Go to BeeHiveSites.com to learn more!
Speak Spanish, Or Else
By Greg L | 9 November 2007 | Manassas City | 86 Comments
Here’s one for the “not to do business with” files: I got an email today from a reader who is reporting that a friend of theirs was turned down for the Branch Manager position at the new Resource Bank being built in Old Town Manassas who was deemed to be unqualified for the position because she couldn’t speak Spanish. The report I got said that the bank is only hiring male, bi-lingual tellers. If that’s the case, this business should get slapped with an EEOC complaint.
I get these reports about once a month, that people are not being hired for various positions because they can’t speak Spanish. Although it is perfectly legal for a business to make a decision like this, I hope the community responds pretty strongly to businesses that won’t hire employees who can’t coddle those who can’t be bothered to learn our language.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
You can follow the discussion through the Comments feed.
86 Comments
Views: 1483
Loading ...
Businesses do what they do in order to get or maintain a competitive edge. You can’t blame them too much for wanting business from the illegal invaders as well as legal residents. The blame lies with our leaders for avoiding this issue for so long, thus encouraging the invasion.
How is this different from banks in Italian neighborhoods in the 1920s that did the same thing ?
Doug:That is the “Johnny did something worse” defense.
Some businesses are taking this to a silly extreme, though. Take Wachovia for example. At the Rippon VRE station, they have signs up only in Spanish. Last time I checked, everyone riding the VRE was speaking English. Bad, bad marketing move there.
Two things about PWC, too.
1. When you call to do anything with your county automobile sticker, you are offered the opportunity to press “2″ for Spanish.
2. On the voting machines, the right side divider had instructions for the touch screen in English while the left side had them in Spanish.
Is PWC required to do these things in Spanish? If so, why aren’t they required to do it in other languages such as Korean? And if they are not required to do so, why are they? Was this some bureaucrats bright idea?
The Chevy chase bank inside the Wellington Giant has a sign that welcomes hispanic families, but not other families. Half the sign is in English(the name of the bank) the other part is in spanish and includes a picture of a hispanic family.
But don’t worry anyone one, we have nothing to worry about America turning into a bilingual Nation.
We might all be speaking Spanish soon. Pelosi and her bunch removed 3 billion (with a B) dollars from the Defense Appropriations bill (HR 3222.) This money was alloted for border security and was passed by the Senate. Where is Wolf?
FROM NumbersUSA
The Senate passed its version of the Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations bill (H.R. 3222), which included a provision by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to set aside $3 billion for border security, but the House-Senate negotiators, under guidance from the House Democratic leadership, removed the $3 billion in conference.
Please call your Republican representative and decry the removal of the $3 billion in border security funds. Let your representative know that House Democratic leadership is doing all it can to keep the border insecure.
Background
Sen. Graham sponsored the amendment to the DoD bill with Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), which would:
Provide funding to construct 700 miles of fencing;
Provide funding to procure Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), ground sensors, and vehicle barriers;
Increase the ability to detain illegal aliens who overstay their visas and commit other crimes; and
Provide funding for states and localities that undergo training to assist the Federal government in enforcing immigration law.
The Senate voted in October to attach the $3 billion in funding to the DoD bill by a vote of 95 to 1.
Senators Graham, Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Jim Demint (R-S.C.), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), and Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) held a press conference on November 7 to decry the removal of the border security funding from the DoD bill.
“It is outrageous that the leadership yanked this critical funding from the final bill,” Senator Dole said, “The Senate spoke loud and clear on this issue, and now a select few have decided to ignore the number one lesson learned from the Senate’s failed immigration bill – that Americans simply don’t have confidence that their government is serious about securing our borders and enforcing our laws.”
Call your Republican rep. and express outrage at $3 billion in funding being cut from DoD bill
Done! I made the phone calls
I can definitely commit to placing this call
I MIGHT be able to call-I’ll tell you later
Sorry, I cannot place this call DC Office of Representative Frank Wolf
Washington, DC
202-225-5136
District Office of Representative Frank Wolf
Herndon, VA
800-945-9653
Always be polite. You can make a very effective phone call by simply stating your name, where you are calling from and a few brief talking points.
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Tell the staffer that:
1) You are very disappointed with the House-Senate negotiators’ decision to remove the $3 billion in funding for border security out of the Department of Defense Appropriations bill (H.R. 3222).
2) You are well aware that it was the House Democratic leadership who directed the conferees to strip out the funding.
3) You expect the representative to do everything he/she can to ensure that Congress provides the funding necessary to provide the enforcement that it has promised.
We have provided some additional talking points below:
Talking point: The American public already lacks faith in this Congress’ ability to secure the border and enforce our laws. Congress has done little to restore the public’s faith by removing the funding to provide the enforcement we have been asking for.
