When in America

[.]

I'm waiting in line behind a woman speaking on her cellphone in another language. Ahead of her is a white man. After the woman hangs up, he speaks up.)
Man: "I didn't want to say anything while you were on the phone, but you're in America now. You need to speak English."
Woman: "Excuse me?"
Man: *very slow* "If you want to speak Mexican, go back to Mexico. In America, we speak English."
Woman: "Sir, I was speaking Navajo. If you want to speak English, go back to England."

Perspective is everything. 

[Hoser]

     Hoser

[dreamaker]

I'm waiting in line behind a woman speaking on her cellphone in another language. Ahead of her is a white man. After the woman hangs up, he speaks up.)
Man: "I didn't want to say anything while you were on the phone, but you're in America now. You need to speak English."
Woman: "Excuse me?"
Man: *very slow* "If you want to speak Mexican, go back to Mexico. In America, we speak English."
Woman: "Sir, I was speaking Navajo. If you want to speak English, go back to England."

Perspective is everything. 

GOOD ONE!!!

[Rams]

Perspective is correct.   He was wrong, he had no idea who she was talking to and I consider phone calls to be private conversations.   He had no clue as to who she was talking to or any of the other circumstances but.    There are circumstances where he would not be wrong.   Although, I would consider it less than cordial to speak up like that.

I deal with the public.   Frequently, I have people that come in and they don't speak English or our American version of English.    This is extremely frustrating for all parties concerned.   I understand that English is not the first language of the rest of the world (although, I am told English is the most widely spoken language on this rock) but, it is the predominate language in the USA.    I am a proponent of legislation making English our national language but, I seem to be in the minority.    All I'll say it this, I served this country for most of my adult life and quite a bit of that service was in country's where English was not the language spoken by the "natives".    I felt it was my responsibility to learn at least enough to get by.   Korean was tough for me but, I got by.   Some folks are better with language than others and I understand that.    But, I really do believe if you're going to move to or live in a country where the predominate language spoken is not your "native" language, it is your responsibility to learn that language and not their responsibility to learn yours.

While we do not have a national language, all of our laws are written in English, if you're here, it behooves you to learn the language.    Good topic/thread.   

[da prez]

  If you want a shock , bring up the immigration and naturalization test and try to pass it the first time.

                           da prez

[old2soon]

We are one of the few countries that doe's not have an official language.   THAT being said the guy was WRONG on a lot of levels.   ZERO/NONE/NADA of his business of not only who she was speaking with or the language involved.   Long time ago I trucked thru the res on U S 666 and would tune in to the Indian radio station. One or two words might have been in English but I enjoyed listening to it even though I DID NOT understand much of what was being talked about. Driving truck has exposed me to a lot of different languages-I'm still here and don't take offense at it. Asking politely what language they are using has started many pleasant conversations.   RIDE SAFE.

[GiG]

Damn stupid white people anyhow.... 

[Jess from VA]

I cannot speak either, but the difference between Navajo and Spanish is huge.  Ask the Japanese about Navajo.  Exceptionally hard to learn, and they had no written word.

The point about all US immigrants learning English (becoming American, and renouncing all foreign citizenship) remains valid.  My wife was questioned thoroughly about this in her immigration visa process.  I guess it's pencil whipped today.  Of course my wife spoke and wrote better English than most HS grads do today, before she ever arrived here. 

[G-Man]

..........I consider phone calls to be private conversations.   

If you're at home, sure.  But if you are on the cell phone out in public, how could the conversation possibly be private.  Oh, maybe HALF the conversation is private, unless you're talking to my wife, then both sides of the conversation are VERY PUBLIC.

Remember doors on pay phone booths.  They were there to for a reason.  To respect the privacy of those on the phone, and to protect the rest of us from being disturbed by the phone call.

[G-Man]

Damn stupid white people anyhow.... 

You're racist!   

[G-Man]

Those that don't learn English, for whatever reason, are hurting themselves.  The international language for business is English.  If you are willing to put yourself at a disadvantage, so be it.  Unfortunately, the rest of us eventually pay for these people anyway.

What a shitty cycle!

[GiG]

Remember doors on pay phone booths.

There is one still in my most favorite place, Nancy Whiskey's, an old blind pig in Corktown, Detroit. It is not necessarilly usually used for "talking" these days....  

[old2soon]

Just before cell phones kicked in really big the truck stops I frequented decided after moving the booths from outside to the entrance then getting rid of said booths leaving the pay phones on the wall in the game room!!  And in my experience the game rooms were ALWAYS busy 24/7/365.  RIDE SAFE.

[Skinhead]

Know a dude has one of them thar phone booths in his tattoo parlor back room.  It is used exclusively for smoking weed!

[9Ball]

Know a dude has one of them thar phone booths in his tattoo parlor back room.  It is used exclusively for smoking weed!

Do you feel cramped when you're in there?   

[GiG]

Do you feel cramped when you're in there?   Cool

That's ol' Sinkhead, 2nd from left with black Army headwrap.
Does he look like he'd be feelin' cramped in a phone booth?           



BTW:
He is a huge Bill Clinton fan and, as such, does not inhale
(except maybe to be sqeezin' into that phone booth!)

[Raverez]

"Remember doors on pay phone booths.  They were there to for a reason.  To respect the privacy of those on the phone, and to protect the rest of us from being disturbed by the phone call."



I thought they were there so Superman could have a place to change.




 

[tank_post142]

Nancy Whiskey's ! I've fallen down in there a few times. have a friend of ours that rode her horse in on new years for years until she didn't look so good as Lady Godiva . Ah, time catches us all.

[Hooter]

I cannot speak either, but the difference between Navajo and Spanish is huge.  Ask the Japanese about Navajo.  Exceptionally hard to learn, and they had no written word.

The point about all US immigrants learning English (becoming American, and renouncing all foreign citizenship) remains valid.  My wife was questioned thoroughly about this in her immigration visa process.  I guess it's pencil whipped today.  Of course my wife spoke and wrote better English than most HS grads do today, before she ever arrived here. 

Its proof that if you want to do something with your life other than nothing,  play the blame game or the system like so many do, you can. GOOD ON HER!
  "Wind Talkers" were huge in the war effort. The Japanese never figured it out, and to some extent was their demise. Accelerated the ground war effort for the Americans greatly.
   Someone said  phone calls are private. IMHO, not when they are in public and the people on the phone make them "not so private". Usually you can hear the one sided conversation very plainly 20' away. I don't know if some people want you to know they have a cell phone or what, but it seems that way? Want it to be a private conversation or conduct business, go set in your car. Otherwise, you are subject to the listening public. I've never found someone's cell phone conversation to be interesting and ignore them for the most part. But they are annoying.

[GiG]

Nancy Whiskey's ! I've fallen down in there a few times. have a friend of ours that rode her horse in on new years for years until she didn't look so good as Lady Godiva . Ah, time catches us all.

   
Too, funny!
I rode a Shadow inside Nancy's about 20 years ago during a Witchdoctors show. 
Pretty good friends with the owner, Cheryl, now.
C'mon up, Tank, we'll drink some of Cheryl's home brew whiskey and catch some blues! 
BTW: I usually leave the bike outside these days...