By Peter Raimondi
Whenever I have to use the telephone, and a recording comes on asking do I want to continue this Conversation in English or Spanish it really gets my gall!
We are being pushed from every direction by business and the government to speak and read Spanish.
This is an English-speaking nation!
Now the blame does not lie with the Spanish-speaking people.
The blame lies with big business and our congress. Big business because of the greed they share with Congress. Big business for the money and votes they want to tap from any and all sources, without any interest in our National Pride. Congress, because they won’t take a stand on the illegal immigration problem that faces our nation.
I am for all people who want to immigrate to this country as long as the do it according to our laws.
In 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt said in a speech, “In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language. We have one loyalty and that is a loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
Big business and our congress should put our national pride ahead of all things. When my father came to this country from Italy in 1925 he didn’t ask that we should talk Italian or have everything printed in Italian. He did his best to learn the English language even though there were no schools for teaching this language as far as I know. He was so intent to become an American that the only time Italian was spoken in our house is when my parents didn’t want their children to know what they were talking about. When he was nationalized, he had his last name Americanized. In his broken English, he would often say, “God Bless America, the greatest country in the world.”
To my Spanish-speaking friends, I urge you to become Americans, first by speaking the English language.
Came to this country is what has made this the greatest country in the world.
Of the many hundreds of different nationalities that have immigrated to this country, most have assimilated into our culture. They have kept their own pockets of culture alive in those areas we call Greek town, or Little Italy, etc.
None, as far as I know have asked that we switch to their native tongues.
I am proud of my Italian heritage because I know what the Italians have contributed to this country.
But, believe me I am an American first, and proud of it. America is first always!
Shame on big business and our congress, that you have not settled this national disgrace.
What you are doing is building hatred towards those people who come here illegally looking for a better way of life.
Settle this immigration problem once and for all.
What you are doing is chipping away at our national pride.
The lack of leadership in our country is sickening.
Is there anyone with guts in the government?
As President Roosevelt said, “We have room for one flag…we have room for but one language here, and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American People.”
I don’t like being a foreigner in my own country.
Why do you assume that everyone who speaks Spanish is here in this country illegally? Is it at all possible that perhaps the person may be learning English, but is not proficient enough to adequately convey themselves yet over the phone?
Also, in comparison, you should investigate the immigration laws when your relatives came over from Italy. Mine did as well, and the law was much different back then.
Even though your relatives attempted to assimilate themselves into the American culture, there were many people who did not. How many years did it take for those groups to completely assimilate? Did they ever fully assimilate, or did they reshape the American landscape?
Didn’t those groups that immigrated when your relatives came over take over many jobs that were thought to be undesirable? What jobs do many Hispanics hold now?
We should all really be speaking the language of the various tribes that actually inhabited this continent before our ancestors came over in search of better lives, religious freedom, and liberty.
Raimondi… Hmmm that’s certainly not an AMERICAN name. Too many vowels for starters and it’s far too complicated for a mono-linguistic society to spell! You should have to change it. Let’s make a law. There are plenty PURE names. Oh wait! That “pure” comment sounded a little scary. Yeah… how about that. We’ll just call you Ray Monday. If it doesn’t suit you go “home”.
Qué dice? No sé inglés. Me gusta los Estados Unidos de América mucho!
Paco,
Algunas personas están buscando la culpa de su desgracia en los demás. Algunos son alentadores immagrants a pagar su parte en impuestos. La libertad de expresión está protegido aquí. Comparte tus pensamientos. La familia del Sr. Ramondi fueron immagrants en algún punto. Si usted es sincero en su interés plese ser conscientes de que usted puede cortar y pegar cualquier texto en http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en y seleccionar “traducir al Inglés. Tengas un buen día!
For those of you who are suffering from Hispanophobia (look it up it’s real) here’s the English version of what I just said:
Some people are looking to blame thier misfortune on others. Some are just encouraging immagrants to pay thier share in taxes. Freedom of speach is protected here. Share your thoughts. Mr. Ramondi’s family were immagrants at some point as well. If you are sincere in your interest plese be aware that you can cut and paste any text into http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en and select “translate into english. Have a good day!
Mr. Raimondi,
Do you speak Iroquis? Navajo? Algonquin? Perhaps you should…they were here first, after all.
Anyway, I’m also pretty sure that almost any Spanish-speaking person you find here is eager to learn any English they can. I’m also pretty sure that they are not asking you, or anyone else, to switch to Spanish. If I had to move to Quebec or France to make a living for my family, I’d of course try my best with French. When it came time to fill out paperwork or conduct important business however, if someone were willing to speak English to me, I would be more than grateful.
Nobody is pushing you to speak Spanish…take off your tin foil hat!
Being given an option is not being pushed to do something. I am also fairly you certain you have no spanish speaking friends. No one is building hate toward people who come here illegally except people like you…intolerant, fractious, and redundant. Impallaria already took up this issue in his semi-literate manner.
Oh, and I’m pretty sure Mr. Raimondi’s “gall will be got” when he receives his Census letter (the one saying “your survey is coming”). If I recall, there’s a sentence at the bottom that’s in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Russian, if not more languages.
I urge everyone to write “American” for race on the census. It’s legal and accepted by the Federal Govt.
What? That doesn’t even make sense, and I’m not sure what the point would be. Not that there’s ever been shown to be a legitimate scientific existence of “race,” but “American” is a nationality, just like Canadian, Egyptian, or Iraqi.
where did you get that from?
True Dave all you have to do is be counted; failing to fill out your form can be punished by a $5,000 fine. That said the other stuff helps the government alot money for purposes accordingly. Otherwise they might have to guess your needs. For example not indicting age might make it hard for the govt. to anticipte the need for certian services in that community.
What gets my gall is that I’ve already gotten 2 mailings from the Census Bureau advising me to be on the lookout for my census form in the mail. No wasted spending here.
Blue;
Those are important letters. I’m really excited and can hardly wait now. Do you suppose Ed McMahon will bring us our forms?
The only thing the Census Bureau can legally do is count the people in the household (enumerate) according the Constitutional. That’s all the information any of us should give. What race we are or how many times we go to the bathroom or whether we wipe afterwords is simply none of their business. Just enumerate yourself.
America was not made for or by white people you stupid cunt. It’s for everyone. And the reason you feel like a foreigner is because you are. Because you’re not American. If you were a real American you would know some American history and know how this country was constructed and what this country stands for. But you don’t know shit. You’re just another dumb white guy. Congratulations.