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Wilkerson · 01-12-2007, 10:09 AM

As the plagiarist Bob Zimmerman once said, The times they are a-changin'.

Immigration takes on a new tone over time as people change. Technology has made immigration a much easier rite of passage so to speak. In 1900 a slow trip over on a crowded boat often filled with sickness was the main way to arrive and it meant an investment of both time and money and usually involved leaving family behind. These days a quicker trip is made by plane and it is also easier to turn and go back.

In 1900 leaving Poland or Russia meant long goodbyes, a definite leaving of a job and other things as well. Now, it can be done in a matter of hours and if after a few weeks it turns out things aren't going well, people can return back to their native land much more easily. I am not saying it is without problems, just that there are fewer of them. Temporary Visas and work Visas and education Visas are all the rage these days. Nothing like dipping into a culture and testing it out before making the comittment.

Back when I was growing up I saw the first signs of big change. There were children from Italy and from Yugoslavia and even Japan and Spain (as well as other locations). They learned to speak English in a relatively short stretch of time and in many cases assisted their parents in doing the same. The adults expected great things of their children and the children shouldered the responsibility and learned. Then came the invasion as I refer to it. The Hispanic Invasion. Now, it could be argued that some early arrivers on the shores of North America were of Spanish descent and so speaking Spanish is perfectly alright. Well, it would be if the founding fathers had created the Declaration of Independence and other documents in Spanish (and or as well as English). I went to school in a large city with many immigrants and they learned English. Then came Luis. Luis pretended not to speak English and soon had everyone hoodwinked. I ran into Luis one Saturday outside of a store or somewhere, and I spoke to him in my broken Spanish. He turned towards me and responded in English and let out a big grin. He knew English. He also knew that the culture around him was changing and that he could get away with his game, because there would always be a translator for him.

I kept his secret...until a few years ago when I first leaked it out onto a forum.

In the ensuing years, I found more and more co-workers from Spanish speaking countries were speaking Spanish in the workplace, even when there were people present who did not speak Spanish. For a long while all of this irritated me. These days I am more at odds with the educational system (such as it is). Since so many people speak Spanish, why not incorporate it as a second language for the United States and make education of this language mandatory along with English? By doing so, future generations will have the added skill of bilingualism and will not be as distracted by the conversations going on around them in Spanish. See my notes later on Maribel.

What bothers me even more however is voting and citizenship testing. Many communities are mandated by law to issue voting ballots in the native language of certain citizens. Citizenship tests are offered in languages other than English. How do these things help a person fully assimilate into the surroundings of their new country? If a person wishs to be a United States citizen but has made no effort to learn the language spoken here; then how serious are they. This of course brings me to another issue. The 'My country' syndrome.

The My Country Syndrome

In short, this involves the person from Guyana or Ecuador or Cyprus or wherever constantly speaking about their native land. They will say for example: "in my country the trees are much greener than here" or "In my country the street corners are paved with seashells" This wouldn't be half as bad were it not for the fact that many of them have already taken citizenship tests and become U.S. citizens. This makes the U.S. their country now. If their native country was so perfect why are they here?

Then there was Maribel. Maribel was from The Dominican Republic. She learned English. Although she had the opportunity to read publications in Spanish, she chose to read them in English and subscribed to Reader's Digest in English to help her achieve her goal of speaking and comprehending English. Maribel also frowned on speaking more than one language in the workplace...unless it was a private telephone conversation with a person who had not learned the language or if their was someone in on business who had not learned English. Within the office, even with others from her native land, she spoke English. At times it was near to amusing. If Jose or Maria said something in Spanish, Maribel would respond in English. She would also have a look on her face to indicate her annoyance with the rudeness of the co-worker who was speaking Spanish.

I have no issues with persons coming to this country and flying flags from their native land...especially on holidays of their native land which may still hold a special place in their heart. But fly the American flag as well. Speak the native tongue at home or in private clubs where all members are from the same heritage, but do not do it at the grocery store when you are a cashier and speaking to another cashier or a manager or a customer who you know speaks English. Mind you, if a customer arrives at the checkout and speaks in Lithuanian, I am not going to be upset with the cashier responding in Lithuanian (and no, I do not speak Lithuanian. I can barely grasp English and a few words of Spanish). Manners are important.

If I am in the hospital emergency room and 3 or 4 nurses start bantering back and forth in Greek or Albanian or some other language it will have an effect upon my health. If I am already in a state of being where I am in need of healthcare, not knowing what is being said is only going to aggravate my illness. Again, this is not an issue if the nurse speaks directly to a patient in the patient's native language, and in fact at that point and in that time and place may well be comforting to the patient.

Immigration brings new people all the time and along with these people are changes. I just ask that the new arrivals respect the persons who are here and to become part of the existing fabric, not tear huge holes into it and fill with slap-dash patching.

