Non-Spanish Speakers Having Rough Life in Miami

[catfish]

Non-Spanish speakers having rough life in Miami




Honestly, this really scares me. This story could be repeated in other parts
of the country if something aint done. This is already reality in one
neighborhood of the city i live in (Alexandria, VA.)



Spanish Becoming Language of Miami - AOL News

[baron the great]

My experience in Portland Metro is that is was often necessary to have a grasp of Spanish in order to be an effective supervisor. Sorry just the facts sir. And to also get your order at Mc Ds

[Wyody]

Spanish has always been a second language in the south Florida area. People have come and gone seemingly forever from the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Cuba, The Dominican Republic and other islands all the way to Africa - with Spanish being the most dominant of the languages.
Over thirty years ago, you couldn't live anywhere around there without knowing a bit of spanish just 'cause everybody knew somebody whose first language was Spanish.
There were also - and are - a lot of other languages ... Dutch, German, Latvian, African of various sorts - not to mention the regional form of Ebonics ... and in more private circles, Yiddish.
I understand that the influx of Cubans has soared in these last 30/40 years - but so has the influx of Russian-speaking peoples ... who come not only from Russia ... but from Alaska, from China and other neighboring countries or former countries.
Face it - we've all known we should learn Spanish for decades! Knew way back when that the Spanish we were learning in high-school wouldn't get us by in a conversation.
Now, I getcha on the MickeyD's thing ... 'cept around here, I can never tell who is what ... with Native American, Pacific Islander, Italian and Mexican all running around ... it's hard to figure.
By the way, how many of you have finally learned conversational French or Italian? We're citizens of the world, y'know. Time to start acting the part.

[catfish]

Originally Posted by Wyody

Spanish has always been a second language in the south Florida area. People have come and gone seemingly forever from the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Cuba, The Dominican Republic and other islands all the way to Africa - with Spanish being the most dominant of the languages.
Over thirty years ago, you couldn't live anywhere around there without knowing a bit of spanish just 'cause everybody knew somebody whose first language was Spanish.
There were also - and are - a lot of other languages ... Dutch, German, Latvian, African of various sorts - not to mention the regional form of Ebonics ... and in more private circles, Yiddish.
I understand that the influx of Cubans has soared in these last 30/40 years - but so has the influx of Russian-speaking peoples ... who come not only from Russia ... but from Alaska, from China and other neighboring countries or former countries.
Face it - we've all known we should learn Spanish for decades! Knew way back when that the Spanish we were learning in high-school wouldn't get us by in a conversation.
Now, I getcha on the MickeyD's thing ... 'cept around here, I can never tell who is what ... with Native American, Pacific Islander, Italian and Mexican all running around ... it's hard to figure.
By the way, how many of you have finally learned conversational French or Italian? We're citizens of the world, y'know. Time to start acting the part.

If I ever should go to a Spanish speaking country then I will learn Spanish. until then they can learn English. And if they can only speck Spanish then I don't want to talk to them anyway.

[Wyody]

Come on by! Monday Afternoons in The Commons. Spanish lessons! 2-3 p.m. - taught by a real lady from Spain ... who is really doing it so she can learn English better. Everybody is doing pretty good except one Filipino lady who says she is having a tough time.
Oh, ate Mexican today. Empanacas Enchilidas - one of my favorites. When I say "Gracias" and the waiter says "Denada, Amigo" - I feel good.
Buenas Tardeh FishiJuan

[triton]

It appears as if spanish is also becoming primary language in Chicagoland, too.

[baron the great]

wyody, go down 99E between Woodburn and Hubbard on a saturday and try some of the BarBeQus going on on the side of the highway with the taco trucks. You will think you are in heaven. Sorry to go off topic.

