do you think you are being discriminated against

kscarlett5683

yankeebaby2:

I don't see how making english the official language would have helped the store owner or the colombian nanny and I still maintain that you said this based on your own discomfort. 

You specifically stated that you did not like going into ethnic neighborhoods and not understanding the language. Yes, ONLY in the context of trying to handle a business transaction (i.e. purchasing something, etc).  Making english the official language won't change that.  Store owners of private businesses can transact business int he language of their choosing and patrons of said store can take their business elswhere If English was the official language, I maintain it should be a law that all businesses *be able to* conduct business in English (in addition to any other language of their choosing). So things would have to change.

I also am not ashamed to say that I feel that I have the right to be able to communicate in my country's language with ease. Again, 92% of the world's countries have at least one official language. Apparently the rest of the world agrees with me.

yankeebaby2

kscarlett5683:

yankeebaby2:

I don't see how making english the official language would have helped the store owner or the colombian nanny and I still maintain that you said this based on your own discomfort. 

You specifically stated that you did not like going into ethnic neighborhoods and not understanding the language. Yes, ONLY in the context of trying to handle a business transaction (i.e. purchasing something, etc).  Making english the official language won't change that.  Store owners of private businesses can transact business int he language of their choosing and patrons of said store can take their business elswhere If English was the official language, I maintain it should be a law that all businesses *be able to* conduct business in English (in addition to any other language of their choosing). So things would have to change.

I also am not ashamed to say that I feel that I have the right to be able to communicate in my country's language with ease. Again, 92% of the world's countries have at least one official language. Apparently the rest of the world agrees with me.

I think you and I both know that if you want to buy something and the clerk doesn't speak english all you really have to worry about is correct change. 

So you are saying that is english is the official language then you would like to make it law that all business owners speak english?  Is that like the tax people used to have to pay to vote or having to own property to vote or passing a test to vote?  You don't see how that would force immigrants out of business?

You can't understand why it would be racist to force all business owners to pass an english test before they buy a business with their own hard earned money? 

kscarlett5683

yankeebaby2:

kscarlett5683:

yankeebaby2:

I don't see how making english the official language would have helped the store owner or the colombian nanny and I still maintain that you said this based on your own discomfort. 

You specifically stated that you did not like going into ethnic neighborhoods and not understanding the language. Yes, ONLY in the context of trying to handle a business transaction (i.e. purchasing something, etc).  Making english the official language won't change that.  Store owners of private businesses can transact business int he language of their choosing and patrons of said store can take their business elswhere If English was the official language, I maintain it should be a law that all businesses *be able to* conduct business in English (in addition to any other language of their choosing). So things would have to change.

I also am not ashamed to say that I feel that I have the right to be able to communicate in my country's language with ease. Again, 92% of the world's countries have at least one official language. Apparently the rest of the world agrees with me.

I think you and I both know that if you want to buy something and the clerk doesn't speak english all you really have to worry about is correct change. 

So you are saying that is english is the official language then you would like to make it law that all business owners speak english?  Is that like the tax people used to have to pay to vote or having to own property to vote or passing a test to vote?  You don't see how that would force immigrants out of business?

You can't understand why it would be racist to force all business owners to pass an english test before they buy a business with their own hard earned money? 

Ahah! This is the first thing you said that helps me understand the disconnect. Seriously, I really wish you had brought up this point ages ago. I am able to address this.

Actually, no I don't think it's like paying taxes to vote or passing a test. I did not say in any way that someone needed to pass a test before they own a business. I don't agree with that. COMPLETELY different than requiring that they offer English to communicate within that business. Oh, and that wouldn't be racist. Discriminatory yes, but not racist. A German would be subject to the same rules as an Indian or Chinese or Hispanic. Not racist.

However, I can see that is where one might take things. Let me be clear that is not what I meant.

No, I do not think it would be just to require someone take a test to get a business license. I think JUST like someone would need assistance to get said license (if no translations were offered), they could get help hiring individuals who were bilingual or someone to help with signage.

I'm not saying that for someone who doesn't speak English that would be easy by any stretch of the imagination. BUT -- and let me stress this ---

I am not asking ANYONE to do anything I wouldn't do if I was in another country trying to start a business.

Yes, even a small business owner. You cannnot tell me that a small business owner doesn't get assistance with English anyway. If they dont' know the language, that would be impossible for them to continue to run their business -- just dealing with taxes, government agencies, wholesalers, or whatever.

 

 

 

yankeebaby2

kscarlett5683:

yankeebaby2:

kscarlett5683:

yankeebaby2:

I think you and I both know that if you want to buy something and the clerk doesn't speak english all you really have to worry about is correct change. 

So you are saying that is english is the official language then you would like to make it law that all business owners speak english?  Is that like the tax people used to have to pay to vote or having to own property to vote or passing a test to vote?  You don't see how that would force immigrants out of business?

You can't understand why it would be racist to force all business owners to pass an english test before they buy a business with their own hard earned money? 

Ahah! This is the first thing you said that helps me understand the disconnect. Seriously, I really wish you had brought up this point ages ago. I am able to address this.

Actually, no I don't think it's like paying taxes to vote or passing a test. I did not say in any way that someone needed to pass a test before they own a business. I don't agree with that. COMPLETELY different than requiring that they offer English to communicate within that business. Oh, and that wouldn't be racist. Discriminatory yes, but not racist. A German would be subject to the same rules as an Indian or Chinese or Hispanic. Not racist.

However, I can see that is where one might take things. Let me be clear that is not what I meant.

No, I do not think it would be just to require someone take a test to get a business license. I think JUST like someone would need assistance to get said license (if no translations were offered), they could get help hiring individuals who were bilingual or someone to help with signage.

I'm not saying that for someone who doesn't speak English that would be easy by any stretch of the imagination. BUT -- and let me stress this ---

I am not asking ANYONE to do anything I wouldn't do if I was in another country trying to start a business.

Yes, even a small business owner. You cannnot tell me that a small business owner doesn't get assistance with English anyway. If they dont' know the language, that would be impossible for them to continue to run their business -- just dealing with taxes, government agencies, wholesalers, or whatever.

You have to see the difference in hiring someone full time that is bilingual versus having a daughter or son help you fill out the paperwork.  I'm the paperwork queen in my family to everyone and fill out everything for them.  I'm also free to them. 

You can't make it law to force business owners to learn english just to own their own business.  It is racist.

But yes, I do now understand more where you are coming from.  But I still disagree