Joe Biden For President

[Waggs098]

Originally Posted by Chicks

You are precisely the type of person who yells at immigrants to "speak English!", when you can't even master your own native tongue. Such sorry, ignorant people you are.

When I lived in Europe, I had the courtesy to learn the language of the host country - not fluently, but conversationally, in the 2.5 years I lived there. I've worked alongside many immigrants to this country, many of whom had better command of English than you do. My closest co-worker, from India, spoke five languages, and made a point of improving her English vocabulary every day. It's critical for anyone who doesn't want to remain at the bottom rung of the corporate ladder, where people like you will forever be stuck - bitter, angry, and voting for populist demagogues.

Well your right on the assumption that I think immigrants should speak english. But not once have I ever said they have to be perfect in pronunciation or spelling.

Here is a great example. We set up a/v rentals at a conference facility a lot. There are a few immigrants that manage the set up there. Very respectable people. I had to have some tables moved so I could drive a scissor lift to a certain area to hang some speakers. The issue was i couldn't drive the lift on the floor pockets that have mic jacks in them otherwise I would crush the lid. I had to straddle the floor pockets with the tires of the lift.

I asked a crew member from the facility to move the the tables so I could straddle the floor pockets. He went and got the head manager and the manager came over and the first thing he asked is "what does straddle mean?" I proceeded to explain to him what the word meant. He pretty much said "ok well get them moved for you".

About 30 minutes later the manager and I were walking by each other and he asked "what was that word again?" I told him again the word was straddle.

The cool thing is that both of us were respectable, smiling, and having fun during both conversations.

So ya there's where i stand on the issue of immigrants and the English language.

Next it's funny how you say I'm someone who yells at immigrants to speak English, at the beginning of your post. At the end you say, "My closest co-worker, from India, spoke five languages, and made a point of improving her English vocabulary every day. It's critical for anyone who doesn't want to remain at the bottom rung of the corporate ladder, where people like you will forever be stuck - bitter, angry, and voting for populist demagogues."

So it sounds to me your saying immigrants to the USA who don't speak English PROPERLY will forever be stuck at the bottom of the chain, proving the point that they should know english.