Ugly Americans

Collarspace Discussion Forums

Home Login Search

Ugly Americans

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Ugly Americans

Page: [1] 2 next > >>

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Ugly Americans - 8/20/2007 10:28:14 AM

fieryangel21

Posts: 40
Joined: 8/17/2007
Status: offline

I used to work for the Intensive English Program at my University. The program is a special school designed for teaching foreigners English language and culture to prepare them for higher education and careers in the United States. Today is the first day of classes here, and I smiled to see a group of new IEP students, mostly Japanese and Saudi women, being given a tour of the campus by the director of the program. A few of the Japanese women at the very back were having a friendly discussion amongst themselves in their own language.

My memories of that enjoyable job, however, were interrupted by a blonde freshman bimbo behind me loudly declaring, "If you're going to come to our country, you need to speak our language." If I wasn't such a generally polite person, I might've turned right around and socked her.

The poor young women she was insulting weren't speaking to her. Does she believe that a group of foreigners no longer has the right to converse with one other in their native tongue once they set foot on our soil?

People come to American universities from other countries for multiple reasons. They may intend to further their education or get a job here. They may have a spouse that is doing so and wish to learn English to better adapt to our society while they are here. Or they may simply be here for a semester studying abroad in order to expand their cultural horizons and add an impressive little blurb on their resumes. But they are certainly not here to conform with snotty little rich girls. Uncomfortable to hear people speaking a language you don't understand? Deal with it. If you want facism, you're probably the one that should leave.

Now, I understand that to function in our society you need to speak English. You shouldn't walk into an American grocery store and expect a German translator to appear and cater to your every need. But people who say things like "speak English or get out" don't really mean that. They just want all the people with funny accents and different colored skin to leave so they don't have to feel the discomfort of sharing a town with people who are different. She may have been too dense to realize that these students are here to learn English, but I think it's more likely that she would just as soon begrudge them the right to do so.

Also, the same people who expect foriegn visitors to speak English perfectly, expect to be able to go to France or Mexico to party and have everyone speak to them in English. The native speakers are only there to entertain them. And many tourist attractions and universities in other countries have bilingual employees, who are able to help native English-speakers who don't speak the language. Yet we don't believe in offering our own foreign guests similar patience and courtesy.

I can't abide Americans who believe that we own the world and are superior to everyone else. They are just the same as us. The only difference is that more of them are willing to accept that.

It's a pity that someone so physically attractive can be so ugly inside.

End rant. Constructive thoughts?

_____________________________

Angel

I always find myself wondering when signing on to the public computers on campus, "Do you really care about my personal settings, or are you just programmed to say that?"