CameronPoe
Member
+2,925|6813
I remember a thread that went around recently where Americans lamented, and some fumed at, the fact that a Spanish-language advertisement aired during one of the Superbowl advertisement breaks.

Ireland, a small nation, has absorbed a very large number of our European brethren from Poland since their accession to the EU (especially in percentage terms of our total population). I was flicking between international soccer matches last night (European Championship qualifiers were being played) and I came across something I had hitherto never seen in Ireland - an advertisement break during the Belgium-Poland match composed almost entirely of adverts aimed at Polish people in the Polish language made by Irish companies aired on the Irish sports cable channel Setanta. The funny thing was is that it didn't bother me one bit. 

So I ask: Why did it bother those in the US that adverts aired there in Spanish? I don't really get it.
..teddy..jimmy
Member
+1,393|6907

CameronPoe wrote:

I was flicking between international soccer matches.
We also agreed that it wasnt soccer, it was football
Parker
isteal
+1,452|6652|The Gem Saloon
cam, do people in europe generally like the idea of the EU?
im not sure on that answer and before i can give my answer to the question i need to know that.
Stingray24
Proud member of the vast right-wing conspiracy
+1,060|6703|The Land of Scott Walker
English is the national language in the US so no, commercials should not be in Spanish.  If someone has immigrated here they should learn the language and use it in public.  It's a matter of respect and it's what all immigrants have done throughout the history of the US.  Some Spanish-speaking immigrants have not done their part to learn to communicate in the national language, so now our political correctness has kicked in and we have bi-lingual everything.  If someone is trying to learn and just hasn't gotten far enough to communicate effectively, I give them credit for trying.  But if they want me to pander to them because they want to move their country here, sorry.  Everyone should hold onto their culture, that's what makes America beautiful.  Just please use the national language.  It's only proper.

If I moved to Germany, I wouldn't expect them to advertise to me in English simply because I speak English.  I would have respect for their national language and learn it, rather than forcing the majority to
IRONCHEF
Member
+385|6749|Northern California

Stingray24 wrote:

English is the national language in the US so no, commercials should not be in Spanish.  If someone has immigrated here they should learn the language and use it in public.  It's a matter of respect and it's what all immigrants have done throughout the history of the US.  Some Spanish-speaking immigrants have not done their part to learn to communicate in the national language, so now our political correctness has kicked in and we have bi-lingual everything.  If someone is trying to learn and just hasn't gotten far enough to communicate effectively, I give them credit for trying.  But if they want me to pander to them because they want to move their country here, sorry.  Everyone should hold onto their culture, that's what makes America beautiful.  Just please use the national language.  It's only proper.

If I moved to Germany, I wouldn't expect them to advertise to me in English simply because I speak English.  I would have respect for their national language and learn it, rather than forcing the majority to
English is NOT the national language of this country, it is the most spoken language of this country...and that's something that should become a declared national language.  And even though the republican congress had nothing but time on their hands to try and tackle all the petty things, they still didn't even get the official language bill passed I think they were working on.

It pisses Americans off because we have a different identity issue than the Irish (Poe), or something like that.  We have pride in different areas than you do and it is threatening to us because we have a serious issue with immigration so it's easy to become irate at spanish language ads.  And I'm one of those who is disgusted that I have to see spanish language advertisements all over the inner cities, ghettos, and other places where they congregate in mass.  It would be a real insult if there was a nationally declared language.  And yes, countries should declare national languages so as to give it a little more culture.

stingray, i just reread your post and something else popped out at me.  EVEN IF we declare an official language, there's no laws attached to it that bind advertisements.  So we can bitch and moan all we want, burger king will still have spanish only advertisements in their windows if they want.  Sucks, but whatever.  Maybe we should get over it?  lol

Last edited by IRONCHEF (2006-11-16 10:59:06)

Bertster7
Confused Pothead
+1,101|6839|SE London

Stingray24 wrote:

English is the national language in the US so no, commercials should not be in Spanish.  If someone has immigrated here they should learn the language and use it in public.  It's a matter of respect
Damn straight!

