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Frustrated With Mexicans - Letter from a Reader and My Response
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Frustrated people frequently write me. Sometimes they are frustrated with me about something I write, sometimes they are frustrated with Latinos and sometimes, at least I think, they are just frustrated people.
This lady is frustrated with Latinos and is using me as a sounding board. I want to respond. I think she deserves a response. Her email address and name are hidden to protect her privacy. Read on and let's learn together.
Click on the letter to open it.
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I am simply going to highlight a few of her thoughts and respond. You can read the full letter. This is a healthy exercise for all of us. By the way, here is a link to the article she references in her letter.
Her: Although I can appreciate your viewpoint I have to tell you that I am fed up with the time and money wasted on trying to communicate with "Latinos".
Me: Several thoughts. 1. Many, if not most, "Latinos" in the United States speak English. 2. No one forces anyone to hire Latinos who do not speak English. It is a business decision on the part of every manager or owner. If a person doesn't want the language issues then simply don't hire them. It is really that simple. This has to be weighed against the value of the Latino labor force. 3. If we knowingly hire people who don't speak English, it is leadership's responsibility to communicate with them. Leaders lead and are responsible for communication in an organization. This is true both ethically and legally. We'll get to the "wasted" comment in a minute.
Her: You suggested in the article the following: "If your most skilled messenger does not speak Spanish, then by all means invest in a quality Spanish training course for this person". How about this Mr. Gonzalez, let's have "Latinos" that would like a job in the United States of America, California to be specific for my point, learn ENGLISH! Do you know how much time and money we waste because our "hire" does not understand simple ENGLISH directions? It's ridiculous! It costs businesses time and money!
Me: I'm all for Latinos learning English. To not do so is short-sighted and incredibly limiting. Bilingual America offers both English and Spanish training courses.
Again, no one is forcing anyone to hire people who don't speak English. At the very least, if you hire them with this knowledge, provide a quality English training course for them, set some standards for results and hold them to your expectations. This, I think, is fair.
Frankly, the problem here really isn't with the person who doesn't speak English, it's with the company that hires them knowing they don't speak English and then being frustrated by the fact that they don't speak English. You do see the irony here, don't you?
I stand by my comment, "If your most skilled messenger does not speak Spanish, then by all means invest in a quality Spanish training course for this person." That is, of course, if you are going to hire people who don't speak English.
Her: If they can't communicate in English on a basic level can you blame me or any company for not wanting to hire them?
Me. I think I am clear on this point. No one is expecting anything from anyone nor is anyone forcing anyone to hire anyone. These are business decisions. If companies would stop hiring them without English skills, then most likely more people would take learning English more seriously. Supply and demand my friends.
Her: It costs California tax payers millions of dollars to print brochures and booklets in English AND Spanish because the influx of Mexicans that come to this country who refuse to learn OUR language we speak here! Instead they come in large groups and start demanding that it's our fault that they can't function in this society.
Me: I am not sure where she gets her printing figures but for argument sake, let's accept the numbers. It does cost money to target people of another language. Ealier this person used the word "wasted" when referring to time and money put into trying to communicate with Latinos. This person never mentions, of course, either the purchasing power of Latinos (over $700 billion in the United States) or the monetary value that one would put on the work performed by Latinos in this country. I know a lot of Anglos who have enjoyed a great deal of financial success via the Latino workforce.
By the way, and responding to her "influx of Mexicans" comment, not to beat a worn drum but California actually did belong to Mexico less than 200 years ago and the treaty from the Mexican-American war clearly states that the Mexicans who stayed within the territory would have freedom to maintain their language and customs as they saw appropriate. The historical and real influx was that of Anglos moving into Mexican territory. Let's keep it real here!
Her:
Again, your article continues in this vain and I am sick of having to deal with this demanding, lazy attitude. Certainly your company, "Bilingual America" does not feed into this type of ignorant thinking? I should hope not!
Me: Now Latinos are "lazy?" I haven't heard that before. I doubt she really means this. Under her frustration, I can sense that there is a decent and fair-minded person here. I certainly hope we are not being "ignorant!" I don't think we are but I invite your feedback here.
Friends, I show you this letter to underscore how emotion can sometimes override objective thinking. Let's start thinking — all of us! I'm not advocating for Latino handouts, nor do most Latinos. I am advocating for respectful, mutually beneficial relations between Anglos and Latinos. Nothing more and nothing less.
To my friend who wrote in, thank you for opening this dialogue for us.
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posted by Ricardo González on July 11, 2008.
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