• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Is it racist to ask for immigrants to speak English?

Is it racist to ask immigrants to speak English?


  • Total voters
    118

LoopyPaladin

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2012
Messages
86
Reaction score
31
Location
Earth.
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Socialist
I hear people talking about this subject all the time, and I'm just curious.

Is it racist to ask immigrants to speak English (or whatever language the country they immigrated to speaks) when in public places?
 
I don't know if it's racist. It's pointless, small-minded and entirely unrealistic.
 
I don't know about racist, but if someone wants to communicate with me, knowing English is probably a good place to start. I can speak some Spanish, but if I can't communicate with you, I just won't deal with you. There's no need to shove it down anybody's throat.
 
I hear people talking about this subject all the time, and I'm just curious.

Is it racist to ask immigrants to speak English (or whatever language the country they immigrated to speaks) when in public places?


I don't think its racist'........... I live in a highly populated state with immigrants, alot of the people I meet, do try, as I Also ... am trying to learn the Hispanic language'................ however alot of the older immigrants, have a harder time learning, as they are so used to their language, as we are ours,
 
I don't know about racist, but if someone wants to communicate with me, knowing English is probably a good place to start. I can speak some Spanish, but if I can't communicate with you, I just won't deal with you. There's no need to shove it down anybody's throat.

This. You can't make people speak the language of the majority. People who refuse to learn a widespread language are really just hurting themselves.
 
Absolutely not. You need to communicate with them and cannot speak their native language, in America one should be expected to communicate in English. It isn't racist.
 
I hear people talking about this subject all the time, and I'm just curious.

Is it racist to ask immigrants to speak English (or whatever language the country they immigrated to speaks) when in public places?

Unless you are an indigenous American ("Indian"), you are an immigrant or prodigy of one - like so many Latinios. Is it racist for you to speak English?
 
This. You can't make people speak the language of the majority. People who refuse to learn a widespread language are really just hurting themselves.

I think the compeling case could be that people who are not bilingual now are hurting themselves.
 
Absolutely not. You need to communicate with them and cannot speak their native language, in America one should be expected to communicate in English. It isn't racist.

At the very least it should be taught in school. Can't do much more past that.
 
I think the compeling case could be that people who are not bilingual now are hurting themselves.

And I agree with that, too. I live in Los Angeles and don't speak Spanish. You better believe that's been a problem.
 
Unless you are an indigenous American ("Indian"), you are an immigrant or prodigy of one - like so many Latinios. Is it racist for you to speak English?

Well, that's why I said whatever language the country speaks, because I know that English speaking people aren't the natives of the land. The majority of Canada/U.S is english speaking, and so I think that the people who immigrate there should at least learn basic English so that they can communicate with the majority of the population.

I work at a grocery store, and so when people come up to me and have to shove things in my face because they can't speak enough English to be able to communicate with me, I just feel like they should at least know enough to be able to get through day-to-day life around English speaking people.
 
Its not racist....but if they aren't speaking to you personally, it is downright rude and arrogant to interject yourself into their conversation WHATEVER language they are speaking.
 
Another pointless bait poll.
 
It most definitely is not racist, anyone who thinks that it is should examine their own ignorance.
I don't mind people speaking among themselves in a foreign language as long as their tone is pleasant - you don't really have to understand a language to note an angry or rude tone in a person's voice. I do expect that if I am paying money for a service or product that I am served by someone who speaks very clear English. I will ask to speak to someone else if I the person I am dealing with is unable to do so. Otherwise I will take my business elsewhere.
 
It most definitely is not racist, anyone who thinks that it is should examine their own ignorance.
I don't mind people speaking among themselves in a foreign language as long as their tone is pleasant - you don't really have to understand a language to note an angry or rude tone in a person's voice. I do expect that if I am paying money for a service or product that I am served by someone who speaks very clear English. I will ask to speak to someone else if I the person I am dealing with is unable to do so. Otherwise I will take my business elsewhere.

People are allowed to speak among themselves in a foreign language...but only if their tone is pleasant?
 
People are allowed to speak among themselves in a foreign language...but only if their tone is pleasant?

Which is funny since the argument against Coulter on the Coulter thread had to do with her "tone" as well.
 
Which is funny since the argument against Coulter on the Coulter thread had to do with her "tone" as well.

I don't know what you're talking about.
 
I don't think it's racist. If I was to move to another country, I would make sure to learn the language because it must suck to not be able to understand anyone or to be able to communicate effectively. It's kind of like isolating yourself and refusing to integrate IMO.
 
I don't know what you're talking about.

I wasn't disagreeing with you just that it is funny leftists are up in arms about AC's "tone" and some conservatives are concerned about non English speaking peoples "tone".
 
As a side question, should companies that do business in America make sure that their customer service representatives and call center employees can effectively communicate with their English speaking customers in the United States?
 
I think it's funny the OP used the term "racist", is it racist if the person is a Frenchman speaking French?

What he probably meant was asians and mexicans speaking to him in public.

This poll is a floater.
 
I wasn't disagreeing with you just that it is funny leftists are up in arms about AC's "tone" and some conservatives are concerned about non English speaking peoples "tone".

Well, I didn't follow that debate so I can't comment on that.
 
As a side question, should companies that do business in America make sure that their customer service representatives and call center employees can effectively communicate with their English speaking customers in the United States?

If they want to stay in business for very long I would tell them it's strongly advisable.

However, if that business is effectively a monopoly then I admit it gets trickier. Example: only one internet provider in your town and the customer service speaks ancient Greek.
 
Back
Top Bottom