Talking point: House Democratic leadership has just pulled $3 billion that was set aside for border security from the DoD bill. They must believe they can continue to fool the public into thinking that they are serious about border security, without ever providing the funding necessary to ensure enactment.
Talking point: The $3 billion would go towards building the 700 miles of fence that was promised by the Secure Fence Act, 45,000 detention beds, and 287(g) training for local law enforcement to handle criminal illegal aliens.
Talking point: Congress has made several attempts to convince the public that it is serious about enforcing the law and securing the borders, but it has repeatedly failed put its money where its mouth is.
Carlos,
No, it’s called businesses doing what they need to do to cater to their customers. And since it’s the job of every good business to make a profit, then there’s nothing wrong with them doing whatever they can to attract customers.
The fact of the matter is that there are always going to be immigrants, legal immigrants, who are more comfortable speaking in their native language than in English. It was true in the Italian, Polish, and Eastern European neighborhoods that existed in most major East Coast cities in the early 20th Century, and it’s true today. If a bank, or a flower shop, or whatever, can earn someone’s business my making it easier for them to interact with the staff, then what’s the problem ?
Doug - well they just will no longer have my business.
What is more the Italian, Polish, and Eastern European neighborhoods were relatively self-contained with the first wave or first generation of legal immigrants. As this generation aged and the second, third generation Italians, Polish, & Eastern Europeans were born the transformation was made to English. Often times the second and definitely third generation could not even speak the language of the “old country” because they were Americans, and sometimes they didn’t want the kids to know what the parents were talking about. These people assimilated to American culture.
Also, the businesses that were catering to these Italian, Polish & Easter European customers were from the same ethnic group.
Now you have businesses owned by non-hispanics demanding that their employees speak Spanish.
How can normal people be so threatened by a language? I mean a language is just a collection of sounds. It can’t damage you, it can’t kill you. What is the threat it poses that makes someone hysterically want to boycott a business that tries to make it’s customers more comfortable. I mean banks are very cognizant that they are asking their customers to trust them with their hard earned money.
Doug:I said nothing about any business not being able to do what is best for their business. In fact I didn’t take a stand on the issue. I was commenting on your defending one act by stating what “Johnny did” decades ago.
The point is being missed here. We can’t get jobs in our own community because we do not speak a second language.
Does boycot have one “t” or two?
Carlos,
My apologies. The comment stands, though not directed to you personally.
Anonymous @ 5:04pm:
Who says you have a right to a job anyway ?
CommonSense said 9 Nov 2007 at 5:01 pm:
I mean banks are very cognizant that they are asking their customers to trust them with their hard earned money.
Good example of your “friendly” bank is BANK OF AMERICA which does not require a SSN or other documents that are required of everyone except Latinos. BANK AMIGO!
This hasn’t been “our” communtiy in 4 or 5 years now. It’s theirs now. The powers that be will not side with us on this issue ultimately. We can argue and gripe and form all the committees and groups that we want, but in the end unless we are ALL willing to stand up and fight for it then it will be a lost cause. 10-20% of the citizenry standing up to politicians to put an end to this madness will never work in the long run. It’s 80% or more or the problem will just keep getting worse. I was so disappointed in my fellow citizenry this election day for either choosing to vote communist or to not vote at all. Time to start looking for a job in Oklahoma.
Doug Mataconis said on 9 Nov 2007 at 5:13 pm:
Who says you have a right to a job anyway ?
—————————————————-
The illegal aliens and their supporters say so!
Doug Mataconis said on 9 Nov 2007 at 4:36 pm:
Carlos,
No, it’s called businesses doing what they need to do to cater to their customers. And since it’s the job of every good business to make a profit, then there’s nothing wrong with them doing whatever they can to attract customers.
The fact of the matter is that there are always going to be immigrants, legal immigrants, who are more comfortable speaking in their native language than in English. It was true in the Italian, Polish, and Eastern European neighborhoods that existed in most major East Coast cities in the early 20th Century, and it’s true today. If a bank, or a flower shop, or whatever, can earn someone’s business my making it easier for them to interact with the staff, then what’s the problem
CommonSense said on 9 Nov 2007 at 5:01 pm:
How can normal people be so threatened by a language? I mean a language is just a collection of sounds. It can’t damage you, it can’t kill you. What is the threat it poses that makes someone hysterically want to boycott a business that tries to make it’s customers more comfortable. I mean banks are very cognizant that they are asking their customers to trust them with their hard earned money.
What do ya’ll think about businesses that avoid using the word Christmas in their advertising or store displays? Do you think the fact the vast majority of folks who shop in November and December are buying Christmas gifts? So, shouldn’t the stores make those customers feel comfortable by catering to those who are celebrating Christmas? What is wrong with saying Merry Christmas as a customer is purchasing items from those stores?
