English is the Official Language in Farmers Branch, TX

  Borders, language, culture. The three most important ideas for a country to survive. Last time i checked English was the official language of the United States, not Spanish.  

Well, Eddy...you know "Them damn Messicans likes their Cerveza"

"It's St. Patrick's Day...I'm drunk..so I'm Irish today" I PERSONALLY HATE THIS ONE

"he "jewed" his price down"

"antoher Jap taking pictures at Disneyland"

You are not alone. Eddy   I'm sure that Donna meant no harm.  It's just an education process, amigo.  You were correct to point that out.

Its ok brian crap like this doesnt phase me.................

Shane nobody is saying that spanish is the official lanuage of this country.  

I think it's the implication that Mexicans work for beer that is the stereotype Eddy and so many others (including me) dislike.  I do understand it, I'm Irish-American and hate the same implications.  Whenever I hear the Irish drunkard slur I remind them about Presidents Kennedy and Reagan being Irish.

The upward mobility of Latinos in America is probably most evident here in California.  We are educated about these stereotypes daily here so we'd be shocked if a Californian said that.

Hey Speedy Gonzalez.... ;o)  

Okay.... my 2 cents after a long day of negotiating at lunch with a good drink.  hhhhmmm... Brother Brian said it best. I also believe in the borders, illegals....etc etc. But..yes, throwing a family out. We can work around it.

Now...with that said though. Shane makes a point. I will be honest and say that it irks me when I make a call and the answering machine says..."for Spanish, press 1"  "for English, press 2"  Eddy.... I am with you in many ways. And I know the south along the borders, it's heavily populated with Spanish speaking people. But.... to have me push 2 for English?  Again....  I love everyone...well, most everyone. ;o)  But what I am saying is that I give people 2nd chances and such. And I speed... lol  But an illegal is just that. Go through the process.

Eddy...now, you are definately correct in saying that they will do just about anything for a small price or fee. And it's ashame, because they work extremely hard and good...but for pennies? But then again....taxes aren't paid...but on both sides.

The one thing that I want to mention is that these illegals actually hurt the American's pocket in many ways. I know I have gotten off the subject. But this is a big issue and I am semi glad that the US is finally steooing up to try and slow this growth down.

Anyhow....  ... just my 15 cents after my fingers are falling off.

Donna, thanks for your post I find these issues interesting.

Jeff, and Shane,

The United States has no official language. Immigration was originally restricted years a go for reasons rooted in racism.

This country is of many people from many cultures and languages. Spanish was the original European language spoken in that state of Texas. It was a Spanish territory for over 100 years. Most of the Counties in Texas have Spanish names. Over a quarter of the population speaks Spanish. It is therefore very odd that a city would enact a rule to have one official language.

Caleb:

Did you know that Texans is shortened slang from the moniker "Texicans"?

SOURCE:  "Texas" written by none other than the late UT English Literature Professor and great American novelist, James Michener. 

I took a course in college called "History of Irish in America".  I can guarantee you that the Irish immigrants were not drawn well in the political cartoons in the late 1800s.  A good link to this example.

Note the irishman depicted as a fighting, drunken, slothful, fat person. I guess I should have an issue with the Notre Dame mascot but I'm just not that PC.

Racism existed a long time ago, it will exist a long time from now. It's xenophobia that perpetuates hurtful stereotypes.

Caleb.... just curious, you talk about Texas. It's not the point of where you speak Spanish, it's the fact that most American's speak English. If I am making a phone call but they speak in Spanish first and then English.... I am not trying to sound rude or ignorant here, but shouldn't that bother me?  Shouldn't everyone learn English first, since it is the language that is used?

The real issue is people taking it to heart because of who they are and that they can relate to this. And this could be another topic..... sorry if I am not making sense... I am tired.

Donna... I will say one thing, that beer comment might not have been the right words.

Anyhow... I am just going to leave it at that.....  going to rest.....thanks

WOW!  Everyone take a deep breath and listen too what we're typing....  Does a driver's license make me a legal resident?  Does everyone, regardless of complexion, surname, or accent, have to show proof of citizenship?  Does working for a cold beer make me an "illegal"?   

We really need to calm down and think about what we're shouting.  We have a problem, but all of us should be cautious and try to understand the repercussions of our comments and attitudes.

Well, I have to say that I find it a bit embarrassing to be unilingual when in so many First World countries the populace is generally at least bilingual.  Don't really see being less educated than those living in other countries as something to be particularly proud of.  Fortunately, my children had the opportunity in the schools they attended (private) to learn other languages, and my daughter is studying yet others on her own time, so I'm not passing that failing on to the next generation. 

Illegal immigration, I do have a problem with, because it is, after all, illegal - these people deliberately broke the law (except the ones who were brought here by their parents).  But they've been here so long that untangling them from the skeins of our life, and even more, their children who were born here, is not a simple black-and-white matter (hardly anything ever is) and needs to be dealt with with more thought and less emotion than is usually displayed in regards to the issue. 

Jeff, I've had the "Press 1 for English" experience - I live in Texas, and thus am more likely than most to do so.  But I've always heard English first, and Spanish second, except for those where you have to push a button for Spanish but don't have to for English (rare, but I've heard them).  Where are you hearing that? 

It should be offered much earlier.  My children both took languages in elementary school, and studies have shown that the younger you are the easier it is to learn more than one language and the more you retain. 

High school is WAY to late to start learning a second language.  But as long as we put a higher priority on "English is our official language" than on being educated enough to know more than one, that's the way it'll stay, I'm afraid.