Comments on: U.S. Agent Killed At Border Identified

Was Hit By Suspected Smuggler's Vehicle Trying To Flee Into Mexico

[rowdytexan2]

Actually, you would be surprised at the number of Hispanic young customer service reps on my staff that CANNOT speak Spanish. A lot of Texas Hispanic families have never taught their children Spanish because they did not want to confuse them when they went to school.

And one of the reasons I only have a couple of Spanish speaking reps is because the applicants who are bi-lingual demand more pay. I refuse to pay a person more money to do the same job an English speaking rep does just because they can do it in Spanish. That''s hogwarsh!

[sasi1-2009]

I''d like to ask Mr. Bush WHY this happened. Had our borders been secured as promised, this could have been prevented. I''m sick of our politicians & their failures. It''s time to do something & only the people of this country can make it happen.

[rowdytexan2]

Condolences to the family of this young man, may he rest in peace.

[slim1h2o]

And they usually decide that they can speak English.

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 07:29 PM : Jan 20, 2008

Three cheers for Rowdytexan,,,,thats exactly needs to happen.. They can speak English,,,just laziness!

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by Meg001 at 06:58 PM : Jan 20, 2008

My business has a customer service division and I do keep a couple of Spanish speaking staff to assist the customers that cannot speak English. But I do not get excited when the Spanish queue fills up and they have to wait in line. A lot of times they will call back and speak to an English speaking representative in order not to have to wait. In so many cases it is just a matter of arrogance, rather than the inability to speak our language.

When the issue has to be bumped to management, and I have to take the call, I just tell them if they want to do business with me, they need to speak English or find someone who can. And they usually decide that they can speak English.

[mcv57]

The infrastucture has since deteriorated with the economy. The law enforcement establishment is no except to the saturated government corruption. Minorities, American or otherwise, are being targeted and victimized very day. Go figure, the Prison system is 50 % black; 25% latino; and 25% white.

The only reason for the need for the bilinguals stems to GREED (cheaper payroll and no human rights). Corporate GREED knows no color but GREEN.

[sgtrds]

The legal Hispanic people I know share my concern. The illegal invaders are not the same ambitious, hard-working types that the legal immigrants are. Many of them have contagious illnesses, and are not good with even their own native language(s). Many of the children have little aptitude for education. The second generation ends up in trouble with the law in many cases.

Posted by Meg001 at 07:12 PM : Jan 20, 2008

Yes there is some crime, as there is in all nationalities. And it''s true that some older arrivals do tend to look down upon the newer ones, but again it''s always been that way. But we''ve been told all of the negative things about these immigrants instead of concentrating on the positive ones. For now they''re providing fresh workers in hard jobs that few Americans want to do and are keeping prices down because of it. And as they assimilate more they''ll provide fresh eyes to our nations problems and fresh solutions to them also. Someday a Hispanic doctor will discover a cure for a disease or a Hispanic scientist will find a new way to solve a serious pollution problem or a Hispanic actor will win an Academy Award. When these things happen, when these people become ingrained in our society and they will, most people will wonder what the big deal was in the first place. We need to concentrate on making this a positive experience for all concerned and we''re America! We can do this!

[mcv57]

... in the 50s, the white American culture actually frowned on the uses of any language other than english. Many Americans do not speak their native cultural language because of this social mandate . . . me for one. After a couple of generations, the language died.

[mcv57]

Spelling correction:

When the native american indians were defeated by the U.S. government forces, they were forced to learn english and banned to practice their culture or religion.

[slim1h2o]

Except for the fact that it''''s larger then the other waves (and is probably more noticeable because of it), it''''s not been remarkably different in assimilation.

Posted by SgtRDS at 07:12 PM : Jan 20, 2008

And except, for the most part,, an "Illegal Immigration".

That''s the difference!