Doesn't Anyone Speak English Anymore?

Warning to readers: This blog may make a lot of people angry, but it in fact comes from years of tolerance, and after that much tolerance, one just simply gets fed up after a while.

What's going on in America? Better yet, what's not going on? It's seems that more and more you're finding signs, advertisements and ATMs (just to name a few) with both English and Spanish options. Since when did the United States become a bilingual country? I'm a very tolerant person, and I believe that everyone deserves a chance. The thing is, I'm running out of chances to give.

I guess this all really came to my attention when I was in Salt Lake City this summer. My husband and I spent the first few days in a Super 8 right off Temple Square, and it was surprisingly nice. All except for the the girl who was in charge of the breakfast bar. Almost everyday, the coffee was empty (my husband HAS to have his coffee). No matter how many times my husband asked--in both English and a very good attempt at Spanish--she just wouldn't budge to make more. Basically she gave us the attitude of "I don't (won't) speak English, and unless you speak perfect Spanish to me, I'm not going to do what you ask." Hell, I was ready to go back there and make it myself!

Since then, I've noticed more and more that everything is in Spanish. Signs, announcements at the train station, ATM prompts, automated phone services...you name it, it's probably in Spanish. I have nothing against anyone of Spanish-speaking origin. In fact, I have a number of friends who are Mexican, Bolivian, etc. However, I find it disturbing that we let people across our borders to hopefully become American citizens, and we're bending over backwards to make sure it's like they never left home. Question: If you moved to Germany, would you expect that everything suddenly be in English instead of German? The same for France? Or Finland? Or Russia? No! I can assure you, you'd be speaking the language after a short while if you wanted to know how to get to work or where to buy your groceries. You would make the adjustment.

The thing is (and this is what's probably where you're going to get angry), is that I don't see this problem with any other culture. I don't hear an influx of French or Italian people who refuse to speak English. When America opened it's arms to the immigrants of the late 1800's and early 1900's, those coming across our borders worked extremely hard to fit in. They went to the extreme of changing their last names, they took what jobs they could, and they all learned to speak English. Sure, they would go home after work and speak in their native languages, but when they were in public and they needed to hold on to those jobs because there was was no telling if they could get another, they spoke English. Now, you're lucky if can get a job without having to be bilingual. As an English-speaking American-born citizen, why should I have to learn a foreign language to get a job in my own country?

I have traveled to Europe on a number of occasions, and I have always taken the time to learn at least the basic courteous phrases (thank you, hello, good-bye, please, etc.) of the countries I've visited. I even tried to learn Czech and that's a hell of language to take on, even for just a few words. I have always tried to fit in. I don't want to be known as "one of those obnoxious Americans". I want people in other countries to see that I am trying. If I could be fluent I would. I'm still working on my German and Italian and getting better over time. Unfortunately, I'm not surrounded by Germans or Italians so it is harder for me to become fluent. But the point is, I try.

As I said before I have a number of friends of Spanish-speaking origin. My neighbors are from Bolivia and they have adjusted to America very well. I went through school with the kids, so it was far easier for them to pick up on English. Their parents, though, have done a wonderful job learning English (mostly from their children). They have decent jobs, live decent lives, and are wonderful neighbors (to the point of cooking to help out when my grandmother was sick). Then I leave home, come to the city, and I'm lucky if I can find someone who speaks decent English let alone any English.

Likewise, I work with a girl at my weekend job who just moved here from Mexico, leaving her family and daughter behind to make a better life and send some money home to help them. In just a few months time, she has learned to speak English, and not just enough to get by, but enough to hold entire conversations. If she doesn't know a word, she asks. Unlike so many, she is willing to learn and work to make the adjustment. She is not just sitting back waiting for everything to be handed to her. I give her credit for all that she has done, and I know she will make great leaps while she is here.

I have lived in New Jersey my whole life, and I was forced to learn Spanish starting in first grade because the area I live in is surrounded by large Spanish-speaking communities. I had no choice in what language I wanted to learn, and to this day I refuse to give into the idea that I "have" to speak it. Now I hear they're starting the kids in kindergarten. Why? We're Americans. Sure, we're known as the melting pot of the world. Correct me if I'm wrong, but every other culture seems to be melting and there seems to be a certain culture still floating on top. I'm not asking that you give up your culture, but I am asking that you make an effort. If you don't want to make the adjustment, then don't make the move.

Pirate fact: Each ship had a code of conduct, which was presented to each crew member by the captain. If a rule was broken, corresponding punishment would follow. A few examples: "If any Many shall steel any Thing in the Company, or game, to the Value of a Piece of Eight, he shall be marroon'd or shot." "That Man that shall not keep his Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect his Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other Punishment as the Captain and the Company shall think fit." "If at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that offers to meddle with her, without her Consent, shall suffer present Death."