As a southerner, I celebrate Southern Heritage. I suppose I should demand stores honor that heritage by having folks who can speak only in a Southern accent and of course they will have to fly my beloved Confederate Battle Flag.
CoM,
I was in a Home Depot and I was pleased to see signs only in English. I thought I was dreaming!
I was at a Bank of America and overheard a group (2 women, 3 men and one unruly anchor baby) of illegal aliens trying to get a loan. The bank official told them that they needed to show a passport in order to get the loan. They left (probably to go their conterfeiter for documents)
Anonymous said “The point is being missed here. We can’t get jobs in our own community because we do not speak a second language.”
All jobs have certain required skills. You couldn’t work as a doctor at Potomac Hospital, unless you had a medical degree… You couldn’t work as an accountant if you didn’t have the right certification…and you couldn’t work as a Chairman of the PWC BOCS unless you had a ruthless ability to sacrifice the good of your citizens for your own political career.
CitizenOfManassas said “As a southerner, I celebrate Southern Heritage. I suppose I should demand stores honor that heritage by having folks who can speak only in a Southern accent and of course they will have to fly my beloved Confederate Battle Flag.”
People like you are the reason that so many americans look upon southerners with disdain. That flag was flown in defense of the slavery of millions of humans. Why can’t you guys seem to figure that one out. You lost dude, get over it! It’s like flying the nazi flag and saying you’re just celebrating your german heritage.
One thing that Conservatives (Republicans) pride themselves on is hands off business and the free market. The New Resource bank is doing this because the free market requires these skills.
It’s your blog; however, if you really are a Conservative, you’ll keep your hands off business and the decisions they need to make to survive and thrive.
I think that there is something that is being ignored. The fact is we are paying for latinos to learn english with our hard earned money. These people are the ones who will be taking all the jobs when bilingualism becomes the rule. Our own citizens will be shut out of these jobs and their children too. The fact is we are not spending money to teach our children and companies are not spending money to train citizen and legal residents so that they can have access to the same jobs.
In the end people who are not paying taxes, who are using our resources and who are receiving free medical care are also the ones who will have access to jobs before taxpaying people. Is it fair that we should pay for their education but not protect our ability to access the same bilingual jobs?
CommonSense, I think you need to get some CommonSense!
Liz,
You hit the nail on the head. No Child Left Behind is forcing us to put herculean effort into getting ESOL students on the level with eeryone else. These students will be the ones taking our children’s jobs because they will be bilingual.
Retiredwildgoose said on 9 Nov 2007 at 6:09 pm:
“One thing that Conservatives (Republicans) pride themselves on is hands off business and the free market…
It’s your blog; however, if you really are a Conservative, you’ll keep your hands off business and the decisions they need to make to survive and thrive.”
You got something there. The ‘free market’ is the society in which we live. Changes in the society have to be met by businesses, or they will fail. Therefore, business practices will change naturally when the market (society) changes. Seems elementary. Or am I wrong?
I think everyone is missing the point.
The requirement to speak a ‘universal” business language is the paramount issue. If you do not mandate this of businesses and hiring practices, you favor one ethnic group to the detriment of all others” That is not legal in our constitutional bill of rights concepts.
That is also a violation of Equal Opportunity Employment Laws for Federal and State statutes, where you must guarantee equal opportunity for all, but not equal outcomes.
The reason these things are happening is that Owners and Managers are now in charge of most of these businesses (banks, retail stores, etc), that promote gender, ethnic, racial, and religious group supremacy concepts, and care only for the ethnic group they belong too, making business and hiring decisions that match their preferences. They have not yet been sued, and the supreme court has not yet ruled on the other side of the “diversity” supremacy concepts, when a minority oppresses a majority, instead of a majority oppressing a minority. The world has not yet learned the difference between privilige and discrimmination, as being equal illegal sins.
CitizenOfManassas said “As a southerner, I celebrate Southern Heritage. I suppose I should demand stores honor that heritage by having folks who can speak only in a Southern accent and of course they will have to fly my beloved Confederate Battle Flag.”
People like you are the reason that so many americans look upon southerners with disdain. That flag was flown in defense of the slavery of millions of humans. Why can’t you guys seem to figure that one out. You lost dude, get over it! It’s like flying the nazi flag and saying you’re just celebrating your german heritage.
Wow,
You don’t have a problem with illegals and businesses catering to them by speaking spanish. Yet, you get your panties in a bunch because an American wants to celebrate their heritage. Why should you be upset, get over it, if you don’t like it too bad. A business is just catering to their customers.
I knew there were self loathing Americans, but you might take the cake.
