Celebrated Latino hire not bilingual

Boston Herald ^ | March 22, 2012 | Dave Wedge

[ConservativeStatement]

The Boston Fire Department’s new second in command was hailed as the city’s first Latino chief when he was hired last year, but the veteran firefighter doesn’t speak Spanish, the Herald has learned.

[j_tull]

All Spanish speakers are Latino?

What aren't all Latinos required to speak Latin?

[traditional1]

"Kind of like an African-American whose ancestors have lived in North America since two hundred years ago"

Yeah; and the entire family tree has been on welfare ever since.

[BfloGuy]

it was lumped together as Latin America and the folks that live there are also called Latinos

By rights, Quebec should be part of Latin America, too. Though, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't relish being called Latinos.

[MayflowerMadam]

While in H.R., I was sitting on an interview panel for a position open in our department. A stunning Latina girl with an obvious Spanish name was an applicant. Our ever-so-PC Director, said, “I assume you speak Spanish.” At that point, the applicant softly and strongly said, “No; I do not. I am an American.” My hero. (We became close friends.)

[JimRed]

The right last name, like the right skin color, trumps other considerations.