LEARN ENGLISH!

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Exterous

Originally posted by: Xavier434
I would not want to be working with someone that I needed to rely on for my safety where they not able to speak the language I am fluent in. I am all for equal rights and all but...

My Safety > Equal Rights

Coming up with procedures and policies which preserve safety in these cases is a great solution, but you gotta draw the line somewhere.

I would be careful with that statement. I know where you're trying to go, but if too many people think that our society will change radically.

Our society doesn't need to change. It is already the case that you can discriminate against a person on the basis that they cannot adequately perform their job duties. For instance if you have a job that requires heavy lifting you can't exclude women, but you can exclude anyone who can't lift a certain amount of weight. If a person can't speak English and it is necessary for them to be able to speak English to do their job, they don't have to be hired! They aren't hired because of their "rights," they're hired because they're cheaper (in general - not so in the case the OP describes, because we're probably talking about grad students working on a fixed stipend here).

 

[j00fek]

ill have to agree with you on this one

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Exterous

Originally posted by: Xavier434
I would not want to be working with someone that I needed to rely on for my safety where they not able to speak the language I am fluent in. I am all for equal rights and all but...

My Safety > Equal Rights

Coming up with procedures and policies which preserve safety in these cases is a great solution, but you gotta draw the line somewhere.

I would be careful with that statement. I know where you're trying to go, but if too many people think that our society will change radically.

Yes, I know. The quote in bold is the tricky part. The big question is where do you draw the line and how do you regulate it? Part of the answer is that the line will ideally be drawn differently depending on the situation. For example, it doesn't make sense to expect police officers to not be able to speak English fluently in the united states as well as other languages depending on where they are stationed, but it isn't such a big deal if the mall rent-a-cop uses considerably broken English.

 

[Daverino]

The United States has no official language and it is specifically the embracing of immigrants, their cultures and their languages that has made the US the success that it is. I'm sure if you had been in Chicago in 1860 you would have been complaining about how nobody spoke English as well, just that everyone was speaking German. Or in Manhattan in 1920 you would have been complaining about Italian. It is the oldest story for those who can trace their American heritage back a whopping 50 to 100 years to complain about the new folks and their new languages. Right now it's the Hispanics and the Chinese. Who knows which group will be next.

Interestingly, here in NYC, many Hispanic churches are beginning to offer English services because these kids these days. . . they all speak English instead of Spanish. And so it always goes. In 50 years, the native-born, only-English-speaking Hispanics in America will be complaining about immigrants not speaking English as well. They will talk about how their parents learned English when they came to America and how they can't understand people that want to speak their own language. . .

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Daverino
Interestingly, here in NYC, many Hispanic churches are beginning to offer English services because these kids these days. . . they all speak English instead of Spanish. And so it always goes. In 50 years, the native-born, only-English-speaking Hispanics in America will be complaining about immigrants not speaking English as well. They will talk about how their parents learned English when they came to America and how they can't understand people that want to speak their own language. . .

I live in south florida and this prediction of the future is :thumbsup:

The difference in the degree of language barriers between generations down in Miami is incredible. The grandparents can barely speak a word of English. The parents (around 40 years old) can often speak it well or at least well enough. The younger parents all speak it perfectly. The kids of the younger parents often speak English as their first language.

It's really funny to mingle with a whole family during the holidays if you are a beloved patriot like me :laugh:

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
I wouldnt move somewhere without first learning the language, it baffles me why people move to the US and dont bother to learn the language

you've never been to a third world country have you.

 

[Exterous]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Exterous

Originally posted by: Xavier434
I would not want to be working with someone that I needed to rely on for my safety where they not able to speak the language I am fluent in. I am all for equal rights and all but...

My Safety > Equal Rights

Coming up with procedures and policies which preserve safety in these cases is a great solution, but you gotta draw the line somewhere.

I would be careful with that statement. I know where you're trying to go, but if too many people think that our society will change radically.

Our society doesn't need to change. It is already the case that you can discriminate against a person on the basis that they cannot adequately perform their job duties. For instance if you have a job that requires heavy lifting you can't exclude women, but you can exclude anyone who can't lift a certain amount of weight. If a person can't speak English and it is necessary for them to be able to speak English to do their job, they don't have to be hired! They aren't hired because of their "rights," they're hired because they're cheaper (in general - not so in the case the OP describes, because we're probably talking about grad students working on a fixed stipend here).

I am more concerned that the scope of what 'my safety' could grow to include and the potential for a large denial of rights - but I am not saying thats what's happening here. Rather - I am trying to point out that that statement could be construed as an invitation for that denial in the name of safety

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Exterous
I am more concerned that the scope of what 'my safety' could grow to include and the potential for a large denial of rights - but I am not saying thats what's happening here. Rather - I am trying to point out that that statement could be construed as an invitation for that denial in the name of safety

Don't worry about that. The truth is that these decisions already happen everywhere all the time and it is for the best. It is not being abused like you fear.

 

[multiband8303]

Originally posted by: JS80
How would you feel if you were studying abroad and some jackass came up to you and asked you to fully learn the language within a short period of time?

If I wasn't competent in the language of the country I was studying abroad, I wouldn't take that opportunity to be blunt honest.

So in short, if I went to Germany to study abroad (I don't know a lick of german) and the locals were terribly upset with me, which they would be, they have every right to be.