Doug,
You are wrong, because many stores now see it to be politically incorrect to say mention Christmas because they do not want to offend people. Yet, anyone who raises questions because they are sick of hearing a foreign language is not offended they are just bigoted.
The next time you are in a store that caters to their hispanic customers, ask them if they will do the same for their customers who are shopping for Christmas.
Commonsense,
How is not being able to speak a foreign language in your own Country a disqualification? I think folks who have immigrated to a new Nation should be the ones to adapt, not those that did not immigrate.
You seem to want hispanics to hang on to their language, but not those that speak English.
Called McDonald and asked why, in an area of mixed races only Hispanics work, almost exclusively, in every McDonalds restaurant. You can go 20 miles west and see people other than hispanics working so why the disconnect here. If there is an example of an EEO violation it’s pretty clear that it exisits from this business in this area. I also asked why I was haven my order taken in spanish. If you don’t call the business out on the issue then they think the problem doesn’t exist.
Virginia does have English only laws.
If a business needs someone who speaks Chinese and English, advertise for someone with those language skills. Same with Spanish, French or any other language.
What es_la_ley said on 9 Nov 2007 at 7:39 pm
es_la_lay, When you’re right, you’re right! Government created the problem, not business. Business will do what they need to do to compete in the free market (or perish)… and that’s the way we (Classical Conservatives… not these big Government Republicans we see these days) want it.
I was under the impression that English is the official language of Virginia. It does not preclude people from speaking other languages. I do not think that this implies that Virginia has ‘English only’ laws.
On the other hand, in jobs where the spoken word is relied upon, nothing is more annoying than having to talk to someone with weak English skills. If there is no one to complain to, I scratch that business off my list. Many people do not have that luxury.
CommonSense: “That flag was flown in defense of the slavery of millions of humans. Why can’t you guys seem to figure that one out. You lost dude, get over it! It’s like flying the nazi flag and saying you’re just celebrating your german heritage.”
That’s tripe. You’re logic is way off!
Google “basic logic” and learn from it.
Common Sense,
You and I probably agree on many things. However, I must take exception to anyone saying the Confederate flag was flown in defense of the slavery of millions of humans. I could use the same argument that the stars and stripes was flown over the slaughter of thousands of Indians. Both statements are irrelevant.
As a southerner, I cannot erase my heritage, nor would I want to. The fact that the confederate battle flag has been hi-jacked by racists, skinheads and other such trash in modern times does not mean I have to give in to such misconceptions and misuses.
The various Confederate flags originally were flown in battle and over a newly forged sovereign nation which did not last but 4 years. I doubt that more than 1% of the population during that time thought of the flag as having anything to do with slavery. Most of the southern people alive then simply did what they had to do to survive.
Do not misread me. I do not celebrate the Civil War. I believe it was one of our darkest times as a nation. Absolutely nothing was worth the hideousness of that war in terms of human life, maiming, national tragedy, and property loss. I will not, however, be ashamed of my heritage and erase all signs of its existence.
dolph: “I was under the impression that English is the official language of Virginia. It does not preclude people from speaking other languages. I do not think that this implies that Virginia has ‘English only’ laws.”
You’re quite right! The official language is English, but the government is NOT limited to using other languages whenever it wants too.
“On the other hand, in jobs where the spoken word is relied upon, nothing is more annoying than having to talk to someone with weak English skills. If there is no one to complain to, I scratch that business off my list…”
It’s rare, but I agree.
I was in my local Lowe’s a year ago and saw all the Spanish signs up. I emailed Corporate Lowes and let them know I would no longer be shopping there and why. I haven’t stepped foot in a Lowe’s since. I also emailed Corporate Home Depot and let them know about my Lowes experience and why Home Depot now has my business.
dolph: “I must take exception to anyone saying the Confederate flag was flown in defense of the slavery of millions of humans. I could use the same argument that the stars and stripes was flown over the slaughter of thousands of Indians…”
This is just too weird. I almost posted the same thing but I took the “why bother” route and canceled the posting.
kudos.
es_la_ley,
I wish you would post yours also. There aren’t that many of us left.
I guess we are just having a rare moment today. I would like to read what you have to say.
These business have just not been sued yet. No other international business uses or requires anyone to speak anything other than an international language.
Why is it defined as a CRITICAL business requirement here?
Because the owners and managers are ethnic supremacists themselves, refusing to use an international language to serve all customers, regardless of where they are from. Everyone as a legitimate business right to understand the content of directions being given to employees, for many obvious reasons.
When the chains get sued they will get the legitimate business ethics of it. No other country in the world follows a business requirement to speak only their native language, its always an international language.
Those who impose this are ethnic supremacists, and care nothing for the intersets of the customer in their stores that is not of their ethnicity.
