Why do people always say "the other immigrants learned English and wanted to be American".  Mexicans dont.
966635
Oh stop! ...from what I have seen the Irish have never learned to speak English even now. Besides that is part and parcel of any group coming to America, or any other country for that matter. That is why they gather into ghettos like little Havana and little Haiti in Miami or Ybor City in Tampa and what about the China towns in cities all over this this country and Canada. The older immigrants have a real hard time learning a new language. Your ability to learn a new language is greatly diminished after the age of twelve, that was determined in many studies conducted throughout the 20th century. I was In the Air Force  years ago, and my tests indicated I might be able to learn a language and become a translator. The test consisted of spoken sentences which sound like this... "IF IGNATZ WHA BENEY, means she is a nice girl... then what does, "YAHOOLY CO DESPECZENY!" Mean? HUH!!! Needless to say I still speak only English. If I was forced to move to another country for whatever reason, I truly know in my heart I could never learn another language and I would have to hide in a ghetto speaking American English to all the other immigrants who had come to China to find work after the collapse of the Bush Brothers economy. Give it up. These people are not lazy!!!  I would like to see some of your other answerees here spend 12 to 14 hours day in the hot sun picking the tomatoes and other crops these people pick for less then minimum wages, consistantly year after year. You might call them uneducated, and have some meaning, but to call them lazy just points out your own blatant ignorance. Capitalism, as a system, needs a large underpaid working class to function. Our own Middle Class, which consists of nearly everyone but the ultra rich, would never do what these people do. Look what happened to Ford, GM, and Chrysler (before the Germans bought them) when everyone who worked for them became middle class, even if they only swept floors... Bankruptcy. The same will happen to this country as a whole when we throw all 12 million of these "illegal" immigrants out. Oh they do create problems, but so does all population growth. Every American state government knows that new arrivals only pay for 84% of the infrastructure it takes to manage their arrival, even if they are rich Americans. Go Figure...? Besides, Hispanics will be the majority population (51%) in 2051. Then they will vote Spanish in as the only spoken language in America, and you will have to push #2 to hear it in english, and then you will know how hard it is to learn a language (even if it is free) after having spent 12 hours in the fields picking hot peppers for the rich Hispanics who will then be running this country.
671817
I agree with you on one thing (but I'll proofread mine)... "If you give people to take the path of least resistance, generally they will take it."\n\nBeing unable to use the native language of the country of one's residence renders one poor, and it's true that options are few. Soooo many people here don't learn English EVER because there are Spanish newspapers, television, books, services of all kinds, Hispanic businesses where some of the staff don't speak a lick of English, etc etc. Almost everything Southern California has to offer has a Spanish version of it. People can come here and live out most of their lives and still never learn English. A shame, that's just laziness. I mean, night school is FREE! However, there's really no incentive if everything is in Spanish. That should change, I believe that citizenship should be contingent upon learning English. No need to be a master at it, but enough to communicate decently in public.\n\nHowever, to say that they don't belong here, I will COMPLETELY DISAGREE with you. This country is for immigrants, no matter where they're from and no matter what language they speak. Once they're here, they do have the obligation of learning American ways, including the language, this is true. But how dare anyone say that a certain group "doesn't belong" in this country!!! I'm Hispanic, and find this VERY OFFENSIVE.
664042
Actually, I think you have the question wrong.  This came up in the context of illegal immigrants when people asked why people cared about them.  I for one don't care what people speak to their friends or at home, but I do care when students coming into school don't speak English. Bilingual education is very expensive and means that a lot of courses we had in school when I was a kid are no longer available.  Further, the entire class has to go slower when they have to wait for the teacher to teach students English before teaching the subject matter.\n\nIt is true that the issue would exist legitimately for immigrants who are here legally, but in areas where illegal immigrants concentrate, their presence makes the situation much worse.\n\nSchools in border states are a big issue.\n\nFor that reason I think people should learn English if they are given a path to citizenship.  They came in above the number we felt could be assimilated easily, and I think it is fair to ask them to put forth a special effort.  It is better for their kids's education too.  However, I freely admit that I am more concerned with the quality of my own kids's education.\n\nSome people had problems with Spanish being spoken in businesses, but I don't.  I think that is Capitalism at work, just as the resorts in Mexico all speak English.
