January 25, 2006

¿Como se llama, güero?

An online poll conducted by the El Paso Times

Are you bothered by people who speak Spanish in stores, restaurants and government offices in El Paso?
58.5%
No. El Paso is a thoroughly bilingual city. People should not be offended by people who speak Spanish in public.
41.4%
Yes. El Paso is an American city and people should speak English in public places.

Well, I'm no statistician, but 41.4 % is an awful lot of people to be saying that others "should" behave in a certain way. Or refrain from behaving that way, as the case may be.

Look, I realize that the United States is an English-speaking nation, and that that's been to the benefit of the United States. I'm not a Spanish speaker myself, and I think it's pretty damn rude for a group of which I'm a part to break into a discussion in Spanish. It just is.

But damn, look at a map. Look where El Paso is. My house, to take just one example, is closer to Juarez than it is to Austin or Houston or Dallas. Hell, I'm closer to the Mexico border than I am to the New Mexico border.

I guess it's just too much of a mental shift to get folks to just leave people alone. But I'm not talking about changing anyone's habits. You don't want to speak English, fine. You don't want to speak Spanish, fine. But what is, is.

Posted by Craig Ceely at January 25, 2006 11:17 AM
Comments

As a speaker of Spanish in public spaces I would like to go on record to say that this 41.4% can bite me. There is nothing to be offended by. I choose to speak Spanish from time to time with my Grandma. Granted we are usually making fun of somebody, but, heh, do you really WANT to know what we are saying about you? Oh my no.

Posted by: BridgetB at January 25, 2006 03:36 PM

It's not the speaking Spanish in public amongst themselves that bothers me. It's the assumption that everyone should speak Spanish, and that if you don't you are some kind of misfit. Forget getting a job in this town - especially a minimum wage one - if you don't speak Spanish. Notice I don't say bilingual, because in many businesses your English can be little to non-existant. And don't even start to tell me how I should learn Spanish. I don't go to Juarez and tell their citizens they should learn English.

Posted by: Alexandra at January 26, 2006 08:34 PM