Dolph,
Thanks for the cavalry charge!
If anyone is looking for an alternative to Lowe’s and Home Deport bilingual signs etc, y’all need to shop at the True Value(it has another name, but I can’t think of it right now)located on Mathas ave. They have great customer service, and will spend as much time with you as you need. Yes, they are closed on Sunday’s and some of their prices are a bit higher, but in the end, you are buying from a local business owner who has so far bucked the tread of having bilingual signs.
The point is, we who speak English, only English, in an area now inundated with Latinos, cannot get a job in our own community, in our own home town unless we learn THEIR language. They should be learning OUR language. This is still catering to them and enabling them NOT to assimilate into our society. We do not cater to any other culture but we sure are for them and, consequently, losing our own identity. Is there an element of greed involved in those businesses that are doing this, yes. Does it show non-support of our American culture, language and values, yes. There are many businesses in this area that are English only and do not provide interpreters. Last year Lowe’s was almost non-English. I went in for a can of paint and they were all in Spanish. I raised the roof with the manager with conduct unbecoming a lady. The paint cans are in English now as is most of the store. The Shell station on Liberia and Centreville Road had signs on top of the pump in Spanish - I had no idea what they said. I went in and complained and I was told it was mandated by Shell corporate. Greed. They know I will not buy Shell gas now. Our home town needs banks like the old Piedmont, Commonwealth and Independent Bank and the only one coming close is Virginia Commerce. We don’t need a Latino flavored bank in Old Town Manassas. Let them go to Bank of America.
I thought this timely … and could parallel to this thread…
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral
suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.’ He then asked, ‘Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?’
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied ‘Maybe it’s because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn’t have to speak German.
You could have heard a pin drop
[Ed note: comment reformatted to make it easier to read.]
COM,
The cavalry charge is shared with General es_le_ley.
Dolph,
Oh ya, I forgot to thank him.
Dpp,
That is a good one.
dolph,
The flag may mean one thing to you…
I have a friend who is a white southerner and she tells me what people really say about those of other races around the dinner table in the south. According to her, the racism is ”all over the place”. It’s in the work place when whites are by themselves, its at the dinner table, etc. The way she speaks of it being commonplace is extremely shocking to me. I was under the impression that it was mostly dead. I asked her about the young people in the hope that she would tell me that they were different. Nope. She just gives an awkward excuse ‘oh, they learn it from their parents’.
This is not to say that people of other races are not capable of the same degree of racism. It is to say, however, that the south has a special and longwinded history of defending racism. Whether it was the civil war or the legal civil war in the Jim Crow laws (and many people died fighting that as well). All along the way, the north was always culturally ahead of the south. This is not to say that the north was free of racism. It is to say that it always led the way when it came to tackling racism. After all, the abolitionist movement came from the north.
Even nowadays when you have a politician like George Allen, who made many nods of approval (in coded language) towards the racist tradition of the south, and his racist past (and probably present) can be ignored. Citizen after citizen came forward denouncing him as a devout racist when they knew him and this worm denied it all. We all know he was lying. And the amazing and terrifying thing is that half of virginia STILL voted for him. This man should have been ostracized and kicked to the curb. Why is it that the culture of the south doesn’t categorically reject racists like him?
commonsense,
You really should get a new name. I suppose you do not know the racial history of Boston. Where as late as 1976, they had race riots over school busing. The fact is there is racism in every section of the Country. The only reason why the South is picked on, is because you Yankees do not want to talk about the racism in the North.
I have a friend who lives outside of Philly, and every time I visit him, I am shocked to see how racially divided that area is. There are very few racially integrated neighborhoods. I wonder why? Ever been to South Philly?
My wife is from Western PA, and while I went to school in the South in a high school that was racially integrated, she went to a school that had about a half dozen black students.
Going back to her home town, it is common to run across many folks who do not have the first nice thing to say about blacks.
Ever hear of Howard Beach, NY?
Many northern States had “black laws” that prevented blacks from having all the rights of white Citizens.
The north is just as guilty of racial issues as any other section of the Country.
Also, do not forget who benefited the most from slavery. The North was all to willing to put up with slavery because it funded the Federal Government and kept Northern sea ports busy with trade.
Slavery lost its luster in the North not on moral grounds, but because of the industrial revolution.
Well, if we feel this strongly about jobs catering to those with Spanish-Speaking skills here, I’d more angry about off-shoring American jobs.
Sorry, I find jobs being shipped to Mexico, India, Bangladesh and wherever else in the world more disturbing than this issue. Alas, keep in mind the companies doing this are some of the most notable in the United States.
Honestly, if you have ever dealt with a U.S. company whose computer support is located outside the country and some of the people on the other end, would you be up in arms?