[Wyody]

I want to make it clear that I totally understand the problem that is, apparently, at hand. I keep thinking that Mexico must be totally empty about now and that if anybody in the history of the world had ever wanted to take over Mexico ... now would be the time - but they must be populated like China as they just keep coming. Thing is, I know they're not populated like China as I have been across the country with hundreds of miles of comparative isolation - small family farms, large family farms, tiny farm towns ... much like a movie version of Texas.
At the same time that we watch the possible "Mexican Stranglehold" threaten to occur in our country, I am also reminded that these things are cyclical in nature, i.e., "They" come and come and then, they stop. In my lifetime, I've watched whole countries virtually empty-out into the melting-pot of American soup ... from Formosans to Cubans to Japanese to Cook Islanders of various sorts to Filipinos to Russians to Canadians to Africans to Persians to Italians to Greeks.
The Native American eyes in my head feel like they've been watching an oval horse-race that never stops!
Yet, we absorb these people. White people were not the first here. Red was here. Pacific Islanders were here. Spanish were here. Mexicans were here ... and many had already built towns and systems ... before the Vikings every showed up ... before the white, destructive, Europeans showed up (yeah, they're my ancestors too - almost embarassing ain't it?).
So, I tend to discount the danger - and yet, being a man of mixed spirituality amid a strong sense of logic, I long to see the smug, self-righteous and thoughtless regime that has been in place for the past 500 years set back on it's heels a bit ... except ... to answer another question ...
I don't buy tacos from the street vendors - I have a fear of botulism - but it is getting about time to make another "flower-viewing-run". Last trip, there were almost no flowers up yet - late year this year.

[catfish]

we're on our way to 3rd world, non-English speaking status. thank God
i'll be gone from this earth by the time it gets that bad.

[Wyody]

Originally Posted by catfish

we're on our way to 3rd world, non-English speaking status. thank God
i'll be gone from this earth by the time it gets that bad.

I'm not positive that there has ever been anything we could have done to correct it - so I'm not sure if there is blame to be laid for certain ...
... but part of the problem is that we allowed a 3rd-world to come about.
Before any silly flag-waving; Before any horrendous H-bomb droppings; before Colonization ... we are citizens of the world First. Ideally, everybody should have come up at the same time and we should have made sure of it. Perhaps that is too ideal of a concept to actually push - but many believe it. It is a logical, atheist way and it is a perfect, Christian way. This "thinking we're better than somebody" ... or in white-supremecist thinking "better than everybody" is indicative of every problem the world has ever faced ... but it is not confined to whites, never has been. Extinction of our neighbors has been a popular notion since before cro-magnon days. Doesn't matter the color or country.
It amazes me sometimes to see the caveman-style mentality that makes up a large cross-section of this country ... until I review my days and find that, most days, I've had a few moments of caveman as well.
Peace

[McGowdog]

Originally Posted by Wyody

Spanish has always been a second language in the south Florida area.

Right. And I'd say English is a 3rd or 4th language. I have two brothers in Florida and they stay away from Miami. They say it's the ghetto.

Originally Posted by begin rant

I've had the opportunity to see Miami a few times via its fine airport and had to spend the night there once and I can tell you from my vast experience that there are more English speaking people in San Juan than there are in Miami. I don't know exactly what country Miami belongs to and I don't care.

My unfortunate experience with the rest of Florida is that the more I visit there, the less I like it. That's my experience, my opinion, whatever you want to call it.

I'm not dogging Florida per say. I could say the same thing about Southern California and Texas.

I used to love to travel. I believe that travel=education. But sometimes education=getting bleeped in the bleep. I've never been bleeped before and I refuse to get bleeped to begin with, so... I guess you could call me a bleep virgin. But I'm not stupid. I'm not going to place myself in a position to get bleeped. From what I hear, Miami is a straight-up wicked place. I'll take "their" word for it. I don't need to find out for myself.

end rant

PS: My brothers won't tell me what a "Blue-Hair" or a "Cotton-Ball" is, but they say Florida is full of them. I hope this isn't a racial term. What is this?

[catfish]

PS: My brothers won't tell me what a "Blue-Hair" or a "Cotton-Ball" is, but they say Florida is full of them. I hope this isn't a racial term. What is this?[/quote]
"Blue-Hair" or a "Cotton-Ball? I don't' know what it is. Anyone know??

[Wyody]

This is merely a GUESS on the "Blue-Hair" ...
Miami Beach is traditionally the retirement mecca of elderly, Jewish ladies from New York. As usual, there are more elderly women than men - the men having worked themselves into oblivion several years before - at one time leaving nice nest-eggs for their widows ... who move to Miami Beach, dye their hair blue and go on with life.
I'm not sure what to make of the "cotton-ball" reference. In my day, it would have been a black cotton-ball .. but these days? No clue.

