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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAir Force member called 'distasteful' for speaking Spanish in uniform
Air Force member called 'distasteful' for speaking Spanish in uniform
"This is my dream and [to] tell me that Im distasteful while wearing my dream, that really triggered me, said a U.S. Air Force member from Puerto Rico.
Aug. 15, 2019, 6:16 PM EDT / Updated Aug. 15, 2019, 8:19 PM EDT
By Shamar Walters
Xiara Mercado was making a routine coffee stop when she was accused of disrespecting the very country she serves to protect because she spoke Spanish while in uniform.
In a Facebook post that has been shared more than 50,000 times, Mercado, an Air Force airman, describes how she was accosted by a woman at outside a Starbucks in Hawaii, where Mercado is stationed, on July 17 who took offense to her speaking Spanish during a private phone call.
You speaking another language that does not represent America and that uniform you are wearing, that's distasteful, Mercado described the unidentified woman as saying.
more...
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/air-force-member-called-distasteful-speaking-spanish-uniform-n1042921?fbclid=IwAR09dM4-BrNVXVEIe4QcVL5oru8wHFh8FKMSHWpNbLT-SoEp_aA4YlWUT-M
MustLoveBeagles
(11,695 posts)lpbk2713
(42,784 posts)You really give her the benefit of the doubt.
MustLoveBeagles
(11,695 posts)lpbk2713
(42,784 posts)GeoWilliam750
(2,523 posts)Thank you for your service, and your strength, ma'am.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)chowder66
(9,127 posts)Celerity
(43,926 posts)Adding to the irony is that it took place in Hawaiʻi, the most recent of the US land grabs in terms of states and where around 75% of the population is non-white.
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)since we have dual legal languages, both English and Spanish. Yes, somehow wise decisions were made when the US took over New Mexico from the Spanish. The op describes the behavior of a woman in Hawaii who was mistakenly offended by the Spanish language and should be forced to attend some remedial schooling. By the way, all New Mexico State communications are presented in both legal languages whether spoken or printed, with the printed ones offering language support in many, many languages. I love this state and most of the people in it!
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Yesterday, nobody gave a tin shit what the unidentified woman said. Let's go back to that time.
tirebiter
(2,539 posts)Where they may be speaking Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, or any number of English accents for starters.
PandoraAwakened
(905 posts)Let's not forget, of course, the Hawaiian language itself, one of two of the state's official languages. And then, of course, there's the unofficial state language of Pidgin.
Dollars to donuts the racist woman spoke with a drawl so thick many would consider her to be the one speaking a different language.
NCLefty
(3,678 posts)He didn't seem to think it was racist.
I tried to explain it most certainly was but he also seemed clueless about our political parties. Poor fella.
America continues to have no official language.
quarbis
(314 posts)Bitch.
Tiggeroshii
(11,088 posts)Apparently it would appall this woman.
PatrickforO
(14,614 posts)It isn't doing anyone any good, and it is deeply hurting and dividing our republic.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,938 posts)I live in New Mexico. I constantly hear Spanish, and my only feeling of annoyance is that I don't understand as much as I think I should. Darn.
Yesterday was cleaning lady day. The women who clean my home speak English to me, and Spanish to each other. I think they are from Mexico, although I haven't asked them, and I'm frustrated that I can't understand anything other than an occasional word. Darn. My problem, not theirs.
Earlier today I met a man who was clearly from Mexico, and in the course of our conversation he gave the name of a TV show he likes to watch and I was frustrated that I couldn't understand his words. Damn. My Spanish ought to be better than that.
Oh, and here's the thing that constantly amazes me. I'll be somewhere, and the clerk or salesperson behind the desk will be speaking Spanish to the person in front of me, and when I get to the front of the line they instantly switch to English. Darn. I apparently have a large E tattooed on my forehead to indicate I speak English only. Sigh. I am genuinely in awe of the many people here who effortlessly switch between English and Spanish.
One of the largest problems with this country is that far too many people are monolingual.
no_hypocrisy
(46,378 posts)in a nursing home amounts to an accusation of "abuse" against elderly residents.
I know. I'm an attorney and successfully fought against that allegation on behalf of my client (nurses aide).
lunasun
(21,646 posts)no_hypocrisy
(46,378 posts)Speaking in a foreign language to a co-worker within earshot of a resident at a long-term care facility.
Ridiculous!
MineralMan
(146,364 posts)to teach me Russian. Multilingual military personnel are a great asset to our armed forces. The woman outside of the Starbucks is just an ass.
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