JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

In Miami, Spanish becoming primary language

58.5% speak Spanish; some English speakers feel marginalized

Melissa Green arranges flowers at her store in Miami The flower shop owner and Miami native says her inability to speak Spanish makes it difficult to conduct business in the city.

MIAMI - Melissa Green's mother spoke Spanish, but she never learned — her father forbid it. Today, that's a frequent problem in this city where the English-speaking population is outnumbered.
The 49-year-old flower shop owner and Miami native said her inability to speak "espanol" makes it difficult to conduct business, seek help at stores and even ask directions. She finds it "frustrating."
"It makes it hard for some people to find a job because they don't speak Spanish, and I don't think that it is right," said Green, who sometimes calls a Spanish-speaking friend to translate for customers who don't speak English.
"Sometimes I think they should learn it," she said.

In many areas of Miami, Spanish has become the predominant language, replacing English in everyday life. Anyone from Latin America could feel at home on the streets, without having to pronounce a single word in English.
In stores, shopkeepers wait on their clients in Spanish. Universities offer programs for Spanish speakers. And in supermarkets, banks, restaurants — even at the post office and government offices — information is given and assistance is offered in Spanish. In Miami, doctors and nurses speak Spanish with their patients and a large portion of advertising is in Spanish. Daily newspapers and radio and television stations cater to the Hispanic public.
‘The Anglo population is leaving’
But this situation, so pleasing to Latin American immigrants, makes some English speakers feel marginalized. In the 1950s, it's estimated that more than 80 percent of Miami-Dade County residents were non-Hispanic whites. But in 2006, the Census Bureau estimates that number was only 18.5 percent, and in 2015 it is forecast to be 14 percent. Hispanics now make up about 60 percent.
"The Anglo population is leaving," said Juan Clark, a sociology professor at Miami Dade College. "One of the reactions is to emigrate toward the north. They resent the fact that (an American) has to learn Spanish in order to have advantages to work. If one doesn't speak Spanish, it's a disadvantage."
According to the Census, 58.5 percent of the county's 2.4 million residents speak Spanish — and half of those say they don't speak English well. English-only speakers make up 27.2 percent of the county's residents.
In the mainly Cuban city of Hialeah and in the Miami neighborhood of Little Havana, 94 percent of residents identified themselves as Hispanic.
Andrew Lynch, an expert on linguistics and bilingualism at the University of Miami, said that the presence of Spanish-speakers first became an issue in Miami-Dade County in the 1960s and '70s with the arrival of Cuban immigrants and intensified in the '80s with immigrants from not just Cuba, but Argentina, Venezuela and elsewhere in Latin America. The exodus of English speakers soon followed.





Difficulties for both sides
James McCleary, his wife and two children left Miami in 1987 for Vermont, where he is now a farmer. McCleary, 58, said his inability to speak Spanish made it difficult for him to find work — it once took seven months to get hired as a cook.
"The job market was very tough. It was very, very difficult," he said.
His wife, Lauren, was born and raised in Miami and they visit at least twice a year, but she feels that it's no longer her hometown.
"I don't like being there anymore. It is very, very different," she said. "I cannot live there anymore, I can't speak their language."
Nevertheless, she likes the diversity of the population of South Florida and regrets not learning Spanish in school.
Librarian Martha Phillips, 61, believes those who speak Spanish will continue to have more opportunities and she doesn't think that's necessarily fair. Phillips said she is sorry to see non-Spanish-speakers abandoning Miami, and said she's concerned that the area "will be like a branch of Latin America."
"I do resent the fact that people seem to expect that the people who live here adjust to their ways, rather than learning English and making adjustments," she said. "Obviously I don't expect an older person to learn to speak English, but younger people come in and they don't seem to make much of an effort to learn to adapt to this country and they expect us to adapt to them."
Some Spanish speakers say they have their own trouble with those who only speak English.
Mary Bravo, a 37-year-old Venezuelan business owner, moved to Miami nine years ago. She understands English but only speaks a little.
"This land is theirs. We should try to speak English," she said, "but they don't even try to understand us."