[Panterro]

COTTON-BALL

Urban Dictionary: cotton balls

I have also been told that it is a term for Fags. I think #3 is what this poster is referring too though..

BLUE HAIRS

Urban Dictionary: Blue Hair

Hope that helps..

On the other topic.. I don't give a rats ass who was here first.. We went to war or paid good hard cash or beads and trinkets for this land, and it is ours now.. so they can whine and bitch all they want.. they lost we won, and they need to suck it up and move on. I wish we could be 1940's America again when a man could say what's on his mind, punch a whiney little bitch in his nose and move on like John ****'in Wayne. Buncha pussies.. grow some balls already.

[McGowdog]

They say that that's all you see when you look in their cars.

No driver, no head, just a "blue hair" a "cotton ball" sticking over the steering wheel.

What is this, some kind of fashion?

[Panterro]

Originally Posted by McGowdog

They say that that's all you see when you look in their cars.

No driver, no head, just a "blue hair" a "cotton ball" sticking over the steering wheel.

What is this, some kind of fashion?

Ahh ok.. well you may want to add that one to the Urban Dictionary, because they have everything but that one.

[Wyody]

One would have to wonder, Panterro, who you mean by "we".
"WE" are Americans.
Miami - while being American for hundreds of years - is not and has never been made up of little, white Panterros. Miami Beach, on the other hand, used to be a white-man's stronghold ... or, more accurately, a white, elderly woman's stronghold.
Any complaint about Miami being Spanish speaking is inconsequential - because it has always been multi-cultural.
And any goober calling people "pussies" for being all-inclusive of human beings is having a moment of narrowness. John Wayne - though conservative - was not narrow. He also was not, as your statement would suggest ... a racist.

[Panterro]

Originally Posted by Wyody

One would have to wonder, Panterro, who you mean by "we".
"WE" are Americans.
Miami - while being American for hundreds of years - is not and has never been made up of little, white Panterros. Miami Beach, on the other hand, used to be a white-man's stronghold ... or, more accurately, a white, elderly woman's stronghold.
Any complaint about Miami being Spanish speaking is inconsequential - because it has always been multi-cultural.
And any goober calling people "pussies" for being all-inclusive of human beings is having a moment of narrowness. John Wayne - though conservative - was not narrow. He also was not, as your statement would suggest ... a racist.

Yes, you and I are Americans.. because our fore-fathers kicked the crap outta the indians, or paid them off with trinkets, killed the Mexicans or bought the land fair and square.. these pussies who hold signs on street corners saying they were here first and this is their land have no place to bitch, moan or groan.. just like a black man born today can not say **** about being a slave.. he has no concept and is owed nothing. Say I am a Raciest, so be it.. and least I am not some pussy sitting in my Montana shed playing the victum and moaning about how unfair life is. F'in grow up already.

Also these people jumping the river and layin claim to a job an American should be doiong is BS.. and they should be rounded up and deported.. all of them, including the Irish and what ever that sneek in from Canada. Get in line like everyone else.. or get the F.UC.K out.

[Wyody]

Pan, you seriously need a rest from El Paso. It's got you all knotted up with varying degrees of hatred and inhumanity.
I fully realize that it takes a little of that for you to function at what you probably consider a "normal" level ... but you appear consumed on this thread.
Even the Catfish doesn't usually jump so deep in the well.
Come on out - let us reintroduce you to a world where the sun shines but it doesn't always bake your brain everyday.
Oh - and maybe just sub one cup of tea for one cup of coffee today.
Seriously - we're all out here - outside the gym - just waiting for you!
Don't ask me to send my shrink - he's nuts!
Peace.

[catfish]

Originally Posted by Wyody

Pan, you seriously need a rest from El Paso. It's got you all knotted up with varying degrees of hatred and inhumanity.
I fully realize that it takes a little of that for you to function at what you probably consider a "normal" level ... but you appear consumed on this thread.
Even the Catfish doesn't usually jump so deep in the well.
Come on out - let us reintroduce you to a world where the sun shines but it doesn't always bake your brain everyday.
Oh - and maybe just sub one cup of tea for one cup of coffee today.
Seriously - we're all out here - outside the gym - just waiting for you!
Don't ask me to send my shrink - he's nuts!
Peace.

