But I don't speak Spanish.....
Posted on 11/17/2005 2:00:50 PM PST by dennisw
BAKERSFIELD - A local man is speaking out about an ad he placed for his gardening in the Californian, after he got some readers upset readers. He is simply saying, “It's not personal, it's just business.”
But some in the Hispanic community like Lou Gomez the President of the Hispanic Chamber of commerce are calling the ad racist.
“You know, it sounds very racist to me. It just opens up a can of worms,” Gomez said.
The two-inch ad in question was published at the bottom of Wednesday's home and garden section, and reads: ’having problems communicating with your current gardener?--Talk to us, we're English speaking.
KGET-TV attempted to talk to the business posted on the ad, and a man named John answered.
John declined to give his last name and go on camera, but said over the phone that the ad speaks for itself, that he's simply trying to compete.
Some readers agree while others disagree. Angie White says she’s had communication problems in the past.
“Well, in the same way that you're able to say you cater, that you advertise that you do speak Spanish, why can't you advertise to English speaking customers as well,” White said.
But Alicia Gonzalez is upset over the ad.
“It doesn't directly indicate a race, but I think it's pretty clear what they are trying to insinuate, so I just think that it's insensitive,” Gonzalez said.
Though some say communication problems are a real issue, others say pointing the finger at minorities isn't fair
The two-inch ad in question was published at the bottom of Wednesday's home and garden section, and reads: ’having problems communicating with your current gardener?--Talk to us, we're English speaking.
Those damn Japanese gardeners!;)
Hm.....
This Hispanic guy doesn't like that gardeners in California are all thought to be Mexican Immigrants.
But you know, I'll bet when the topic of enforcing immigration law comes up this Hispanic group will be too happy to tell us that "Without immigrants there won't be anyone to do your gardening." (Thereby reinforcing the stereotype he's now bitching about.)
I live in Massachusetts and saw the following sign in the window of a local corner store:
NO Shirt
NO Shoes
NO English
NO SERVICE!
What does language have to do with "race"? The ad promotes a strong competitive advantage. It is nice to have a garderner who understands "water the petunias" doesn't mean "cut out the petunias".
Well, geez... why don't these insensitive people just learn to speak another language or two?
It'd be good to know another way to ask "How may I kiss your butt today?"
I think it is insensitive that so many Mexicans wont learn my language.
Language has nothing to do with race.
Language preference has nothing to do with race.
Hispanic is not a race, it is an ethnicity like Italian, Irish, or Greek.
Mexican is not a race, it is a nationality like American, Candadian, or German.
Those people who want to advance the criminal invader cause by pretending this is about race are absolute morons.
Besides that, some people just need to get over themselves.
"Insensitive" is the new word. It means bwahaha...you don't love me!! Guess what......I don't have to!!
I feel just like this guy every time I go to a fast food place............now I can speak spanish........not well, but enough to communicate if I was a guest or tourist in thier country............but most of the time I feel like I want to strangle the person at the counter because I cant understand what the *%$^ they are saying in their broken english/spanglish.
Marketing Genius!!! Free publicity, and his target audience isn't Hispanic anyways...the Latinos get pissed, b!tch to the press, he gets air-time.....sheer genius!
No, it isn't. It can't be a nationality, as there are dozens of separate nationalities it applies to.
In practice it really means those of brownish, vaguely Latin American race. The attempt to claim that it is referring to language is merely a transparent attempt to mislead.
And, of course, the definitions result in such odd facts as a red-haired, freckled Galician from northern Spain being "Hispanic," but a brownish Brazilian not qualifying.
But I don't speak Spanish.....
"Bad for glass."
What?
"Salt water, bad for glass."
Japanese gardner in the movie China Town.
"English Speaking" isn't a race. If the ad had read "Call us, we're not mexican," then they would have more of a case.
Yes, the Japanese gardeners are going to file a class action lawsuit!
Yes, Communication is important.
Si, I mean oui, I mean si.
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