“Why Aren’t You Speaking English?”

[R.Zaragoza]

Houston News
Friday, June 17, 2011
“Why Aren’t You Speaking English?”
A Texas Senator is receiving praise and criticism.
By KTRH STAFF

During committee testimony this week in Austin, a Texas senator interrupted a Spanish speaker and telling him he should "be speaking in English" during a committee hearing.

Antolin Aguirre of the Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition was testifying against Senate Bill 9 that would help crack down on illegal immigrants in Texas. Aguirre spoke through an interpreter even though he had been in the U.S. since 1988.

Two minutes into Antolin Aguirre’s testimony, Sen. Chris Harris, a Republican from Arlington, interrupted asking Aguirre’s interrupter, "Did I understand him correctly that he has been here since 1988?" Harris asked. "Why aren’t you speaking in English then?"

Through his interpreter, Aguirre said Spanish is his "first language and since it is his first time giving testimony he would rather do it in Spanish."

"It is insulting to us," Sen. Harris fired back. "It is very insulting. And if he knows English, he needs to be speaking in English."

The fiery exchange happened on Monday during a Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee hearing. Law makers were hearing testimony on the purposed Senate Bill 9 – The so-called sanctuary cities bill. The bill would allow local law enforcement officials to check a suspect’s immigration status.

Supporters of Senate Bill 9 have said it would help crack down on illegal immigrants. Opponents argue that it will do little to help border security and that it’s instead based on racism.

Despite the blow-up The Texas Senate passed the bill Wednesday. It now goes to the House with a vote expected in the next few days.

Read more: “Why Aren’t You Speaking English?” | Houston News - KTRH NewsRadio 740 Houston News, Weather, Traffic

[ChasC5]

Yawl; when in Texas … speak English

[LATB]

Originally Posted by ChasC5

Yawl; when in AMERICA … speak English

fxt.

and, btw...it's Y'all. it can be Y'alls...or even all Y'alls...

but it's never Yawl.

[NB2K]

"It is insulting to us," Sen. Harris fired back. "It is very insulting. And if he knows English, he needs to be speaking in English."

Finally, someone with some balls.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by NB2K

Finally, someone with some balls.

...and I'm sure the liberal idiots are already coming up with some way to sue him for discrimination.

[NB2K]

If I lived in Mexico (through some penalty from God) I sure as hell would speak Spanish.

This numb-nutted **** has the gall to be here 23 years and dares to speak before a governing body in his native tongue and bitch about how 'Merica was effing him?

F him.

[Yerf Dog]

I've never understood people not using the common language for the country they call home.

It's OK if you're visiting, but if you actually live and work there?

[ChasC5]

Originally Posted by Yerf Dog

I've never understood people not using the common language for the country they call home.

It's OK if you're visiting, but if you actually live and work there?

I think there ought to be a Law … Speak English or you’ll be placed on the ignore list.

[AC54ME]

Originally Posted by Yerf Dog

I've never understood people not using the common language for the country they call home.

It's OK if you're visiting, but if you actually live and work there?

I am older than most here and can remember when immigrants came to the US (because it was a 'shinning beacon' and not for the purpose of being another drag on the US society but participating in making it better for all) shortly following WW II they were immersed, by their own volition, in learning English (American type).

I can recall several families displaced from Europe that lived in the area - they refused to speak in their 'native tongue' at home, or in public.

My S/O is from another country - she (and her brother) were brought to the US by the Federal Government and NASA.

She has a better grasp of the English language than I. She is a much better writer than I can ever hope to be. However, other than while she lived in Alexandria Egypt she never had an English lesion. In Egypt she attended the American HS, and that was her first time where she encountered education into the language.

The OP shows the need to make the OFFICIAL language of the USA English. Failing to do so leads to issues where even in basis transactions between US natural citizens and those from other countries breaks down - or is really an insult to the first party.

Oh, BTW I hate it when I call a US Government agency and get "Press two for Spanish" - for Christ sake this is the USA - not friggin Mexico.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by ChasC5

I think there ought to be a Law … Speak English or you’ll be placed on the ignore list.

[sanchez]

I'm going to risk going against the grain here.

I don't think that Aguirre cannot speak english. Just that given the serious nature of the meeting he would prefer to give his responses in his native language. I think that people should speak english in the United States, but I also get that he may have been concerned about giving an incorrect statement due to a language barrier. If any of you have spoken to non-native speakers with any frequency you know that miscommunicaiton can happen.

It's happened to me personally when I travel abroad and I'm forced to speak spanish, and it has happened here in the states when I am speaking english to non-native engilsh speakers.

Very few people are truly fluent in multiple languages. You may be conversational, or able to conduct business, but if it is a very serious or stressful situation, mistakes will be more likely.

I'm just saying that there are two sides to every coin and this may not be as disrespectful as it's being interpeted at first blush.

[Chris Fowler]

Originally Posted by sanchez

I'm going to risk going against the grain here.

I don't think that Aguirre cannot speak english. Just that given the serious nature of the meeting he would prefer to give his responses in his native language. I think that people should speak english in the United States, but I also get that he may have been concerned about giving an incorrect statement due to a language barrier. If any of you have spoken to non-native speakers with any frequency you know that miscommunicaiton can happen.

It's happened to me personally when I travel abroad and I'm forced to speak spanish, and it has happened here in the states when I am speaking english to non-native engilsh speakers.