I wouldn't wast my time with this guy he's a nut case. and I hear their is allot of mud at the bottom of the well .. It's must be getting bad in the ghettos of El Paso

[Panterro]

Sweet.. I played the roll of catfish, and got him to admit he is a fool. Go look around the forums wyody, you'll see I played your roll on this thread many times with Catfish.. it was kinda fun to be the raciest pig for a time. And if you also look, you'll see I took lines right from Catfish's play book.

I'll stop with the roll play now.

Oh and I don't drink coffee, its bad for you.. I do drink green tea, and Earl Grey. maybe we can share a cup some time.

[baron the great]

Do you have a replicator for your earl grey like Picard? Sorry Next Generation moment.

[Wyody]

Originally Posted by Panterro

Sweet.. I played the roll of catfish, and got him to admit he is a fool. Go look around the forums wyody, you'll see I played your roll on this thread many times with Catfish.. it was kinda fun to be the raciest pig for a time. And if you also look, you'll see I took lines right from Catfish's play book.

I'll stop with the roll play now.

Oh and I don't drink coffee, its bad for you.. I do drink green tea, and Earl Grey. maybe we can share a cup some time.

I'm not a fan of Earl Grey. I do a lot of green & white and also Irish Breakfast - and occasionally something like Constant Comment. Truthfully, I'm a coffee person and have to work hard at liking tea.
Still do a cup or two every coupla days.
Well, PanFish, it's not so easy being me, is it?
I think it's actually easier to be Catfish ... or, with the upbringing I had in the area I was brungupat, it would seem easier. I just didn't grow the twist that way - 60's child and all. In truth, I'm kinda glad I was a nice, stoned little hippy/businessman/musician/worldtraveller ... any form of racism in those crowds was basically a no-no ... 'cept at the Howard Johnson's bar or in the privacy of a motel party.
But good job Pan ...
Now ... Catfish ... Dude, I've tried to be square with you all along. I like you - you take a lot of abuse - and you stop short most of the time from scraping the wall ... but just because Panfish is nuts ... doesn't mean you ain't. Doesn't mean I ain't neither. Proof is though, none of the three of us are getting a check for being crazy - so, we apparently aren't certifiable - so, we're a force to be reckoned with.
And I don't know about you - but Baron's sanity drives me crazy - it's like trying to be mad at Isabel or Sir Azi ... or even Dufferz ... Gad, ain't nothing harder than trying to be mad at The Dufferz.
Well, back to my own play.
(wink-wink, nod-nod)

[baron the great]

Don't worry, my hubby nicknamed me Mary Poppins a long time ago! Anyhoo once I pulled up to the old Burger King, but did not ordered up the heart attack in a sack as usual and when I came up to the pick up window the manager who was Asian with a limited English vocab was telling the order filler, an obvious woman of Hispanic descent with a similar limited vocab how to fill my order. End results? A fish-burger, a whopper, and an order of onion rings, I had asked only for a coffee. Then I had to try to tell them that was not what I ordered, but all the manager would say was, free order! free order! My mates at work scored. :) BTW when traveling in Europe I relied on the kindness of strangers to help me when I was unable to communicate in the local lingo. As stated above we are now more citizens of the world and different parts of the country have different experiences with the immigrants influx.

[Panterro]

Originally Posted by baron the great

Do you have a replicator for your earl grey like Picard? Sorry Next Generation moment.

I wonder if they can replicate strippers in them things? But that would be sweet to walk up to a machine and tell it what you want and it materializes outta nothing. Do you think there is any nutritional components to that replicated food?

PANFISH.. thats a good one.. I think you have a new topic for the food thread.. just make sure it has bacon.. mmmmmmm BACON!

Panfish - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia or Panfish

[baron the great]

No that is what the Holodeck is for And maybe there are no calories! That is why unlike at fan conventions,there are no fatties in spandex!

[Panterro]

Originally Posted by baron the great

No that is what the Holodeck is for And maybe there are no calories! That is why unlike at fan conventions,there are no fatties in spandex!

I beg to differ..

[baron the great]

Oh yeah, my point exactly. No calories in the future hopefully(closet convention goer, but no I do not dress up!) Gota bat'leth though