McLanguage barrier
Has the language of choice at McDonald’s restaurants become Spanish?
On the way to visit my son and his two dogs recently, we stopped at a McDonald’s in Parker to pick up a couple of hamburgers for the pets (they’re really big). Normally we use the drive-through, but it was backed up enough that a trip inside was the better choice. I don’t recall the last time I took this route, but ... wow!
The majority of the communications between workers was loud and definitely Spanish with the person who appeared to be running things (manager?) doing so in that same language. I observed several of the customers conversing in Spanish as well, and my presence necessitated a change from the language of the business to broken English. The unwelcome feeling that came over me brought back memories of checking into a hotel in Paris.
Yes, the language of choice at McDonald’s (at least this one anyway) has become Spanish.
B. Swanson, Aurora
Wecome to life in illegal-overrun America.
Posted by on May 17, 2007 04:29 AMYou must have missed the really big news story the other day about all of the employeers sending their employees to learn 'spanish' so they could communicate with the 'new' workers. sure seems to me it would be better to send the illigals to learn english to communcate but that is just plain mean.
I guess we all will speak spanish when the conversion of America to a third world country is complete.
The Mcdonald's on Youngfield is the same. I stopped going in there after I did the same as B. Swanson did, walking into instead of the drive through... only to be assailed with the incredible loudness in spanish.
Recently a trip to the drive -through at Kentucky fried chicken on Wadworth and 42nd I witnessed the car in front of mine getting very frustrated that the order taker couldn't understand english well enough to actually take the order. They drove off upset. I will not be supporting any more buisnesses that don't have people who speak english. These companies need to 'get it' or suffer financial losses.
I agree wtih 06:05. Just don't go to McDonald's, or any other fast food places. They're pretty much all the same -- Spanish only.
Posted by on May 17, 2007 06:15 AMTry Subway - haven't heard a word in anything other than English at the one in the King Soopers' 'strip mall' on Kipling & Florida. And it's amazing how - in Chinese restaurants (and other Asian ethnic restaurants), when English is clearly the 2nd language for most of the workers, they speak enough English to get your order right the first time. Let's support the places that do support the de facto language of the land.
Posted by Mary on May 17, 2007 07:02 AMImagine going to any other country and insist the population speak English. It's yet another example of us sitting by waiting for somebody to do something...but we must unite and take it upon ourselves to put economic and public pressure on those who hire the illegals. If we wait for the government, we have a long long wait, it'll be up for debate by the Pelosi crowd who'll probably end up with spending bills intertwined into legislation that would require spanish being taught K-12 , to appease the illegals and make it easier for them to invade our society, bring machismo into fashion and introduce a whole new line of lawn sofas (which I'm sure there'll be some federal subsidy going to a nice liberal run outdoor sofa company) give me a break...
don't buy anything from any business that hires workers who are "incompetent" and that includes "incompetent" with regards to English.
Let's see, Ms Swanson.
I assume that you're not a Native American judging form your name.
Do you speak Ute...or Arapahoe?
Being from Parker, I also assume you're also a card-carrying conservative, since judging people seems to be what YOU PEOPLE do best.
Learn the Native language, or go back where you came from.
How do YOU like it?
The fact is, Ronny Ray-Gun made it possible for ILLEGAL EMPLOYERS like McDonalds to get away with hiring cheap , foreign labor in spite of the laws on the books prohibiting just that.
Put the blame where it belongs, at the feet of greedy Reagan-worshippers.
DMZ - this is not a partisan issue, it is a USA issue. You are just out to critize any one who is or appears to be conservative. You obviously do not care for the values and traditions of this country, let alone the language that the vast majority used to speak.
Posted by on May 17, 2007 08:11 AMDMZ is a child. You cannot reason with children. Don't even try.
Posted by truthy on May 17, 2007 08:30 AMDMZ
First off... you need to learn reading comprehension. B Swanson is from Aurora and was passing through Parker. I, on the other hand, am from Parker and would like to respond to your generalization of people who live in Parker. Not everyone in my town are weathy. Some of us have been there since before all the growth occured. It sems to me that YOU are the one judging. And for the record, I have voted Republican since I first could vote back in the 70's. Not all Republicans are wealthy (I make less that $30k a year)...it's just that some of us don't believe in giving the country away to people who expect the government to bail their collective asses out of trouble.
JMO
I went to a McDonald's in Castle Rock recently. I watched as a mexican employee came out of a dirty, smelly stall, didn't wash his hands and went straight back to continue cooking at the grill.
Posted by Bob on May 17, 2007 08:58 AMThis is silly on so many levels.
First of all ... McDonald's? Try eating food for a change.