Back to the issue — I get just as angry about the person behind the counter who speaks in broken English; however, these businesses are catering to a large and potentially emerging market, whether we like it or not.
Me, I would just take my business elsewhere.
Fair and balanced,
I agree with you, but will take it a step further. We have jobs moving overseas, and illegals coming here to “do jobs Americans refuse to do”. I thought the whole reason behind having illegals work was to keep the prices low, yet jobs are still leaving.
COM - Thanks. If you want to take a look at how an economy can change a city, look at Baltimore and Pittsburgh throughout the 20th century.
Not to say illegal immigration may or may not destroy an economy, but living the area the past 10 years, the change is no doubt noticable.
I may not be as ardent as some people in the illegal immigration debate, more has to be done to combat the problem for sure. I don’t know how it can be done in the easiest method possible, but the problems are evident and something has to give.
Commonsense,
I also do not ride around displaying the flag in ways that promote racism. I realize some people do that. However, just because people use baseballs bats to beat someone’s brains in, I dont want to outlaw baseball bats. This is generally a class issue. I keep all replicas of flags (including a vintage rising sun) in a special place in my home, because I am sensitive to others.
The North has plenty of racism. What I didn’t mention earlier is my father is from New Jersey. That is where I learned my best racial and ethnic epithets…while visiting in Yankee Land. I probably know a slur for just about every ethnicity there is and I didn’t learn them here in the south.
There is racism everywhere. I have yet to go anywhere in the United States where it does not exist. Does that make it right? Of course not.
Yes, the South does have a history of racism. I will not attempt to excuse it. However, when you make sweeping generalizations about the south, rather than looking at us as individuals, isn’t that pretty much doing the same thing?
Corporate America and big business will do anything to increase their bottom line, as the CEOs want to be paid; alas, the stockholders get a huge return.
The off-shoring of jobs bother me a lot, and we have people overseas getting paid substantially less than what Americans would be paid, and good people have lost their livelihoods along with their piece of mind.
Americans want their items and services cheap; however, how many people here have to suffer?
Concerning those who are illegal, it seems like there has been a third and perhaps a fourth underclass that has been created in the past 2 decades. Do I think it is destroying the fabric of a community; yes, not only because of culture, but because there are fewer middle class jobs available and that is part of the problem.
If there’s any group of people I blame, it’s the people who have hired the illegals, politicians who have pandered to particular groups and the business who have taken a portion of their unit overseas.
Now at this point, what happens? Do we try to evict people who may or may want to make a better life of themselves, or do we leave them be with consquences that may be unknown to the community at large.
Me, I see nothing that will be done in the short term — it will be constant tug and war for a long time…
Just what we need in this area…..ANOTHER BANK!
CitizenofManassas said on 9 Nov 2007 at 8:56 pm:
Dolph,
Thanks for the cavalry charge!
If anyone is looking for an alternative to Lowe’s and Home Deport bilingual signs etc, y’all need to shop at the True Value(it has another name, but I can’t think of it right now)located on Mathas ave.
ACE HARDWARE?
CommonSense said on 9 Nov 2007 at 9:43 pm:
You seem to be implying that whites are the only racists around. I would have to tell you that every race has racism against another.
CommonSense on 9 Nov 2007 at 9:43 pm:
George Allen was not a native Virginian.
CitizenofManassas said on 9 Nov 2007 at 10:06 pm:
commonsense,
You really should get a new name. I suppose you do not know the racial history of Boston.
Google: Louise Day Hicks
Doug L. your information on Resource Bank is just wrong. Maybe a little investigation was in order before spreading rumors third hand. I know personally only one of many people hired at the Manassas branch speaks Spanish. It only make sense in our area to hire someone in the office that can deal will our Hispanic population. In addition their are female non spanish speaking tellers.
Look somewhere else for an illegal immigration issue. Let not slam a new business in town for no reason.
This was not about an illegal immigration issue, it was about our own home-town people not being able to get jobs in the area because being bilingual is now a requirement. The intel was not wrong.
I just zipped through the comments here and will apologize in advance if someone else noticed this, but there IS actually an EEOC violation here, albeit not the skill requirement…it’s gender bias:
“The report I got said that the bank is ONLY HIRING MALE, bi-lingual tellers.”
C.O.M. 8:56 pm
” … y’all need to shop at the True Value(it has another name, but I can’t think of it right now)located on Mathas ave…”
It’s JE Rice. I shop there regularly. It is locally owned. I have never asked a question of any employee that they didn’t know the answer to. I have never asked for a product that they couldn’t immediately find.
I try and stay away from the “Big Box” stores as much I can. I do my best to support our local business owners.
