towermonkey wrote: Here's the full exchange. Looks like Bailey Bud was right - he was more comfortable making his point in Spanish.
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."
OmniScience wrote: How can you live in a country for almost 25 years and still not speak the language? I can't understand why someone would want to limit themselves like that.
I think I got it! It was a stupid arrogant comment ( not racist) I never learned Italian even as it was spoken all around me. They discouraged it and I was trying to just learn and pass English.If I moved to any other country , I would struggle with the language. Get over it . It is so fricking irrelevant to what makes a good citizen.
Clear at last?
You grew up with italian spoken around you and did not pick it up?
If it is not copywrited, let me borrow a devistating argument from LJ's arsenal, LIAR.
OmniScience wrote: How can you live in a country for almost 25 years and still not speak the language? I can't understand why someone would want to limit themselves like that.
I think I got it! It was a stupid arrogant comment ( not racist) I never learned Italian even as it was spoken all around me. They discouraged it and I was trying to just learn and pass English.If I moved to any other country , I would struggle with the language. Get over it . It is so fricking irrelevant to what makes a good citizen.
Clear at last?
No you still don't get it. Let me spell it out for you.
When a person lives in another country and does not speak the native language they limit themselves in many ways. Whether it hinders them from advancing financially, socially, or being unable to fully experience the culture and history of their surroundings, being unable to engage in meaningful conversation will limit their experience.
That was the full extent of my initial post. It's really very simple. You are evidently too full of anger and devoid of comprehension to understand it, so you make ignorant, baseless accusations, and look rather foolish in doing so.
Maybe you don't get to decide, you self righteous fool.Take care of your own life and let people decide for themselves what is limited. Some people choose to sacrifice and could care less about your judgements. Good Americans are always welcome here IMHO. You are just couching your prejudice in some " better for them" language. Live your own life and quit judging others.
I have been called foolish before by smarted folks than you, and some of the time I have been proven right. In this case I am pretty sure.
Not anger, passionate against prejudice.
OmniScience wrote: How can you live in a country for almost 25 years and still not speak the language? I can't understand why someone would want to limit themselves like that.
I think I got it! It was a stupid arrogant comment ( not racist) I never learned Italian even as it was spoken all around me. They discouraged it and I was trying to just learn and pass English.If I moved to any other country , I would struggle with the language. Get over it . It is so fricking irrelevant to what makes a good citizen.
Clear at last?
You grew up with italian spoken around you and did not pick it up?
If it is not copywrited, let me borrow a devistating argument from LJ's arsenal, LIAR.
(nc posting as ncg, my computer is on strike)
My parents discouraged me to a degree that was extreme. They would punish (mildly) if I spoke Italian. They were concerned I would be stereotyped. I regret that to this day.
If I were to appear before an official government body in a foreign country, or even one that I'd adopted, and it was not my native language (and no amount of study at this age of my life will make me a better native foreign language speaker, not even French that I studied for 6 years), I'd use a translator too so as to not get screwed misspeaking. Is it illegal to use a translator? Should a deaf person be forced to use spoken word for a testimony before Congressional committee?
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
towermonkey wrote: Here's the full exchange. Looks like Bailey Bud was right - he was more comfortable making his point in Spanish.
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."
Science Chic wrote: If I were to appear before an official government body in a foreign country, or even one that I'd adopted, and it was not my native language (and no amount of study at this age of my life will make me a better native foreign language speaker, not even French that I studied for 6 years), I'd use a translator too so as to not get screwed misspeaking. Is it illegal to use a translator? Should a deaf person be forced to use spoken word for a testimony before Congressional committee?
In conclusion class, Liberals are for Multi-culturalism, Conservatives appear not to be. That is our lesson for today. Don't forget to do your homework.
