caitlyn
Posts: 3473
Joined: 12/22/2004 Status: offline
|
Every group that has come here to America, has had a period where they tried to maintain the language and customs of their native land. Large numbers of people from Europe were brought over to fight in the American Civil War. My own family was brought over from Ireland to fight in Cobb's Georgia Legion. After the war, most of these groups settled in various places, speaking their native language, and with their own native customs. All over the United States, you could find areas where if you didn't speak German, you were out of luck ... or Italian ... or Dutch. If you were in a large city in the North East, you had basically no chance to be a policeman or fireman, if you weren't Irish. Over time, and with the passing of several generations, these groups brought themselves under the umbrella of "American", to the point that their patriotism to their native land became flying an Irish flag on St. Pat's. The same thing will happen with hispanic people. I have lots of young hispanic friends, born here in America. The vast majority of them speak English, far better than Spanish.
|