Buzz Paths

I was recently in a Lowe’s Home Center looking for some plumbing fixtures for a do it yourself project I was working on. As I strolled the aisles looking for the part I needed I ran into a Russian couple who were standing in the aisle talking to one another in broken English. There was no one else around except me so there really wasn’t any reason why they couldn’t speak in their native tongue. I stopped and told them that I thought it was great that they were speaking English. The gentleman told me that he and his wife worked very hard at learning English so they could become citizens. They had another six months or so before they would become citizens and were very proud of that.

I continued on my quest for the part I was looking for and turned the corner into another aisle. I ran into a family of Mexicans and a salesman. The family was jabbering away VERY loudly in Spanish. The salesman looked like a deer caught in the headlights and other customers were disgusted by the rude behavior of this group. As I passed them I turned and said “English”. The what I am assuming was the father, looked at me and in very bad English told me “Fuck you man, learn Spanish”. Needless to say I went ballistic on this guy. The store manager came out and got into the fray. I told him what was going on, the saleman explained what was going on and how they were being disruptive and rude, and guess what? I was asked to leave!

So off I went never to again set foot in a Lowe’s.

Now, here’s my real problem. Not just with Lowe’s but with just about every large retail chain. THey all have signage in Spanish and English. What about all the other languages? I was taught that America was “the melting pot” . So if you are going to pander to one ethnic group, why not include ALL of them.

We have a law on the books called the The Immigration and Nationality Act, or INA, was created in 1952 and ammended in 1986. In it it states:INA: ACT 312 – REQUIREMENTS AS TO UNDERSTANDING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, HISTORY, PRINCIPLES, AND FORM OF GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Sec. 312. [8 U.S.C. 1423]

(a) No person except as otherwise provided in this title shall hereafter be naturalized as a citizen of the United States upon his own application who cannot demonstrate-

(1) an understanding of the English language, including an ability to read, write, and speak words in ordinary usage in the English language: Provided, That the requirements of this paragraph relating to ability to read and write shall be met if the applicant can read or write simple words and phrases to the end that a reasonable test of his literacy shall be made and that no extraordinary or unreasonable conditions shall be imposed upon the applicant; and

(2) a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, and of the principles and form of government, of the United States.

(b) (1) The requirements of subsection (a) shall not apply to any person who is unable because of physical or developmental disability or mental impairment to comply therewith.

(2) The requirement of subsection (a)(1) shall not apply to any person who, on the date of the filing of the person’s application for naturalization as provided in section 334 , either-

(A) is over fifty years of age and has been living in the United States for periods totaling at least twenty years subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence, or

(B) is over fifty-five years of age and has been living in the United States for periods totaling at least fifteen years subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence.

(3) The Attorney General, pursuant to regulations, shall provide for special consideration, as determined by the Attorney General, concerning the requirement of subsection (a)(2) with respect to any person who, on the date of the filing of the person’s application for naturalization as provided in section 334 , is over sixty-five years of age and has been living in the United States for periods totaling at least twenty years subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence.

Now, if that’s the case, why are all these stores putting signage up in Spanish? Why is the Whitehouse website in English and Spanish? How about we just have it in English?

In my opinion, not having translations in all languages is a form of discrimination. So where’s the ACLU on this one?

Stumble it!