 

[Leros]

This is why we should use Latin or some "standard" worldwide language. In American things would be labeled in English and Latin. In Germany things would be labeled in German and Latin. No matter where you go you could rely on Latin being available.

Something like that. Most of the world, except the US, seems to know two languages anyway.

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: Leros
This is why we should use Latin or some "standard" worldwide language. In American things would be labeled in English and Latin. In Germany things would be labeled in German and Latin. No matter where you go you could rely on Latin being available.

Something like that. Most of the world, except the US, seems to know two languages anyway.

Well why not English? All air pilots around the world have to know and use it.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: Daverino
The United States has no official language and it is specifically the embracing of immigrants, their cultures and their languages that has made the US the success that it is. I'm sure if you had been in Chicago in 1860 you would have been complaining about how nobody spoke English as well, just that everyone was speaking German. Or in Manhattan in 1920 you would have been complaining about Italian. It is the oldest story for those who can trace their American heritage back a whopping 50 to 100 years to complain about the new folks and their new languages. Right now it's the Hispanics and the Chinese. Who knows which group will be next.

Interestingly, here in NYC, many Hispanic churches are beginning to offer English services because these kids these days. . . they all speak English instead of Spanish. And so it always goes. In 50 years, the native-born, only-English-speaking Hispanics in America will be complaining about immigrants not speaking English as well. They will talk about how their parents learned English when they came to America and how they can't understand people that want to speak their own language. . .

Your argument is broken. No Safety regs back in 1860's Chicago, nor was their any social programs funded by taxpayers.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Leros
This is why we should use Latin or some "standard" worldwide language. In American things would be labeled in English and Latin. In Germany things would be labeled in German and Latin. No matter where you go you could rely on Latin being available.

Something like that. Most of the world, except the US, seems to know two languages anyway.

The "standard" worldwide language is English. English is the second language that most people in the world learn. This is why most Americans don't speak two languages fluently - there is no need to.

I went to Europe in high school with my Spanish class. Never had to speak any language other than English.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: Daverino
The United States has no official language and it is specifically the embracing of immigrants, their cultures and their languages that has made the US the success that it is. I'm sure if you had been in Chicago in 1860 you would have been complaining about how nobody spoke English as well, just that everyone was speaking German. Or in Manhattan in 1920 you would have been complaining about Italian. It is the oldest story for those who can trace their American heritage back a whopping 50 to 100 years to complain about the new folks and their new languages. Right now it's the Hispanics and the Chinese. Who knows which group will be next.

Interestingly, here in NYC, many Hispanic churches are beginning to offer English services because these kids these days. . . they all speak English instead of Spanish. And so it always goes. In 50 years, the native-born, only-English-speaking Hispanics in America will be complaining about immigrants not speaking English as well. They will talk about how their parents learned English when they came to America and how they can't understand people that want to speak their own language. . .

Your argument is broken. No Safety regs back in 1860's Chicago, nor was their any social programs funded by taxpayers.

What do social programs have to do with speaking English?

 

[Kaspian]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Definitely a good idea after seeing this. :Q

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!:thumbsup::laugh:

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: Daverino
The United States has no official language and it is specifically the embracing of immigrants, their cultures and their languages that has made the US the success that it is. I'm sure if you had been in Chicago in 1860 you would have been complaining about how nobody spoke English as well, just that everyone was speaking German. Or in Manhattan in 1920 you would have been complaining about Italian. It is the oldest story for those who can trace their American heritage back a whopping 50 to 100 years to complain about the new folks and their new languages. Right now it's the Hispanics and the Chinese. Who knows which group will be next.

Interestingly, here in NYC, many Hispanic churches are beginning to offer English services because these kids these days. . . they all speak English instead of Spanish. And so it always goes. In 50 years, the native-born, only-English-speaking Hispanics in America will be complaining about immigrants not speaking English as well. They will talk about how their parents learned English when they came to America and how they can't understand people that want to speak their own language. . .

Your argument is broken. No Safety regs back in 1860's Chicago, nor was their any social programs funded by taxpayers.

What do social programs have to do with speaking English?

I used to work for LA county social services, the amount of resources that it takes to support languages other than English is quite mind boggling.

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: Exterous

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Exterous

Originally posted by: Xavier434
I would not want to be working with someone that I needed to rely on for my safety where they not able to speak the language I am fluent in. I am all for equal rights and all but...

My Safety > Equal Rights

Coming up with procedures and policies which preserve safety in these cases is a great solution, but you gotta draw the line somewhere.

I would be careful with that statement. I know where you're trying to go, but if too many people think that our society will change radically.

Our society doesn't need to change. It is already the case that you can discriminate against a person on the basis that they cannot adequately perform their job duties. For instance if you have a job that requires heavy lifting you can't exclude women, but you can exclude anyone who can't lift a certain amount of weight. If a person can't speak English and it is necessary for them to be able to speak English to do their job, they don't have to be hired! They aren't hired because of their "rights," they're hired because they're cheaper (in general - not so in the case the OP describes, because we're probably talking about grad students working on a fixed stipend here).

I am more concerned that the scope of what 'my safety' could grow to include and the potential for a large denial of rights - but I am not saying thats what's happening here. Rather - I am trying to point out that that statement could be construed as an invitation for that denial in the name of safety

What right, you mean there's a right to spanish now?!?

Yes, people should be allowed to keep their language and culture, but that's not a right (something basic to all people that takes precedence over all else), it's just a good idea.