Very few people are truly fluent in multiple languages. You may be conversational, or able to conduct business, but if it is a very serious or stressful situation, mistakes will be more likely.

I'm just saying that there are two sides to every coin and this may not be as disrespectful as it's being interpeted at first blush.

I don't necessarily disagree with your statement, but I also believe that so much would be lost going through an interpreter.

If he's been here 23 years he should be able to express himself well enough in English...whether or not he can is another story.

[bill_daniels]

Originally Posted by sanchez

I'm going to risk going against the grain here.

I don't think that Aguirre cannot speak english. Just that given the serious nature of the meeting he would prefer to give his responses in his native language. I think that people should speak english in the United States, but I also get that he may have been concerned about giving an incorrect statement due to a language barrier. If any of you have spoken to non-native speakers with any frequency you know that miscommunicaiton can happen.

It's happened to me personally when I travel abroad and I'm forced to speak spanish, and it has happened here in the states when I am speaking english to non-native engilsh speakers.

Very few people are truly fluent in multiple languages. You may be conversational, or able to conduct business, but if it is a very serious or stressful situation, mistakes will be more likely.

I'm just saying that there are two sides to every coin and this may not be as disrespectful as it's being interpeted at first blush.

That's a fair, well reasoned post. Perhaps the guy would have drawn less ire if he had started out with some kind of statement in English, then let the legislators know that he would be speaking through an interpreter for the body of his speech. IOW, play to the crowd, make some kind of utterance in the native language first. That seems to work for rock stars touring overseas.

Then again, hindsight is 20/20.

[RedLS1GTO]

Sanchez... I agree 100% with what you said provided that he was not actually fluent in English.

I just have a very hard time believing that after 23 years this was the case.

I wonder how long the translator has been speaking both languages.

[Iron Chef]

Originally Posted by AC54ME

I am older than most here and can remember when immigrants came to the US (because it was a 'shinning beacon' and not for the purpose of being another drag on the US society but participating in making it better for all) shortly following WW II they were immersed, by their own volition, in learning English (American type).

I can recall several families displaced from Europe that lived in the area - they refused to speak in their 'native tongue' at home, or in public.

My S/O is from another country - she (and her brother) were brought to the US by the Federal Government and NASA.

She has a better grasp of the English language than I. She is a much better writer than I can ever hope to be. However, other than while she lived in Alexandria Egypt she never had an English lesion. In Egypt she attended the American HS, and that was her first time where she encountered education into the language.

The OP shows the need to make the OFFICIAL language of the USA English. Failing to do so leads to issues where even in basis transactions between US natural citizens and those from other countries breaks down - or is really an insult to the first party.

Oh, BTW I hate it when I call a US Government agency and get "Press two for Spanish" - for Christ sake this is the USA - not friggin Mexico.

My mother came here after WWII. She and her mother spent 4 years in Auschwitz. They practically kissed the earth when they got off the ship in New York in 1949. The second thing they did was learn English and applied for citizenship. They were both proud to be naturalized Americans.

My mom...who spoke four languages fluently...was insulted when someone didn't speak to her in English.

There is a reason they called it "The Greatest Generation."

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

My mother came here after WWII. She and her mother spent 4 years in Auschwitz. They practically kissed the earth when they got off the ship in New York in 1949. The second thing they did was learn English and applied for citizenship. They were both proud to be naturalized Americans.

My mom...who spoke four languages fluently...was insulted when someone didn't speak to her in English.

There is a reason they called it "The Greatest Generation."

[ChasC5]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

My mother came here after WWII. She and her mother spent 4 years in Auschwitz. They practically kissed the earth when they got off the ship in New York in 1949. The second thing they did was learn English and applied for citizenship. They were both proud to be naturalized Americans.

My mom...who spoke four languages fluently...was insulted when someone didn't speak to her in English.

There is a reason they called it "The Greatest Generation."

I bet it was really special for her to be able to make that decision to get on the ship and go to where her will have a better life.

I wish everyone had that choice.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

My mother came here after WWII. She and her mother spent 4 years in Auschwitz. They practically kissed the earth when they got off the ship in New York in 1949. The second thing they did was learn English and applied for citizenship. They were both proud to be naturalized Americans.

My mom...who spoke four languages fluently...was insulted when someone didn't speak to her in English.

There is a reason they called it "The Greatest Generation."

NO shit, and one generation before yours too....

[ChasC5]

One thing is true, good choices has privileges and wonderful rewards.

[AC54ME]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

My mother came here after WWII. She and her mother spent 4 years in Auschwitz. They practically kissed the earth when they got off the ship in New York in 1949. The second thing they did was learn English and applied for citizenship. They were both proud to be naturalized Americans.

My mom...who spoke four languages fluently...was insulted when someone didn't speak to her in English.

There is a reason they called it "The Greatest Generation."

I think you recall meeting my S/O.

Her parents were also in Auschwitz - her mother a French Freedom fighter, her father (originally a Kings Guard) a Yugoslavia Freedom Fighter.

This is where they met.

Following the war her father remained in a position (International Lawyer) for the Yugoslavia government - this provided the family the latitude to live in multiple countries in the '50's and '60's.

Her father was an amazing gentleman, and hated communists, and Tito. He and her mother eventually moved to France following escaping from Yugoslavia with their two children since the 'word' was out the children had been recruited by the US government.

Just amazing.