Second of all ... giving McDonald's hamburgers to pets? Hmm, on second thought, it might be better suited to pets than humans....
Posted by prima facie on May 17, 2007 09:20 AMOK, you selfish,racist, judgemental, bad, bad Americans who expect new citizens to assimulate to our customs and language, you are wrong and will never be right. Stop expecting the "new" citizens of our country to respect and value the priviledge of living here. It is their RIGHT to blow off all the laws and customs of this country and make us accommodate them in every way. After all, they are only trying to have a better life here in the USA by sending millions of $ to their "homeland".
Did I get that right, Anderson and Old Grouch???? Just wanted to save you some time chastizing us for expecting anything from our new non-citizens.
Don't vote for the Democrats or any turncoat Republican in the presidential election if they voted FOR "comprehensive reform" Look up the voting records in a week or so and vote against the clueless idiots when re-election comes up for many of them.
The Democrat's LOVE the illegals and will vote for amnesty some time next week. The "comprehensive reform" AMNESTY will fine Illegals $5,000 payable over an 8 year period, they will have to leave the country, it's called the "step in step out" policy and they will be allowed to return almost immediately. and request citizenship.
Do you know how many people on this planet would break their butt to pay $5,000 to get citizenship in the USA??
The clueless politicians are handing these lawbreakers a citizenship on a silver platter??
Thanks so much John McCain and Ted (the despicable) Kennedy. Also a big thanks to R. Reagan for the 80's amnesty. Illegals have always tried to sneak across our borders, even in the 1940's but, our politicians in those days, had enough sense to squelch the illegals from sneaking in the country.
Reagan's 80's amnesty opened a big can of worms and dumped them on the U.S. citizens.
American's who care NEED to start boycotting all fast food places and any other companies that hire illegals.
Even if they are granted amnesty I for one will NEVER accept these criminals!!
Posted by Terry on May 17, 2007 09:45 AMReport these places to the website: www.wehireillegals.com , and do not spend any more money at these places. I love Quiznos Prime Rib & Swiss, but their shop on Orchard at I-25 is an enclave of the Spanish language as well. I had lunch there at least once a week for months, until they kept screwing up my order, and taking my entire 30 minute lunch just to get me my sandwitch. I won't go back again. I know they won't miss my $10 per week, but if hundreds or thousands of previous customers boycott business that speak only Spanish, maybe they would get the hint.
Posted by Jay on May 17, 2007 09:49 AMHave some respect for your body, don't eat at McDonald's.
Posted by Sean on May 17, 2007 09:51 AM"..we stopped at a McDonald’s in Parker ...to pick up a couple of hamburgers for the pets."
"...the language of choice at McDonald’s...has become Spanish."
Only in America do people feed pets at a restaraunt and complain about the language of the wait staff. This would be great parody if it weren't apparently true.
Posted by on May 17, 2007 09:51 AM09:51
I wouln't feed McDonalds to my dogs, but I would feed it to you.
Posted by truthy on May 17, 2007 09:59 AMYo quiero Taco Bell!
Posted by on May 17, 2007 10:06 AM
I wouln't feed McDonalds to my dogs, but I would feed it to you.
Onward Christian soldier.
Posted by on May 17, 2007 10:13 AM10:13
I am not a christian moron. But the onward part you can count on.
Posted by truthy on May 17, 2007 10:19 AMI am not a christian moron.
Sorry. Are you a Muslim moron?
Posted by on May 17, 2007 10:23 AMWhy would anyone eat at McDonalds?
Tony: "Imagine going to any other country and insist the population speak English."
It doesn't take much imagination. Americans do it all the time. Or maybe you've never left this country to find out. Conversely, no one is insisting that you speak Spanish. Instead, you're insisting that no one speak Spanish in your presence. Maybe you should wear a tag that says no espanol. Actually, you're probably just making a claim that Spanish-speaking people are somehow inferior to you.
SCAATY, you need an outlet for your anger. Exercise, kick a dog, do something besides your foul rants about people who are different than you.
I've recently learned some Japanese, and my response for the typical blank stare is to go into Japanese and get really upset when they don't understand.
Posted by GaiJin on May 17, 2007 11:02 AMSCAATY,
I'm not the least bit concerned about this. I learned Spanish back in Junior High school, well over 60 years ago; and went on to learn several more languages as well in College and Grad School.
Colorado has always had a significant number of Spanish speaking Citizens, ever since Territorial days, and even before, when much of the Front Range was a part of Mexico.
As to fast food: I like Burger King and Arby's myself.
Posted by Old Grouch on May 17, 2007 11:17 AMAnderson, Calm down, dude. I was just trying to help you...man, damned if I do and damned if I don't.