What happened to English being the primary language? This is BS! I get so pissed when I go shopping and they speak to me first in Spanish because I am Mexican? Idiots!

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

A lot of what was written was true...Having lived in Miami since 1951 except for time in the U.S. Coast Guard I find it difficult sometimes doing business.

I can tell you that I was VERY SUCESSFUL in the businesses I was in. If you know your "CHIT" better then everyone else in your field you don't have to "speakie de language". The only problem is the other 99% of the smucks do need to learn it.

It is one of the reasons I want to leave the area but I will tell you it is low on the list.

I can tell you Miami (southeast florida, miami, ft lauderdale, the keys) is a melting pot of many cultures and it gives you a very large variety of things to do...

Also there are different versions of spanish with words having different meanings. The best example is the word Papaya. To most spanish speaking people it is a tropical fruit but in cuban spanish it means Pussy and not the cat version. The cubans call it fruta bomba...

OH !

BTW

2 homes for sale in Miami contact me for details

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

Subject: The South Florida "Code"



THE SOUTH FLORIDA CODE
>
>When giving directions in South Florida , you should always start with
>the words, Take I-95 . . .
>
> If you're a snowbird or a non-working retiree, you absolutely cannot
>drive between the hours of 6am and 10am and 4pm and 7pm. This is considered to be rush hour and you're not in any rush. No exceptions.
>
>Some roads just stop for no reason and then start again: Congress Avenue , Lyons Road,Jog Road.
>
> Freeways can only go north and south. Not east and west..
>
>A1A and ALT A1A are the same streets.
>
> Traffic Lights aren't timed and never will be.
>
> We measure the distance you travel in time not miles.
>
> If you travel more than 5-10 miles on any road in South Florida WI thout seeing an orange Bob's Barricade, you're lost!
>
> If you miss your exit on I-95, its perfectly acceptable to back up.
>
> Once the light turns green, only 3 cars can go through the
>intersection.Eight more go through on yellow and 4 on red.
>
>
>
>Know the difference between Sun Pass , Sun Fest, Sun-Sentinel, and Sun Trust..
>
> Flip flops, tank tops and baggy shorts are also known as business
>casual.
>
> Your blinker means nothing.
>
> English is our second language.
>
> It is perfectly acceptable to brag about the size of your generator.
>
> It is totally acceptable to be living in South Florida but not root for
>The Dolphins, The Marlins, The Heat or The Panthers.
>
> We have alligators here in South Florida and they WILL bite you. Don't be stupid and try to feed or pet one.
>
>Clematis is a street not a disease.
>> When a hurricane is headed our way, even though you have advanced warning and you are told to be prepared, you're not a true Floridian unless you wait until the absolute last minute to go to Home Depot to pick up plywood or to Publix to stock up water, ice, beer, and potato chips.
>
>You know how to spell Okeechobee.
>
> Do NOT buy a boat. Make friends with someone who already owns a boat
>That way you don't have to deal with the headaches.
>
>There is an Okeechobee blvd, street, avenue, town, lake and county.
>
> You weren't born here. If you were, you're angry that everyone else
>moved here.
>
>There's always a Walgreens across the street from a CVS on almost every corner - with more being built every day.
>
>
>When picking up a woman on South Beach,always look for an Adams apple.
>
> It's normal to sweat when you are putting up your holiday decorations.
>
>Jup i ter is a city, not a planet.
>
>Seniors have to do their errands during the weekdays. Not weeknights or weekends - that's for the working folks.
>
>There are three types of dolphins: Mahi-mahi, flipper, and also one
>called a football team.
>
>You can't say; "this is how we did it up north", if you think that way,
>then go back.
>
>
>No matter what they decide in Tallahassee you will never be able to
>figure out your property taxes.
>
>
>Learn how to dress in layers. It will be 95 degrees outside but inside
>any restaurant or business it's 65 degrees.
>
>There are three things you will need to survive a south Florida winter:
>A long sleeved T-shirt, sunscreen and restaurant reservations that you make at least three weeks in advance.
>
> The same neighbor who smiles at you every day will be the first one to rat you out if you are violating water restriction s.

