Non-English Speaking Citizens

Discussion in 'Politics' started by garrison68, Oct 24, 2014.

  1. #1 garrison68, Oct 24, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 24, 2014
    I'm at home today, waiting for a delivery, by UPS, of something important.  I live in an apartment building, and have a note on my door saying that I'm home, with instructions to knock and buzz - in ENGLISH.  The doorbell rings and, thinking it's UPS, I answer it only to find a man with no uniform or package standing there.  He starts speaking to me in a foreign language, and I say that I don't understand. "I'm Russian" he says.  I told him that I neither understand or speak his language, and he starts saying something and making gestures with his hand.  He then makes an exasperated gesture with his hands towards the door of a neighbor, and I close the door.  Many Russians live in this building, and he's pissed off.  I have lived here for over 20 years, and my wife longer.  I am not Russian, nor is my wife (well some of her ancestors were).  Edit: I think that he wanted a piece of paper and pencil to leave a note for somebody - which is NOT a reason to disturb a stranger by ringing their doorbell.  
     
    Now, if these people don't want to learn English, that's fine with me  - but they expect the rest of us the Americans, to know their languages.    
     
    Many groups do this, I'm not singling out Russians, many of whom do learn English, some only well enough to get benefits and sometimes they rely on a spouse or friend for help with this.  
     
    Listen, you stupid fucks: If you don't want to learn English, then don't expect us to learn your language.   It's your own fucking fault if you have problems, because you have refused to learn English.  

     
  2. I don't see how, in this situation as described, he was "expecting you" to speak his language. It sounds like he was trying to communicate with you, within his limitations.

    You're the one who seems to have expectations that people shouldn't try to communicate with you, unless they speak English. It's clear from this and other posts that you have a problem with people who aren't "American enough" for you. Don't make your problem someone else's.

    The US has no official language. There is no "ours" or "theirs".
     
  3. #4 garrison68, Oct 24, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 24, 2014
    I understand that there is no "official" language, but this was a combination of rudeness and inability to communicate.  
     
    If I did not like diversity, I would not live in NYC where there are hundreds of ethnic groups and languages.  
     
    I don't think that an English-speaking person would have knocked on my door like this - not even being able to speak English adds insult to injury.  This was rudeness, made worse by a complete inability to communicate in English.  He did not even say he was sorry.  Oh, I forgot, he can't - because he refuses to learn English.   
     
  4. I've absolutely loved all of the Mexican immigrants I've worked with in the past.
    They are hard workers and some really solid people all around.

    It's always struck me odd how some of them have lived in the northern US for 10+ years and can barley communicate beyond basic greetings.
    Maybe they just don't give a fuck.

    But if I were to transplant my life to down in Mexico to work, you're damn right id be learning Spanish.
     
  5. I would have gotten him a piece of paper and a pencil that he was asking for.
     
    Maybe that's because many many of my extended family died only knowing their mother tongues.
     
    Plus it's alot easier to simply help a guy out than it is to resist such a simple act of kindness.
     
  6.  
    That's right.. I understand it's frustrating, but unless you're native american you're just as lost and foreign as the man you could not understand. our language is entirely sloppy.. hell, they made 'twerk' a real word in the dictionary ('merica!).
     
    There are apps for your smartphone that can translate spoken foreign words into english text... you could always try that...
     
    or google translate a sign for your door saying (Sorry, I only speak english" hahaha.
     
  7. I travel in other countries were I can not speak the native tongue. I appreciate how kind and helpful the locals are and their willingness to understand me. 
     
    I think its sad how in the USA we dont know our neighbor and we refer them as strangers.
     
    Next time take 2 minutes out of your day and play ''charades'' to help understand what your neighbor is trying to say. 
     
  8. #9 garrison68, Oct 24, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 26, 2014
    I did not understand what he was trying to communicate.  
     
    I have no sympathy for these people.  They get rent subsidies, and all kinds of benefits that we pay for.  They didn't come here on boats in the distant past, they fly here on jets and expect everything to be given to them - and a lot of it is.   I have neighbors that have moved here in their 20's, and are now on the verge of retirement, and they still don't speak English.  
     
  9. Garrison. Sometimes you ate extremely unreasonable

    -yuri
     
  10. This was not MY "neighbor" - and I'm not playing "charades".  I have things to do, that are important to me and others.    These people should either learn English, or keep to themselves - it is not our responsibility to learn their language in order to communicate with them when they want something from us.  

    I don't even know what unreasonable tastes like. 
     
  11.  
    I would have tried and figure out what he way saying.  It would be kinda fun.
     
    Regardless of all the "big" issues surrounding the interaction that you've presented, helping a guy out with such a simple request wouldn't change much either way.
     
  12. Probably seen the note on your door and decided to fuck with you.
     
  13. #14 garrison68, Oct 24, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 24, 2014
    It wouldn't bother me if this guy had handled it right.  It's not a big issue in itself, this IS a big issue as far as the culture of this country is concerned.  When people can't communicate, there's problems, and the solution is to find ways of making this situation less prevalent.  
     
  14. And people say I am angry!
     
  15. It's the same everywhere man...

    I have Irish friends living in Spain for 20+ years and they still have barely two words of Spanish...



    Sent from the back of a jihadist donkey...
     
  16. #17 garrison68, Oct 24, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 24, 2014
    You have to be able to communicate.  What happens if there is an emergency and an ambulance or the police has to be called?
     
      There's library books, DVD's, tapes, CD's, FREE CLASSES, and all kinds of other resources in NYC libraries, schools, and elsewhere to learn English, in their native tongue(s), much of it paid for by OUR taxes, and they STILL won't learn the language of the country that has taken them in.   
     
  17. you are correct
    That's no excuse for being rude tho

    -yuri
     
  18. Why was I "rude"?  Because I told him that I do not speak Russian?  Maybe I have a person to take care of here, isn't that more important than playing charades with him which is only necessary because he is too fucking lazy to take free classes to learn English?  
     
  19. closing the door on him was rude

    So is assuming he is "too fucking lazy to learn English"

    Idk but I would have handled the situation differently. Perhaps I got the wrong idea from your post, but you are unrealistically angry over this.

    -yuri
     

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