sure, some speak english too. how do i know this? b/c my friend from finland moved there for a short while, tol;d me all about it, and her boss - who also is finnish - has lived in this country for 5 years, and he could say maybe 5 words in english. so yea, people can adapt...and obviously, many businesses in that area would require you know finnish.

decides2dream

btw - thus far, it seems like amongst those who responded, which granted is not much...none of us have been or know of anyone being discriminated against b/c they are not bilingual, so it seems so far, not a wide-spread issue.

moeaholic

i can speak english, pig latin, and obic. does that make me tri-lingual?

thankyougrandma

denverfan wrote:

I may have come across wrong...I have accepted the mexican culture as becomming pretty much mainstream, as populations grow (documented or not). I beleive that when realized and embraced by americans, we all come ahead in the end. But, locally we're so far from this point it not even funny. By getting worse I meant mexican/hispanic cultures growing while americans choosing to not accept or embrace this fact.

You hear all the time while bumping around from most everyone "we're in America, speak engish etc."

ah ok, sorry i got it wrong then, good point...

thankyougrandma

decides2dream wrote:

btw - thus far, it seems like amongst those who responded, which granted is not much...none of us have been or know of anyone being discriminated against b/c they are not bilingual, so it seems so far, not a wide-spread issue.

but i think you got a good observation on the first page, most of the time it means not being qualified, more than being discriminized, i agree with that...

decides2dream

thankyougrandma wrote:

but i think you got a good observation on the first page, most of the time it means not being qualified, more than being discriminized, i agree with that...

well there is nothing wrong with that. i've said/admitted as much...but it in NO way means you are discriminated against. it's the same as a job that clearly states you need X years of expereince, or a master's degree, etc...being bilingual is merely another requirement. it's no one's 'fault' if you do not meet the qualifications for a particular job but your own, so then, either get the qualifications you need for the particular job you want...or simply look for another job, or another company. listing clear qualitifications for consideration, not even close to discrimination.

thankyougrandma

decides2dream wrote:

well there is nothing wrong with that. i've said/admitted as much...but it in NO way means you are discriminated against. it's the same as a job that clearly states you need X years of expereince, or a master's degree, etc...being bilingual is merely another requirement. it's no one's 'fault' if you do not meet the qualifications for a particular job but your own, so then, either get the qualifications you need for the particular job you want...or simply look for another job, or another company. listing clear qualitifications for consideration, not even close to discrimination.

... or learn the damn language

decides2dream

thankyougrandma wrote:

... or learn the damn language

well that's what i meant by 'get the qualifications.'

harmless_little_f***

I can't get a paid job because I'm disabled. Seems like everyone thinks I'm happy to 'volunteer' for every damn thing in the world for the rest of my life.

onelongsong

decides2dream wrote:

btw - thus far, it seems like amongst those who responded, which granted is not much...none of us have been or know of anyone being discriminated against b/c they are not bilingual, so it seems so far, not a wide-spread issue.

the whole purpose of this thread was to see if this is becoming widespread. the truth remains that it takes only ONE case to get it before the supreme court.

decides2dream

onelongsong wrote:

the whole purpose of this thread was to see if this is becoming widespread. the truth remains that it takes only ONE case to get it before the supreme court.

i understood the purpose, you already said you wanted to see if it was a widespread problem. so, i was merely taking the time to review the thread and say thus far, for the small degree of participants, it hasn't been a problem for any of us.