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

no hoblay.....

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

and dont forget, your neighbors are jsut there to be friends with during the aftermath of a hurricane, after that its back to the shunning.

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

ps when i was in Miami last weekend, i was getting in my car some women asked me if i was getting out in spanish, my answer was a very hasteful "what i only speak english sorry" and she drove off

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

This is the very reason we left Miami. I was sick and tired of people insisting I was Cuban (no hispanic blood in me) and speaking to me in Cuban Spanish. And when I told them I didn't speak Spanish, they'd ask me why I was denying it! True! LOL. The food labels on meat packages in the stores were first written in Spanish with English underneath. I couldn't get used to people pronouncing CHurch .. shursh, and CHair ... shair. And lastly, I taught school in Coral Gables briefly ... but when my 1st graders all spoke English as a 2nd language, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE BORN IN THE U.S. .. I decided it was time to move. :crying:

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

The human race is doomed.

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

Where did you shop? I KNOW it wasn't PUBLIX or WD...

for sale...2 homes in miami- dade county !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

Hmmmmmmmmmmm,

Did your husband use to work for FPL and then move to CA and work for a railroad ?

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

What? :confused:

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

I only shopped at Publix .. the one in the Suniland Shopping Center when I lived in Kendall ... and the Publix in Coral Gables when I lived in Coral Gables. Are you JOKING?!?!?!?!?! LOL?!?!

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

PUBLIX has NEVER had the spanish name for a cut of meat bigger then the english name...BTW the PUBLIX in Suniland is gone, now its a Wild Oats...have lived here since 1951 and for the pass 33 years a little south of Suniland...

Wanna buy a home here in South Dade? Make you a nice deal...

The reason I asked if you were a certain person is that I had a friend who taught at Coral Gables Elem and moved to CA...

Re: ^_^
 

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

Watch out there Hmmm2, I read RYD lines like this before...next thing he'll be wanting to see your wares or asking for you to send him pictures of yourself "el-fresco."

:)

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

HEY MAN !!! don't give away all my secrets...

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

LOLOLOLOLOL! I thought so, Big Dad. :giggling: FPL and then the railroad?? LOLOL. Nope, not us. LOL.

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

This could have been solved by our Founding Fathers by designating English as our official language. It could have been solved years ago by politicians by writing a simple bill.

It can't be solved today because the Latin vote is seen as too important to risk losing.

Politicians are weak kneed and afraid to do anything of any real substance. If a democrap is elected president next, the wall construction along the southern border will cease. Everyone will be granted "rights" they already have, but they'll be made special using language that will designate many different ETHNICITIES as having rights. Whites will be left out of these special rights.

It's a slippery slope and we're too far down it to turn back without someone with ginormous brass ones to lead the way.

http://www.proenglish.org/index.html

See how you federal representative fares on thi issue:
http://www.us-english.org/view/334

It should be noted the language issue is being handles on the state level in many cases. why the state level? They're the ones that have to pay for all the dual language learning material, voting material, road signs, etc.

Virginia House Bill:
English as the official language of the Commonwealth. States that, except as provided by federal law, English is the official language of the Commonwealth, and no state agency or local government shall provide or otherwise assist in providing any documents, information, literature, or other written materials in any language other than English. The bill provides exceptions to this general rule for any documents, information, literature, or other written materials in a language other than English used in connection with foreign language instruction, administration of justice in the courts of the Commonwealth, law-enforcement purposes, or the provision of health care services.

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

Want to solve it,
white people need to have more kids, plain and simple
when you guys see minorities move in you run away, and move farther away from the cities, then you only have at most on average two kids, where non-whites have three to five,

of course your being taken over, you gave up the territory, and your not replacing the population, not to mention your genes are recessive, so when you have kids with someone who is not white, they loose your characteristics,

sorry, you guys just arent made to exist much longer:violin:
Welcome to the new face of Amewrica

Re: JUST PLAIN WRONG!
 

WOOF !

I take it you are a minority...do you mind sharing and telling us from which minority group you belong to ?

Being a minority is not a bad thing, this country is made up from them...

Are you Persian ?