Recently, I noticed the signs at an East Peoria business. They had both English and Spanish words on them.
My initial reaction was anger. I thought, ‘This is America where people speak English. Why are we catering to Hispanics?’
I know several people who have had my same reaction.
After I read on the Internet about others being angry over the same issue, some of my co-workers and I discussed the issue last week.
I wanted to have an open mind. I asked my them to play devil’s advocate with me.
One said it is a business decision if a corporation decides to add Spanish words to their signs.
I told him I doubt their No. 1 concern is making things easier for the Spanish clientele, but rather about profit.
I argued that it hinders, rather than really helps, Spanish people learn English.
Having lived in a foreign country for nine months, I told my co-workers I know what it is like to be a minority who does not know the language. It is tough, especially when trying to cook with the metric system. But, over time, I picked up words and phrases here and there.
The good thing about living in the Netherlands was that their government paid for foreigners to take one year of schooling to learn the language there. They also assigned you a job counselor.
In other words, they wanted you to be a productive member of their country.
In my argument with my co-workers, I told them I could not think of many good jobs that a foreign person could obtain in America without learning English. In Holland, I was a janitor.
I am aware that in bigger cities, there are whole neighborhoods comprised of people who speak one language. They are able to survive and thrive because they have most everything they need contained in a small area. I can’t see this same scenario here in Central Illinois. However, another co-worker said this, indeed, happens in smaller neighborhoods as well. Where he lives — the east bluff in Peoria — there are Spanish-speaking adults who have their children translate English for them.
One of my coworkers noted that the two languages on businesses’ signs helps us learn Spanish as well.
But why would we need to? I don’t even want to go to Mexico.
Trying harder, I delved into why I felt the way I did. I told my co-workers I thought it was about fear and pride.
