Get used to hearing more Spanish
Where has letter writer B. Swanson been the last few years? (“McLanguage barrier,” May 17.)
McDonald’s is certainly not the only fast-food restaurant where you will find Spanish-speaking workers. McDonald’s has actually been gearing its TV commercials toward the Hispanic (and black) community for quite a while.
Economically, it all fits in: Fast-food restaurants, once a roadside novelty where a traveling family of four would stop for a lunchtime break, has become, for many, a source of daily sustenance, attracted by the variety and the low prices. You can feed a whole family much cheaper at McDonald’s and other similar restaurants than you can practically anywhere else. Low-income customers will naturally gravitate there. It’s been an evolution, of sorts, over many decades.
Swanson had best relax and get used to the changing cultural climate, as this is simply a first step toward the assimilation of many into this country. We cannot deport 12 million illegal immigrants, so the laws will be changing, and rightfully so, to accommodate these new neighbors. We will be seeing a lot more Spanish-speaking workers from here on out.
James Bretz, Boulder
I haven't been to a McDonalds for months - not since the last time I was there, all workers were talking Spanish, and couldn't get my order right because they didn't understand me.
Posted by mi on May 24, 2007 06:23 AMGet used to hearing more "What? What was that? Uh...nevermind, I will go somewhere else."
Posted by truthy on May 24, 2007 06:43 AMIt would be more "Que" than " what". I refuse to eat at McDonalds. And the government wants to grant Amensty and with a clause that all illegal aliens learn ENGLISH, What a joke!!!!
Posted by on May 24, 2007 07:05 AMI love Mexican food
Posted by It's true on May 24, 2007 07:18 AMpush 1 for English and if you dont understand it learn it. This is the USA and we speak English. Why is it that all of the other immigrants can learn English but we have to learn spanis to talk to the illigals?
I order in German when I go there.
Ich auch
Posted by Sean on May 24, 2007 07:46 AMWe have to stop accomodating the folks who come here from Mexico, etc., and are too stupid and lazy to learn our language. The OP is an idiot. Instead of enabling the Spanish-speakers, we should be making it more difficult for them. Way more difficult.
Posted by Nature Boy on May 24, 2007 08:52 AMWe have to stop accomodating the folks who come here from Mexico, etc., and are too stupid and lazy to learn our language. The OP is an idiot. Instead of enabling the Spanish-speakers, we should be making it more difficult for them. Way more difficult.
Posted by Nature Boy on May 24, 2007 08:52 AMNature Boy - if they are truly too stupid and lazy to learn another language, wouldn't that make them honorary Americans?
Posted by Liam on May 24, 2007 09:00 AMGood one Liam
Posted by Jay on May 24, 2007 09:13 AMMy favorite tee-shirt is "Welcome to America! Now Speak English!" comprende?
Posted by Huck on May 24, 2007 09:16 AMJa, das ist gute!!!
Wo is mein Deutche?
Posted by RickyLee on May 24, 2007 09:53 AMOur government, both democrat and republican, has failed us. Vote for a third party this time.
Posted by mike h on May 24, 2007 10:15 AMVote for who will not cater to the illegals. I have not heard one single Democrat who is running for President come out in favor of building a wall or anything. Even though Bush and McCain are wanting amnesty there are a couple of Republicans running that are more anti illegal immigrant. Vote for Mitt or Tom Tancredo. Remember that the Democrat party is now run by moveon.org and George Soros and they want "open borders"!!!
Posted by on May 24, 2007 10:28 AMWe need to show more sympathy for these people.
They travel miles in the heat, they risk their lives crossing a border, they don't get paid enough wages, they do jobs that others won't do or are afraid to do, they live in crowded conditions among a people who speak a different language, they rarely see their families, and the face adversity all day every day.
I'm not talking about illegal Mexicans, I'm talking about our troops!!!
Doesn't it seem anti American that the Democrats are willing to lavish all kinds of social benefits on illegals, but don't support our troops and are trying to de-fund them??
Posted by [T] A on May 24, 2007 11:49 AMWe shouldn't be thinking about differences, but rather our similarities. We shouldn't be building walls, but rather bridges. We shouldn't be passing laws, but rather finding ways to welcome.
Posted by on May 24, 2007 12:12 PMHey 12:12, you wanna share that Prozac?
Posted by shaupeen on May 24, 2007 12:27 PMAnonymous 12:12
Did you get dropped on your head when you were little??
Hey T (11:49) - your boy Bush is front and center with the amnesty crowd. What's with the Democrat bashing on this topic? Take off them blinders, man! I'm sure you can find plenty o' other reasons to hate Democrats.
As far as supporting the troops - I support them not getting shot at and blown up for no useful reason. So there.
Posted by Tim on May 24, 2007 12:46 PMBlame the Dems. I just heard on the radio that it looks like the immigration amnesty will pass in the senate. Remember, the Dems are in control. Many Republicans don't agree with Bush. How many Dems have you heard say they don't agree with Bush about this amnesty????
Posted by on May 24, 2007 01:26 PMClearly you are all duped in buying into the falsehood that any politician gives a crap about what you think or want.
Posted by Fresh on May 24, 2007 01:34 PMI thyink we should start with our beloved Colorado. Let's show those Mexicans. The state should rename herself Color Red.
Then we can rename "our" steeets.
Posted by Right Wing Nut on May 24, 2007 01:48 PMI have already named my steeet. I call it Larry.
Many people do not name their steeet. I have never understood that.
Hey Tim I am neither Rub nor Dem so there!!
I cant stand Bush and am totally disgusted with both parties!!
Vote independent!!!
Democrats are overwhelmingly voting for any thing that will help the illegals. Cmon dummy up and go to the records and look up who voted for what and you will see that the Democrats are the main culprits who are breaking their a**es to get an amnesty approved!!
An amnesty that the illegals definately DO NOT deserve!!
Bush, McCain, and Kennedy should be ashamed for pushing this horrible amnesty bill!!!!
You're right james; I wanted to ask Swanson, "did you get your food?' "did you eat it?". It seems her big beef (pun intended) was having to step out side her English-only comfort zone and, gasp, learn to communicate! How horrible is that?
When I was in Mexico, I ran into plenty of locals who spoke English (and bailed me out of some difficult situations). I was so grateful, I decided to learn to speak Spanish, so that I may return the favor someday. Learning to communicate with your neighbor...what a concept,
How do I communicate "GET THE HELL OUT"
in gutteral Mexican. True Castillion Spanish is a beautiful language. The Mex's need an interpreter to understand real Spanish!!