Mark,
Thanks, I thought of the name after I posted last night. I also noticed the last time I was there, they had “do the right thing” fliers from HSM on their counter
Mark W. Weaver on 10 Nov 2007 at 9:08 am:
Agree! J.E. Rice is tops. If they don’t have an item you are looking for, (seldom happens) they will tell you where you can get it. Highly recommend them!
Mark W. et al,
J. E. Rice has been the place to go for decades. With winter coming up I’d like to add it’s one of the few places you can still get “Flexible Flyer” sled. There’s nothing like going down the hill by the Stone House on one. You can also get keys made there, and theren’t many places that offer that service these days.
Michael, the correct term is sex, not gender. That is a PC term introduced by people who think SEX is a dirty word.The term gender defines nouns, pronouns,adjectives and definite and indefinite articles in non English languages such as Spanish. Think masculine and feminine gender. as in la cabeza;feminine gender and l brazo;masculine gender
OOPS My keyboard sometimes doesn’t make the E. It should read EL brazo
Yea, J. E. Rice - if they don’t have it, you don’t need it. Love that store !!!!
30 year Resident & AWCheney.
I guess you did not read my prior comment fully as there are female non spanish speaking tellers hired already and there can be no bi-lingual requirement if only one of the employees speak Spanish. An EEOC violation is a very serious charge and should not be leveled lightly. I just do not like to see rumors used as facts. When the Bank opens your more than welcome to verify which information is correct. You may even find a few locals were hired.
dolph said on 9 Nov 2007 at 9:19 pm:
“The cavalry charge is shared with General es_le_ley.”
Bwahahaha! Definitely not a General. Lowly private perhaps.
Actually, as far as the civil war goes, my allegiance is to the Union, but I have sympathies for the Confederacy.
During the War, many counties in Virginia didn’t want to be part of the Confederacy. On June 20, 1863, those counties seceded from Virginia, and West Virginia was born. My old kinfolk were in that mess. Hence my allegiance to the North and sympathies to the South.
Back to the original point though. Equating the Southern flag to slavery is pure balderdash. It represents Southern heritage and pride. Anyone who has *really* studied the history of the Civil War would know that.
I see new names in the threads. Cool! The more, the merrier!
es_la_ley
I like the new new names too. Names are so much better than all these anonymous’s.
WVA was born…. Not to mention brother fought against brother too in many counties,and Pendelton County,WVA was one of them.
I had some family from Pendelton County. I could not understand while doing research why I was not able to find Pendelton County, VA. Then I saw that it was one of the Counties that decided they would much rather belong to another slave holding State.
Nothing like having a couple of black sheep in the family tree.
CitizenofManassas,
I’ve met quite a few people around Manassas are from there.
My great-grandmother was a midwife in Pendleton County.
A 25 Year Resident: Is the new Branch Manager a local? Or, was a non-local Branch Manager hired because he speaks Spanish?
Well, whether it continues or not, I’m not sure, but at least for a time, PWC was giving preferential treatment (to include larger salaries) for new hires that were fluent in Spanish….and paying tuition for current employees to attend Spanish classes. I imagine that this is still happening.
Frankly, I’m not quite sure what to make of all that….being multilingual is a benefit when applying for many positions…..and certainly there are more Spanish-only speaking people in PWC than there are people who speak other non-English languages.
However, the extent to which we accommodate the Spanish only speaking segment of our society will certainly affect their motivation to learn/speak/write English.
Lafayette said on 10 Nov 2007 at 11:43 pm:
CitizenofManassas,
I’ve met quite a few people around Manassas are from there.
My great-grandmother was a midwife in Pendleton County.
I guess living in a “yankee” State was not all that it was cracked up to be.
CitizenofManassas,
This is the furtherest north I ever want to live. Guess that’s why I’ve never left my native PWC.
Freedom, I disagree with your assertion.
People have to learn English in this country regardless just because it is the language of commerce not only in the United States, but around the world.
Some people who I know that speak Spanish know English, just that they feel that is easier to converse in their native language.
People will speak Spanish in their homes and communities; however, this whole fear of that language taking over the world is a little off-base.
Those who do not know English are at a severe disadvantage, trust me. If immigrants, legal or otherwise do want to get ahead, they’ll learn.
Well, I was not hired to be an Arlington County police officer in the very early 1990s because I did not speak Spanish. This has been going on for some time now.
Fair and Balanced said on 11 Nov 2007 at 5:17 pm:
Freedom, I disagree with your assertion.
People have to learn English in this country regardless just because it is the language of commerce not only in the United States, but around the world.
Some people who I know that speak Spanish know English, just that they feel that is easier to converse in their native language.
People will speak Spanish in their homes and communities; however, this whole fear of that language taking over the world is a little off-base.