531905
I find it interesting that you say that "Americans" are the ones calling mexicans latinos. I don't know any "Americans" that do. Actually, I find that most mexicans, especially the younger ones, call themselves "Latino" or "Latina".
356181
Most don't have to. They mostly stick to their own kind and don't have to work on their English. Plus they aren't made to. You have translators now and everything is in English/Spanish. So why do they really need to? I agree that if you are in this country you should learn the language. I can also say this because I am married to a Mexican so I am not racist in any way. If I moved to Mexico I don't expect things to be in English for me. I should have to learn Spanish. Fortunately, my husband speaks very good English. Before he met me he only spoke some, but since I don't know much Spanish he is forced to speak English all the time........so...therefor he has to learn English in order to communicate with me, and is should be the same with anyone who dosent speak English. You are in America therefor, you should speak our language, period. Like I said, they hang out and live by people who primarily speak their language so why should they have to?
863048
Illegal mexican immigrants don't want to be American, they don't want to learn English, they want the benefits of American jobs and welfare. They come here hating Americans, hating America and carrying their mexican flag in marches across our country. It's an invasion and should be treated like an invasion. Tough military force, arrests of undocumented workers, deportation -- that is the way to stop the flow. Obviously our government doesn't want to secure our borders and stop the invasion - but why?
728868
The old immigrants wanted to become Americans,they would get off the ships and kiss the ground they were so happy to be here.They wanted to assimilate into this country as quickly as they could.They learned English,sometimes by going to night school after a long hard day at work.They kept some of their old world ways but they were eager to learn about their new homeland.\nThe new immigrants are not a whole lot different except the fact that there are so many of them of one ethnic heritage that they don't feel the urgent need to assimilate as quickly or as completely as the old immigrants did.\nThe illegal aliens are an entirely different type of people.But you didn't ask about them so I wont elaborate.
381545
Why on earth would you want to speak another language when you can be just like all of the other typical closed-minded Americans that believe that you should only speak English?  Is it that you want to travel?  Meet other people?  Increase international business opportunities?  Whatever it is that you want to do, I'm sure it's for selfish reasons and you should listen to these provincial individuals and SPEAK ENGLISH.
625394
I think you hit the spot... mental insecurity. I don't hate legal or illegal immigrants. It is sad though that all of these people for the most part have nothing better to do than to be bashing people who only come here to work, help our economy and want a piece of the american dream. Do "americans" think they are better because they speak English? Is English the universal language? why don't they learn a new language. I hate to see what this country will turn into and not because of illegals but because of legals who are so ignorant and close minded.
598876
Who said the Americans are against Mexicans?  The Americans are against ILLEGAL Immigrants.  How were you able to interpret "illegal immigrant" to become "Mexican"?  It does not matter whether if they're Canadians, Mexicans, Chinese, African, Pakistanians, etc. illegal IS illegal.  What is it that you people do not understand?
939859
No, it doesnt matter if an illegal alien invented English, he/she needs to get their booty home, stay there, and go through proper procedures to enter USA. Until they do that, they will always be a tresspasser, a law breaker (a criminal) to the USA. We have lost all tolerance for ILLEGAL aliens. No one FORCES anyone to learn English, by the way, but an immigrant should, so they can communicate with their fellow citizens, and be productive, not insist that an entire nation appease them by us learning their foreign language. We are an English speaking nation, we don't speak asian, spanish, or Hindu, you got that yet? It isn't very difficult to understand, if youre an illegal, youre an illegal.