I am not angry, just resigned to the fact that America is being invaded and I am a voice in the wilderness (Leave it alone, Richard Grimes). I am trying to assimulate into the kind of American you want me to be, I have, after-all, listened to all your preaching and expounding on how unreasonable it is for me to feel the way I used to feel. So, now I am ready to be a citizen of the United States of Mexico. Viva la Anderson! Esta la Jefe de gringos! (See, O.G. I speak other languages,too.)
GaiJin,
I love it!!! Other than the fact that I just think it is wise to know another language, the desire to do just this is what is prompting me to finally learn French!
First I'm white. All though I would like these people to learn english. The fact is we have a problem with filling these jobs with american english speaking workers. Our spoiled little white kids don't want to work these jobs like I did when I was 16. Mommy & Daddy buys everything they want today. They live at home till their 30 and sometime longer. So if you want english at McDonalds get your lazy --s kids off their computers and make them buy their own car . ins., and gas. These people are working all the jobs that the fat lazy americans won't do.
Posted by larrymc on May 17, 2007 12:30 PMI'm reporting Anderson to PETA, People Eating Tasty Animals.
Posted by on May 17, 2007 12:34 PMThis is America and we are capitalists.
McDonalds has the right to get the cheapest labor so that it can maximize profits.
If you don't like that the cheap staff speak another language, then shop someplace else, or go live in a communist country where the government dictates the labguage.
Posted by Bango Skank on May 17, 2007 01:54 PMHow pompous! You get your dogfood at McDonalds and complain as if the spanish speakers are forcing you to patronize the business. Are you French?
Posted by mike h on May 17, 2007 02:17 PMI speak fluent Spanish but will not speak it with the illegals. When I have gone to a business where the workers all speak Spanish I've listened to the pejorative way they speak about gringos and understand every word. Perezoso, gabuacho, maricon and chingado are words frequently used to describe white (and black) custumers and yes their deliberate lack of hygeine is appalling. I generally don't eat fast food anymore.
Posted by Chris Heller on May 17, 2007 05:38 PMUsted los americanos pronto realizará que estamos aquí permanecer. Pronto poseeremos su país y usted servirá México.
Posted by Jose on May 17, 2007 06:00 PMJose,
Es la verdad, demasiado Norte Americanos estan gordo porque la comida a McDonalds.
Have you been to an RNC meeting? It seems that they all eat at McDoggies. (Conservatives DO tend to be on the portly side. Soft and fat, in mind and body.)
I'm sure we'll get some flak from the Cons out there, Jose, especially the ones sitting on their fat **ses at the keyboard, while Maria, the illegal Nanny goes off to buy happy meals for the kids.
It IS a partisan issue, when people are explioted , and dammit, We bleeding heart Liberals are always thre ones trying to spoil all the fun.
TOO DAMN BAD, LIVE WITH WHAT YOUR MESSIAH,REAGAN STARTED..These are called consequenses. You wanna play, ya gotta pay.
DMZ mi amigo... un día México y América será un país. Tomará tiempo, pero sucederá.
Posted by Jose on May 17, 2007 06:49 PMSenor Anderson
You closet wetback. Stop trying to sound like your from America.
after the Senate fiasco today, we'll be lucky to find anyplace that has employess who understand English. What a sad day for America and legal American citizens. The flood gates are about to be open, and millions more will come.
Posted by mi on May 17, 2007 07:48 PMHas the language of choice at Rocky Mountain News’ comment board become Spanish? On the way to visit Mike Rosen's column I stopped at this website to win a couple of easy arguments for my ego (it's really big).
Normally I click-through to Rosen, but the title was boring enought that a trip inside this blog seemed the better choice. I don’t recall the last time I visited this website, but ... wow!
The majority of the communications between commenters is loud and definitely Spanish with the person who appeared to be running things (Jose, el moderator?) doing so in that same language. I observed several of the posters conversing in Spanish as well, and I think my presence necessitated a change from the language of the blog to primative English. The unwelcome feeling that has come over me has brought back memories of listening to Santana on the hi-fi.
Yes, the language of choice on RMN blogs (at least this one anyway) has become Spanish.
All fast food sucks, and I won't even go to a fast food place since all they hire is illegal aliens anymore. Just remember folks, when Pedro and Maria come back from the bathroom with unwashed hands; they have pooped on your food.
McDonald's = McBeaner's
Arby's = Arbeez'
Wendy's = Wendeez'
Burger King = Booger King (not Spanish; but appropriate).
I'll have to work on updated names for all the other Mexican Montezuma's Revenge ptomaine palaces.
