Fla. mayor's push for bilingual city gets rebuffed

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Fla. mayor's push for bilingual city gets rebuffed
CHRISTINE ARMARIO
Associated Press

Published: Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 2:31 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 2:31 p.m.

In many parts of Miami, Spanish is used as frequently - or more often - than English.

That's certainly case in the neighboring suburb of Doral, where an influx of immigrants from Latin America have transformed an idle community near the city's airport into flourishing neighborhood with cafeterias and businesses echoing the tastes and sounds of home.

Enter any restaurant here and customers are usually greeted first in Spanish. Some complain it can be hard to find anyone who speaks perfect English.

But when Doral's mayor tried to make Spanish the official second language on Wednesday, he was rebuffed by every council member and numerous constituents. And it wasn't from the small group of non-Hispanic residents who live here. It was largely from immigrants themselves.

"Our parents and some of us that are up here came from Latin America and other countries knowing that the United States has English as the language," Councilwoman Ana Maria Rodriguez said. "We came here knowing we had to adapt to the language of this country."


Read more: http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20130214/APA/1302140826

[HockeyMom]

1. Had to go to the bathroom really BAD in a store

They had just opened and few employees were around. I stopped one woman and asked her in English. She did not understand me and pointed to the store manager WAY at the front of the store. Instinctively out DIRE NEED, I bluted out from my HS Spanish of 40 years ago, "Donde esta el BANIO?" She got all excited saying, "Si, Si, SI!" She took me by the hand, and rushed me to the Ladies Room! Never so happy in my life for taking Spanish in school.

I thanked her with a Gracias, and she gave me a thumbs up.

[darkangel218]

2. lol thats funny. nt

[Warpy]

3. I learned mine by osmosis on Boston subways

When I moved to NM, I found I understood more Spanish than some of the people here with Spanish surnames.

My 6 years of French are still coming in handy, but not the way I thought they would.

NM is a bilingual state and I live in a heavily Hispanic neighborhood and I wouldn't have it any other way.

[rachel1]

4. Any immigrant would be expected to know their adopted country's dominant or de facto language

wherever they come from.

[Arcanetrance]

5. Working in kitchens it becomes a necessity to learn at least Spanish that's how I learned it.

To be honest everyone should be more open to being bilingual there are many countries on earth and not all speak the same language. You never know where you might be and find use for another language.