Remember the recent discussions about the US not having an official language?

LadyMadrid08

My friend just sent me this after I showed her that website "I'm not racist, but."  On that website there was a post about "this is America, at least speak english, blah blah blah."  Anyway, I was commenting to my friend about how annoying that mindset is and she sent me this gem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9hZO-dQYww

It's a bit old, but WTF!  I really can't believe this craziness is actually the basis of campaigns. 

ILikePineapples

That is crazy.  I do think that in order to get citizenship, one should be able to have a rudimentary ability to speak the countries' language.  And that you ought to be able to read signs in the language of the nation - know what "stop" means; but taking tests in other languages makes sense.  And I can't believe that was an okay platform, but after reading some of the comments, it seems as if he gets some support.

LadyMadrid08

ILikePineapples:

That is crazy.  I do think that in order to get citizenship, one should be able to have a rudimentary ability to speak the countries' language.  And that you ought to be able to read signs in the language of the nation - know what "stop" means; but taking tests in other languages makes sense.  And I can't believe that was an okay platform, but after reading some of the comments, it seems as if he gets some support.

I agree with you that some understanding is of course necessary for living in another country and I know that in the US driving you actually need to understand quite a bit of english to read all the signs with words on them.  Still, as a platform this kind of stuff icks me out. 

Brit's Luna154

I don't think it is fair to say that this is the basis of campaigns in a general sense, this was one campaign in one state that was highly publicized by sensationalist media. I would guess that it was highly offensive to most Americans who saw it.

TotZiens

I just saw a bumper sticker the other day that said this is american speak english and I went off on my poor husband about it (who agrees with me).  sometimes americans bug me.

elenetxu

I thought FH was going to get killed at the local county fair last year. He saw a shirt with "This is America, speak English on it" and said to me "LOOK!" The really, really, really big dude running that stand comes out and says something like "Yeah, that's a great one ain't it??"

Then FH says something to me in Spanish and the guy gives us both a really nasty look.

LadyMadrid08

elenetxu:

I thought FH was going to get killed at the local county fair last year. He saw a shirt with "This is America, speak English on it" and said to me "LOOK!" The really, really, really big dude running that stand comes out and says something like "Yeah, that's a great one ain't it??"

Then FH says something to me in Spanish and the guy gives us both a really nasty look.

Oh my.  

On another note the first time DH visited me in the US we went to the grocery store and he gave his Spanish ID to use his credit card.  The guy looked at it, saw Espa?a written at the top in huge letters, and asked if DH was from Mexico.  I think my jaw actually dropped.  Lol. 

mrs_p2b

I had to replay it - I couldn't understand everything he said!

And thank goodness I know that it doesn't represent what most Americans think. Otherwise it would scare the cr4p out of me.

elenetxu

LadyMadrid08:

Oh my.  

On another note the first time DH visited me in the US we went to the grocery store and he gave his Spanish ID to use his credit card.  The guy looked at it, saw Espa?a written at the top in huge letters, and asked if DH was from Mexico.  I think my jaw actually dropped.  Lol. 

I think FH would have a heart attack if that ever happened. 

People just don't believe his ID here. He's older than me, but almost didn't get served at the local bar because they couldn't figure out his birthday on his DNI. ("Wait, why's it say 30/4?")

elenetxu

Did you see this response to the video?

The best part is the pi proposal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe-W4K6JVAw&feature=related

LadyMadrid08

Hahaha elenetxu!  My favorite part about that was his awkward positioning and walking around the camera.  

Oh my...pi becomes pie.  Youtube cracks me up, the things you can find on there. 

marista99

Know what's funny? My husband thinks the test should be only in English. Not because other languages are bad, but because Amharic is never one of the "other languages" options so he has to do everything in English whether he likes it or not, and other language speakers don't and that's not fair. Interesting argument I thought