All fast foods are the same..worst one is Chipoltle.... we don't go to any of these fast foods for a long time. The atmosphere sux.
And I hate listening to mexican music at wal-mart. King soopers , Target is pleasant .
Jose-Dmz eso no va susera, sin lucha de los americanos. Translation: There saying they will take over in time..I said that won't happen so easy..without a fight.
Grew up in Denver and moved away, reading all the names of streets, places and fast food joints makes me so home-sick for the Mile High City.
Three questions for the posters: did the Spanish speaking servers treat you nice, did they serve you well, did they act grateful for the business?
If not, then those are the real reasons for going somewhere else.
Posted by Sharon B. on May 18, 2007 04:30 AMBoycott is on.
Posted by Jimmy Hoffa on May 18, 2007 08:11 AMOh My God, no, say it aint so. Spanish and not English speaking people? It's the end of the world. Surely this means the Rapture is imminent. We might as well just give up and throw ourselves off cliffs.
Posted by It's too horrible on May 18, 2007 08:13 AMjust remember that God only speaks Hebrew, Latin, and Greek
Posted by Bango Skank on May 18, 2007 09:01 AMQBT: "Just remember folks, when Pedro and Maria come back from the bathroom with unwashed hands; they have pooped on your food."
Once again, QBT poops on the forum.
Posted by Truth on May 18, 2007 09:02 AMI am white, I speak Spanish and the illegals HATE us. The Boulder Taco Bell recently fired an illegal who was taking a dump in the refries. None of the news media covered THAT did they!!!!
Posted by Terry on May 18, 2007 11:13 AMJack-in-theBox is better anyway.
Posted by Hans Christian Brando on May 18, 2007 12:50 PMBurger King just as bad. They had problems with the card reader and Manager would only speak spanish for explaining to employee. Employee spoke english very well but it was thier way to keep me from understanding the explanation. I asked to have it explained in English and Manager smirked and made fun of situation. I lost it and he lost it. Upper Management wanted to fix problem, but not do anything about their cheap labor. Refuse to go to any Burger King
Posted by bwr on May 18, 2007 01:40 PMIf you need a fast food place to go and live on east side of metro try Taco Bell on Havana and just north of Mexico Str. Not a joke. Irony at all levels yes :-)
Great service. Very very kind and outgoing and can carry a conversation! Love them!
Jose,
Que viene la guerra civil. Hay un moviemeiento a unir los dos paises, y tambien Canada, tiene razon. Pero cuando hay una recession o depression, no podemos apoyar los pobres de Mexico o los illegales en los E.U. Vamos a cuidar nuestro gente en nuestro paiz. Estas aqui, pero la permannecia, quien sabe. Te veo en las calles mi amigo illegal.
There are any number of tales about persons of color employed at fast-food places who spit in the food sold to whites.Urban legends? Maybe,but do you want to take the risk?
Posted by Jimminy on May 19, 2007 10:27 AMWell Ben proves a point, that either too lazy to make a response in English or not brave enough to, and as for Jimminy, you totally ignore the matter altogether. This had nothing to do about spitting in food or the like.
Posted by Nick on May 19, 2007 10:48 AMBoycott all fast foods!!
Posted by on May 19, 2007 10:49 AMYo Nick! Someone with no(or fake) papers probably would not know their HIV status.Or care.Still wanna take the risk?
Posted by Jimminy on May 19, 2007 03:07 PMBen, usted está correcto allí será una guerra civil. La guerra está viniendo. El tiempo está cerca.
Posted by Jose on May 19, 2007 07:42 PMJimminy, you are partially right, however, many people are ignorant of the status in their disease of any sort from either drug use or who they sleep with so language would not be of any barrier in that, also better do a better research in biological transmissions of diseases. I would also like to thank Jose for again making the point of the entire language argument. SO to Jose, I would like to say thank you, salamat po sarat, shukran, spaciba, dunka, domo arigato and unsa amnida ( I appologize for perhaps any mispelling as I can speak it but the spelling eludes me at times) I refuse to lower myself to Joses ignorant status as I can speak several languages while it seems he and many others are limited to only one and are unwilliing to take on the task of leaning any others, such as English.
Posted by Mick on May 19, 2007 09:41 PMWhy you all getting your shorts in a wad? There isn't going to be any amnesty ...soon.
Remember if they lied to us the americanos they will..lie to you...and who are you anyway?
So,don't expect the flood gates to open..for millions..to cross over..Remember we can't even get our voting machines to work properly..maybe they'll be fixed by 2008..but don't hold your breath. America's not that organized..remember Katrina? In the meantime I'd be worried about....LA MIGRA!!!!