Thursday, April 26, 2007

When in Rome...


I have a freind who works in retail that experienced some racially motivated comments. This event took place in Miami, which some refer to as the capital of Latin America.

She helped a gentleman with some merchandise. The gentleman assuming she was latin american began to speak to her in spanish. Letting him know she spoke very little spansih she responded, "Poquito Espanol" He finished the transaction in English. Leaving the store the gentleman's 4 yr. old son asked his Dad how someone could live in Miami and not speak spanish?

This was not an elderly person that is "too" old to learn... This is a 4 YEAR OLD!!! You should not go to another country and get mad because they don't speak your langauge! That is rude and inconsiderate. But so is me saying, "Remake your raft and sail back to your country in the same raft you came in on!"




"When in Rome do as the Romans Do." - Somebody important

11 comments:

D said...

Yeah, if you can respect the country you're visiting without losing a hold on where you belong, do do in Rome as the Romans do!

Andrew The Asshole said...

Me, that is so important to remember everywhere. Hell, America is a land of immigrants

Anonymous said...

racism better get use to it, because it's going nowhere

Jewel Rays said...

Makes sense. But it takes a while to get people started when they first land.

~Jewel

Andrew The Asshole said...

Yazmar, true racism will always be with us.

Jewel, this was a 4 yr old that grew up here. His dad spoke english well.

Brandon said...

I hear you but we all know that Miami is pretty much made up of wealthy people from Cuba. Miami is their Rome.

So when in Rome...

Jazzy said...

I get this a lot (people thinking I speak Spanish - though I don't think I look Spanish at all).

Obviously that 4 yr old was repeating what he heard from the elders.

I think it's rude to assume that she spoke Spanish and then make a rude comment because she didn't. It's not like they were in Spain or Puerto Rico or Panama...last I checked Miami is still in the U.S. despite how many spanish speaking natives it currently has.

Dex said...

Racism's a tough one, for sure. Wonder how the Romans handled it...

Jewel Rays said...

Thanks for blogrolling me.:P

~Jewel

N@nc! said...

racism is a horrible thing, it will be with us everyday....

Andrew The Asshole said...

Yeah Racism will be with us forever. Its the first thing we see