Those who do not know English are at a severe disadvantage, trust me. If immigrants, legal or otherwise do want to get ahead, they’ll learn.
How can you say that people have to learn English? There have been many examples posted in this thread and the other to show that one can easily get by living here without having to learn English. They can also make money, own cars, own homes, shop and conduct business with the local, State, and Federal Governments without having to say a word of English.
They are already ahead of where they were in their Native Countries, so again the incentive to learn English just is not there.
I like to think that as in the past the second generation will speak English. However, there are many differences between the past and what we are facing today.
I think the people get by because they have a solid support base of people that can speak english. I know people in my neighborhood that dont speak english but they understand it when you start yelling at them to move their car out of your parking spot.
A hispanic family lives on my street, they have one person in the house who can converse in barely passable english. Everyone else, including the children, dont speak a lick of it (the kids are about 6-10 years old too). So how’s that for assimilation? A perfect example of a family that’s here to get the benefits of our country but not put anything back in.
We’ve made it too easy for them NOT to learn English, now it’s coming back to bite us when we cannot get jobs in our own community because we do not speak their language. Our own are being pushed aside to, again, accommodate the Latinos.
A 30yr Res.,
You are exactly right. That’s part of the plush pile of the “red carpet” that’s been laid out for the illegals. Enough is enough!
Josh,
Your right, too. Assimilation is happening at the Western end of the county either. I posted some new grafitti from the City of Manassas on Liberia Ave.Of course I think I’ve heard it called “artistic expression” in the city.I suppose that’s assimilation too-yeah right!
The bank should be clear that “bi-lingual” and “Spanish-English” is part of the job description. They can do that, that’s not prohibited. That’s business.
I have always been annoyed by bi-lingual anything. Why provide drivers ed tests in multiple languages, since you still have to read English in order to read the signs (in America)?
My grandparents had to learn English. They learned English. It’s not so bad. After all, the fact that they learned English meant that they went from blue collar to white collar in the immigrant generation.
If you want to clean other people’s toilets your whole life and you want your children to clean other people’s toilets their whole lives (don’t get me wrong, it is honorable work if you enjoy doing it), then don’t learn English.
Why does everyone keep missing the point about “racism”?
Racism still exists to the extent it does in this country, because the government still allows racial, religious, gender and ethnic groups to put a “label” on themselves, & hate everyone not like themselves, and cater to only their group’s interests. (BTW every ethnicity is GUILTY to the max about that kind of self-supremacy).The problem is getting much worse as “latinos” add their own form of “in your face racism”, to a racism situation that WAS disappearing and declining 10 years ago as Whites bought into the fairness and ethic if it. Now everyone is seeing these groups just lie, and lie and lie, and just take care of themselves, by self-segregating themselves.
The backlash started when gender supremacy groups began to advocate for laws to privilige just their own gender, and then ethnic groups began to advocate for laws to privilige just their own ethnic group, and then religious groups began to advocate for laws to privilige just their own religious group, and CONGRESS and the Judical branch are guilty of letting it get so acrimnonious and disgusting and fracturing the nation as it is today and not doing a thing about it (because they are supremacists interested only in thier group). No EEOC violation now gets punished (Such as spanish workers getting special hiring considerations in National chain banks and no lawsuits are being enforced or lawsuits filed.
If you want to get rid of racisim and don’t want to see a HUGE backlash in response to the open and arrogant racisim of latino’s toward whites and blacks, (and even some asians and muslims) and latino supremacy attitudes of the “illegal” alien advocacy groups, the we must all put a stop to ALL of it. The Executive branch needs to lead it if their is any leadership left, and everybody needs to stop picking on just whites, they for the most part have been silent about reverse racism.
To stop it ALL, WE must BAN all reference to each other in terms of gender, racial, ethnic, and religious group labeling and privilige seeking. What a concept! Huh?
THAT is the problem my dear friends. It must become enforceable law, starting with business hiring practices favoring ethnicities and the largest ethnic groups now practicing racism, supremacy, and ethnic privilige in the country. Now who would that be? Betcha you are racially biased!
Some of us here are actually trying to stop this crap before it gets far worse.
O.K. well what about busnesses that decide to transfer employees from a store they worked at for awhile to another simply because they do not speak spanish. this happened to a young man that worked for Radio Shack in Manassas Park, He was transfered to the sudley store simply because he does not speak spanish. the store mgmt should have asked when they hired him or while he has been working there the last few months. That is wrong. anyone remember when Shoppers did that to all their employees a few years ago? and changed the m.p. store to a spanish store called el primero - still shoppers though. employees had a choice of being transfered to various other stores or losing their jobs!that was an outrage and did not get very much attention. This issue is not new and needs to be dealt with accordingly. employers cannot discriminate and i believe that is what is going on.