what I heard in the grocery store (you wont believe THIS)

[JitterbugPerfume]

I was shopping with my friend, and her tea party niece. Actually we kind of got stuck with her.

There were some people in Meijers who appeared to be Mexican . They were not bothering any one or being disruptive , they were just talking to one another.

The tea party queen said "if they want to speak Spanish , they should go back to Spain!" After we got back to the car we tried to explain all that was wrong with her statement but she was oblivious.

That is the kind of ignorance we are up against.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

1. that's right!

We should speak the native language of the land. If we want to speak English here, we need to go back.........uh, wait, let me think about this awhile longer.

[Born_A_Truman]

2. Did you explain what a Brazillion was?

[JitterbugPerfume]

20. she wouldn't "get" that either

[doc03]

3. Oh, I believe it n/t

[COLGATE4]

4. You should have told her that if they want to speak Latin they

should go back to Latin America. Really screw up her mind.

[sarge43]

8. or Latvia n/t

[damntexdem]

13. But if they speak Latino, shouldn't they go back to Italy?

Well, at least Catholic traditionalists who want Latin Masses should go back to Italy -- millenia ago.

;-)

[David Zephyr]

5. K&R.

The rightwing radio and Fox have put boldness into these nuts to now speak out in public.

"This is the kind of ignorance we are up against." Yep. K&R.

[Speck Tater]

6. Right on! And send Catholic priests who speak Latin back to Latin America. nt

[Greyhound]

7. Yes, it is. K&R #5

[peacetalksforall]

9. Probably never considered the sourceof HER language - you mean the 'England language'?

[demosincebirth]

14. She probalby thinks we speak American.

[Lucy Goosey]

19. I was actually told recently that the correct name for English is the American language

I was calling a software's 1-800 number because the software that they had said worked in French was not working well in French. (And I work for the Canadian government - it has to work in French.) I mentioned English in passing, and he informed me that the correct name for it was the American language. I asked if he meant American English (as opposed to say, British English), and he said no, it's incorrect to call it English at all, English is from the UK and American is from the USA.

It was really weird - it left me speechless. It's one thing to believe that, but maybe you just shouldn't say it to a customer who you know is not American. Maybe I should have told him I needed to speak to someone who spoke Canadian?

At least it didn't seem to be official company policy - the software itself allowed me to choose American or British English.

[peacetalksforall]

38. That's funny, Canadians speak Canadian, Americans speak American, Mexicans speak Mexican.

[HopeHoops]

10. Is her native language "Texahegian"?

[KamaAina]

11. So of course Madame Teabagger was speaking perfect American

:eyes:

[AspenRose]

12. Why do monolingual people get so threatened when others around them are

speaking in another language?

It's not like they were talking about HER. :think:

And it's not like there's some law saying she can't go out and learn Spanish if she's so freaked out (though I understand education and learning about other cultures are the last thing these types want to do)

It's partially about ignorance, and partially about being paranoid.

Paranoia + ignorance = xenophobia

[gratuitous]

15. Just thought of something

After princess complained, I'd be inclined to say, "Maybe they're using Spanish because they didn't want to be overheard by some eavesdropping busybody."

[Kweli4Real]

23. Because ... Because ...

They might be talking bad about me ...!

[AspenRose]

30. Learning Spanish would come in handy if she really believed that

Because on the RARE occasion when I have heard folks talking about me, I respond back }(

[Kweli4Real]

39. I know ...

Don't you just love their expression when that happens?

My sister attended a Lutheran Schools from like the 3rd grade on. It was populated by a number of kids that spoke German in their homes. As a result she picked up a lot of the language and was pretty conversant. You should have seen the looks that she got when their parents would say something in German and my sister would respond in kind.

[bigmonkey]

31. Goethe said something like "He who knows only his own language knows none."

I think for monolingual people part of the upset is actually related to that. As long as they have only one language, then everything has a proper, singular name. Once you know two languages, even slightly, then that's blown to pieces - the relative nature of meaning is undeniable. It destroys their oversimplified idea of right and wrong, and that makes the world a much scarier place for them at that moment.

[quiller4]

16. Tell her that since she speaks English she should consider

returning to Jolly Olde England.

[spanone]

17. i'm in tennessee. that's pretty common thinking around these parts

my son's best friend growing up was from puerto rico....my redneck neighbor told him he should go back to his own country.....ignorance is hard to fight

[cascadiance]

18. Need to bring a native American person and have them speak their language to her...

... and then get them to ask her "Now maam, where should I go back to?", just to deliver the punch line of who's the stupid one.

[Quantess]

21. Wait, I thought Latinos spoke latin.

Right?
:D

[Qutzupalotl]

22. I can think of a couple of responses

but neither is particularly helpful. :)

You could say that they're speaking Spanish because they're talking about HER and don't want her to hear.

Or you could suggest she learn Spanish so she can listen in on their private conversation.

[apocalypsehow]

24. You're right. n/t.

[intaglio]

25. There's a naughty mind game you can play

Stop, listen for a couple of seconds and tell her, "It's OK, they're not saying anything really bad about you,"

[DearAbby]

41. Snarf

:spray::rofl:

[Taverner]

26. Willful and Prideful Ignorance

Not only is she closed minded, she is doing everything she can to KEEP her mind closed

[Bigmack]

36. Yup.. dumb and proud of it! nt

[nutsnberries]

27. unfortunately, i do believe it, and see how it can turn out.

About 25 years ago, when I was about 20... a guy in our group of friends used to say things like that. After not seeing him for many years, we friended each other on facebook. I see what he has turned into. He's a racist (among other things) and a tea bagger. I see his childrens' profiles and they are the same. Stupid friggin haters, all of them! And to think, when I was younger, I didn't think much about his little comments... but I still remember them.

[Blue Owl]

28. I wonder what she thinks of the Iraq and such

n/t

[RagAss]

29. I cover this topic in my latest book..."My Friend's Cretin Niece"...now in paperback.

[Zax2me]

32. I hear complaints about Spanish speaking constantly

Even from my friends, ones I consider progressive. Don't know why it grates on their nerves so. Many say it is a failure to assimilate that bothers them, but I argue that takes time - especially the learning a second language part.

[unkachuck]

33. "if they want to speak Spanish , they should go back to Spain!"

1) Always agree with tea party sympathizers and provide them with the attention they seek.

2) Follow up with a confusing question or two: 'If they don't have money for plane fare back to Spain, should we use our federal tax dollars?' or 'If they were Cuban NRA-member exiles from Miami, should they be given a warning first?' or 'Should an exception be made if they were pregnant lesbians seeking directions to an abortion clinic?'

....we must love and help our tea party friends....

[lumberjack_jeff]

34. Then what should we do with the people who speak english? n/t

[krabigirl]

35. Lol...idiocy at it's finest.

[mstinamotorcity]

37. You should have told her if

didn't want to talk sense she should go back to ignorantville where she came from.

[Marr]

40. How's her pronunciation?

Most of the people I've heard making the statement you mentioned did it while chewing up their own language.