Re: American owned!
Holy Carp Batman....wow<br /><br />I grew up in South America, moving to Peru when I was 1-2 years old. I spoke better spanish than english when we moved back to the States in 1964.<br />I had to repeat the first grade, I didnt know two plus two was four, I did know dos e' dos son' quatro. <br />I was a toe-head, blond hair that looked white.<br />I remember the strange looks I got when we returned to the States speaking spanish.<br />I remember telling my mother, "We can speak english now were in America". <br />This country was built on the diversity of the immigrants that populated it in the 1800's. Study your early American History.<br /><br />I have a friend, "Chan", who is from India. He is married to a woman from Venezuela. When Chan came to the States from India he had no money, and stayed with some distant relatives in New Jersey. He worked various jobs, sometimes 2 jobs at the same time, working 16 hour days or longer.<br />He migrated to Florida.<br />He developed a business savy that enabled him to eventually open his own store. We called it "Chanron". He worked hard long days, he invested in real estate and other stores. <br />Chan still works 6 days a week, 12-16 hour days.<br />He plays golf on the weekends. He talks like he grew up here, even calls himself a redneck. He owns a nice home, drives a new camaro, wife drives a new mini-van. <br />Chan is testimony that hard work does pay off.<br />Oh, he is also a naturalized citizen.
<br /><br />Do I like every person I meet, no.....<br />Am I opened minded and realize there are other cultures in the world, yes......<br /><br />Look at the stigma placed on anyone of middle-eastern decent now adays. Imagine you were of japanese ancestory right after Pearl Harbor, the forced imprisonment.<br /><br />Like Snapperbait says, South Florida is mostly spanish heritage now. Its tough living in South Florida and being non-spanish speaking. Wisconsin has German and Polish enclaves that are from the 1800's. Other parts of the country can trace their ancestory and culture to the immigrants that settled there after the voyage across the seas.<br /><br />We live in a diverse world connected by this thing called the Internet, you know, the one Al Gore invented.
<br /><br />Ryan, for all you know those dudes may have been saying they wished you talked spanish or something. What stopped you from asking them what were they talking about? "Hey dudes, I heard my name, can I help you with something"?<br />Every encounter with a non-english speaking person as a primary language has to be a hostile encounter. <br /><br />Its a brave new world folks, I feel its better to develop an open mind about cultures other than the one you are familier with, then form the individual prejudices about individuals you encounter. <br /><br />To do otherwise, and form blanket prejudices of other peoples, cultures, religons, is racism.
