Originally posted by: jumpr
I think this thread shows just how xenophobic some Americans are. What's wrong with learning another language - expanding your horizons, so to speak? If anything, it'll make you more worldly. No one expects you to learn another language, but it's definitely a more enjoyable life experience if you do.
Not necessarily. I've always been eager to learn new language(I have semi-decent German), and I want to learn Spanish and French as well. Hell, I wouldn't mind learning Arabic or Mandarin either. The issue is having "dual" public languages, even though we don't have an official language. It isn't like it was in the 1700, 1800, and 1900's when you had an influx of immigrants from many different places.
Currently, the US gets most of its immigrants from Spanish speaking countries. Many of the immigrants in prior centuries were eager to assimilate into our culture and "fit-in" and learn English. They thought it was prideful to be an American Citizen, learn the language, and be a part of our Democracy. There are a lot of Hispanics that are like this as well, but there are many more that refuse to assimilate and that refuse to even begin to learn English.
The biggest factor, however, is that a majority of Hispanic immigrants are here illegally. Many don't pay taxes because of this, yet they tie up State and Federal resources just like a citizen. There
is a problem with that, and there
is a problem with them not immigrating here legally. Look at all the former Eastern-Bloc immigrants that want to come here, and then do so legally. Heck, Skoorb and MrsSkoorb had to fight INS for a long time to get things straight about them immigrating here. They did it legally and it was a pain-in-the-ass therefore I think it sucks that someone can just sneak across the border, not pay taxes, and then use resources just like any other citizens.
Xenophobia only applies if I was against anything foreign in nature, and bigotry would only apply if I were partial to my own kind, and finally, racism would only apply if I were against Hispanics as a race. I want to see more Hispanics, Russians, Eastern Bloc, Asian, or whatever ethnicity immigrants. I want tons of immigrants, but I want them to follow the same process that has worked in this country for 300 years, especially with the problems of terrorists entering our borders now. I look on illegal immigration as a serious problem, because more often than not, an illegal citizen does not help the economy, but rather hurts it. It is rather unfair to allow illegals to abuse the system, while the same government is very strict with its legal immigrants.