01-12-2007, 10:09 AM	#23 (permalink)
Wilkerson Upright Location: I live in a hovel near a hole in the ground with a gang	As the plagiarist Bob Zimmerman once said, The times they are a-changin'. Immigration takes on a new tone over time as people change. Technology has made immigration a much easier rite of passage so to speak. In 1900 a slow trip over on a crowded boat often filled with sickness was the main way to arrive and it meant an investment of both time and money and usually involved leaving family behind. These days a quicker trip is made by plane and it is also easier to turn and go back. In 1900 leaving Poland or Russia meant long goodbyes, a definite leaving of a job and other things as well. Now, it can be done in a matter of hours and if after a few weeks it turns out things aren't going well, people can return back to their native land much more easily. I am not saying it is without problems, just that there are fewer of them. Temporary Visas and work Visas and education Visas are all the rage these days. Nothing like dipping into a culture and testing it out before making the comittment. Back when I was growing up I saw the first signs of big change. There were children from Italy and from Yugoslavia and even Japan and Spain (as well as other locations). They learned to speak English in a relatively short stretch of time and in many cases assisted their parents in doing the same. The adults expected great things of their children and the children shouldered the responsibility and learned. Then came the invasion as I refer to it. The Hispanic Invasion. Now, it could be argued that some early arrivers on the shores of North America were of Spanish descent and so speaking Spanish is perfectly alright. Well, it would be if the founding fathers had created the Declaration of Independence and other documents in Spanish (and or as well as English). I went to school in a large city with many immigrants and they learned English. Then came Luis. Luis pretended not to speak English and soon had everyone hoodwinked. I ran into Luis one Saturday outside of a store or somewhere, and I spoke to him in my broken Spanish. He turned towards me and responded in English and let out a big grin. He knew English. He also knew that the culture around him was changing and that he could get away with his game, because there would always be a translator for him. I kept his secret...until a few years ago when I first leaked it out onto a forum. In the ensuing years, I found more and more co-workers from Spanish speaking countries were speaking Spanish in the workplace, even when there were people present who did not speak Spanish. For a long while all of this irritated me. These days I am more at odds with the educational system (such as it is). Since so many people speak Spanish, why not incorporate it as a second language for the United States and make education of this language mandatory along with English? By doing so, future generations will have the added skill of bilingualism and will not be as distracted by the conversations going on around them in Spanish. See my notes later on Maribel. What bothers me even more however is voting and citizenship testing. Many communities are mandated by law to issue voting ballots in the native language of certain citizens. Citizenship tests are offered in languages other than English. How do these things help a person fully assimilate into the surroundings of their new country? If a person wishs to be a United States citizen but has made no effort to learn the language spoken here; then how serious are they. This of course brings me to another issue. The 'My country' syndrome. The My Country Syndrome In short, this involves the person from Guyana or Ecuador or Cyprus or wherever constantly speaking about their native land. They will say for example: "in my country the trees are much greener than here" or "In my country the street corners are paved with seashells" This wouldn't be half as bad were it not for the fact that many of them have already taken citizenship tests and become U.S. citizens. This makes the U.S. their country now. If their native country was so perfect why are they here? Then there was Maribel. Maribel was from The Dominican Republic. She learned English. Although she had the opportunity to read publications in Spanish, she chose to read them in English and subscribed to Reader's Digest in English to help her achieve her goal of speaking and comprehending English. Maribel also frowned on speaking more than one language in the workplace...unless it was a private telephone conversation with a person who had not learned the language or if their was someone in on business who had not learned English. Within the office, even with others from her native land, she spoke English. At times it was near to amusing. If Jose or Maria said something in Spanish, Maribel would respond in English. She would also have a look on her face to indicate her annoyance with the rudeness of the co-worker who was speaking Spanish. I have no issues with persons coming to this country and flying flags from their native land...especially on holidays of their native land which may still hold a special place in their heart. But fly the American flag as well. Speak the native tongue at home or in private clubs where all members are from the same heritage, but do not do it at the grocery store when you are a cashier and speaking to another cashier or a manager or a customer who you know speaks English. Mind you, if a customer arrives at the checkout and speaks in Lithuanian, I am not going to be upset with the cashier responding in Lithuanian (and no, I do not speak Lithuanian. I can barely grasp English and a few words of Spanish). Manners are important. If I am in the hospital emergency room and 3 or 4 nurses start bantering back and forth in Greek or Albanian or some other language it will have an effect upon my health. If I am already in a state of being where I am in need of healthcare, not knowing what is being said is only going to aggravate my illness. Again, this is not an issue if the nurse speaks directly to a patient in the patient's native language, and in fact at that point and in that time and place may well be comforting to the patient. Immigration brings new people all the time and along with these people are changes. I just ask that the new arrivals respect the persons who are here and to become part of the existing fabric, not tear huge holes into it and fill with slap-dash patching.