561253
The best thing you can do is learn to speak spanish! You will need a language credit if you plan on going to college anyway. Yes explain it is rude, because it is. Lots of non-americans do this and it is rude. I hope we pass a law that English is the official language of the U.S- I was shocked to hear it wasn't but Spanish as a second language for anglos is a reality we are going to have to live with and is here to stay. As far as Cali turning into Mexico that will never happen. Here is some food for thought..... Most of California was at one time land belonging to Mexico. (along with most of texas, arizona and new mexico) When Santa Ana lost, the land was taken by the U.S.(literally taken, soldiers and rebels going up to houses and farmsteads throwing the occupants  out by force saying this is ours now get out, but hey that is what happens in war) -- along with thousands and thousands of acres that formally belonged to Mexico. The U.S. is a nation of immigrants, and your forefathers immigrated here too. You have to expect that the demographics of our country will continue to change over time. I do think something needs to be done about illegal immigration. I also think Mexico needs to do more to develop it's own economy and corruption problems so that Mexicans would not be derperate to come here. If it weren't for those illegal immigrants, however, you would be paying $18 a pound for tomatoes and lots more for things like hotel rooms, all produce, restaurant meals and so on. If you are not liking the change in the population of where you live, this is America, nobody is making you stay here. You have 50 wonderful states to choose from, as well as any country around the world. This is something you will have to think about as you grow up.
517865
I agree with you, if i went to Germany to live and get a job i would learn German.  If i choose that to be my home and to become a citizen i would not dis them and refuse to say their anthem.  I would not spit on them and fly my flag.  And i certainly not expect them to learn my language because i was too lazy and or dumb to learn theirs.  The mexicans need to get with the program or go home.
959217
My first comment is to MISTERSATO!  Illegal immigrants do the jobs Americans won't do, because they are low wage jobs that Americans can not afford to do.  Illegals take the low wage jobs and live off the state.  The money they do make, they send back to Mexico, or wherever they came from.  They are using American jobs to fund their own government!\n\nI agree that the American citizens should NOT have to learn Spanish.  I live in New Mexico and all the good jobs require that you be bilingual.  So, yes, I feel we are being forced to conform to their ways.  I lived in California and I was told that I had to take at least two years of Spanish in order to graduate.  My husband and his siblings were told the same here in New Mexico.  This debate has been going on for years, but it does seem to be getting worse.
805099
this shows right here why us Americans want em out......THEY CAN'T EVEN SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE.\n\nYou want to come to the land of the beautiful.....then learn the ways, follow the LAWS and learn our language.\n\nIf an American moved to Mexico....they would be forced to learn spanish to survive........SAME HERE, LEARN PROPER ENGLISH.\n\nNever should of opened the borders from the 1950's.
793822
I am very sorry for that. It really is terrible how people discriminate against ANY culture just because they are like another. ANYWAY they shouldn't discriminate against the first one in the first place! I live in a city with a high Latino population, and everytime anyone says "Mexican" I feel that I need to correct them. It has gotten me into some sticky situations, but I've also made some friends through it. I am a Spanish student and it disgusts me to see how people can just pretend that because they speak Spanish they must be bad. It makes me SICK. I lived in Spain for a while to practice my Spanish and even though I was American *most* (not all, just most) of the people there could still respect me. And when I speak to the Latinos in my city they can still respect me even though I am not the same race as them. And it's amazing, it's not even just latinos either. It is anyone who speaks Spanish. My host family sent their daughter here and everyone was rude to her simply because she spoke with a Spanish accent.\n\nOne last rant and then I am done.\n\nSo my friend and I did an experiment. Even if we are AMERICAN and we speak in Spanish, will they do the same thing? The answer is yes. We went downtown and spoke in Spanish to each other for the day. If someone spoke to us we answered in English, with our American accents, and we were still treated the same way. So my conclusion is that it isn't just the people themselves that are Latino or Hispanic that are discriminated against, but the whole Spanish language.\n\nThis didn't really answer your question....sorry....
35998
I really don't know.\n\nBut regarding your answer to the Mexican/English language question, I've definitely noticed that those who complain about immigrants "kant evun spull or rite korrectly inn Englush".\n\nGood observation and comment, my friend. :)