IRONCHEF wrote:

English is NOT the national language of this country
I'm pretty sure English is the national language of the US.

Last edited by Bertster7 (2006-11-16 10:58:35)

IRONCHEF
Member
+385|6749|Northern California

Bertster7 wrote:

IRONCHEF wrote:

English is NOT the national language of this country
I'm pretty sure English is the national language of the US.
Not.  It'll probably never get passed either..unless there's a war with mexico or something.

Here's an excerpt from the California Constitution (where English is declared the official language) that provides legal recourse for businesses not 'preserving' the official language.  What is not spelled out in this section is that corporate advertising is not enforceable..but menus are... So by going through the drive thru at my neighborhood burger king, they can have all the spanish language ads they want..but the drive thru menu better be in english or i can sue the state. 

SEE SECTION (d) below...

CALIFORNIA STATE CONSTITUTION,
ARTICLE III, SECTION 6
(Proposition 63, 1986)

Section 1:

      (a) Purpose.

            English is the common language of the people of the United States of America and the State of California. This section is intended to preserve, protect and strengthen the English language, and not to supersede any of the rights guaranteed to the people of this Constitution.

      (b) English as the Official Language of California.

            English is the official language of California.

      (c) Enforcement.

            The Legislature shall enforce this section by appropriate legislation. The Legislature and officials of the State of California shall take all steps necessary to insure that the role of English as the common language of the State of California is preserved and enhanced. The Legislature shall make no law which diminishes or ignores the role of English as the common language of the State of California.

      (d) Personal Right of Action and Jurisdiction of Courts.

            Any person who is a resident of or doing business in the State of California shall have standing to sue the State of California to enforce this action, and the Courts of record of the State of California shall have jurisdiction to hear cases brought to enforce this section. The Legislature may provide reasonable and appropriate limitations on the time and manner of suits brought under this section.

Last edited by IRONCHEF (2006-11-16 11:06:57)

ghettoperson
Member
+1,943|6907

Haw haw! You guys don't even have your own language! No wonder no one likes the US!


</sarc.>
IRONCHEF
Member
+385|6749|Northern California
chattap or we'll invade your country with an inadequate amount of soldiers and drag your country into civil war!!!
ghettoperson
Member
+1,943|6907

Bertster7
Confused Pothead
+1,101|6839|SE London

IRONCHEF wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

IRONCHEF wrote:

English is NOT the national language of this country
I'm pretty sure English is the national language of the US.
Not.  It'll probably never get passed either..unless there's a war with mexico or something.
How bizarre. In that case have adverts in whatever language you want. I didn't realise the US has no official language.
UON
Junglist Massive
+223|6911

Stingray24 wrote:

English is the national language in the US so no, commercials should not be in Spanish.  If someone has immigrated here they should learn the language and use it in public.  It's a matter of respect and it's what all immigrants have done throughout the history of the US.  Some Spanish-speaking immigrants have not done their part to learn to communicate in the national language, so now our political correctness has kicked in and we have bi-lingual everything.  If someone is trying to learn and just hasn't gotten far enough to communicate effectively, I give them credit for trying.  But if they want me to pander to them because they want to move their country here, sorry.  Everyone should hold onto their culture, that's what makes America beautiful.  Just please use the national language.  It's only proper.

If I moved to Germany, I wouldn't expect them to advertise to me in English simply because I speak English.  I would have respect for their national language and learn it, rather than forcing the majority to
You seemed to have tailed off a bit at the end there....

I hope all you people realize that by saying that companies can't advertise in whatever language sells the most product you are dabbling in ANTI-CAPITALISM... 

I'm moderately opposed to capitalism, however I don't give a fuck either way on this issue, since I hate adverts anyway.  But capitalism would place social values such as community cohesion and a common language at a lower priority than profit.

But the 'people should learn the language if they move somewhere' argument is tired and pointless... by moving to another country you are bound to get better in the most spoken languages over time.  Overseas exchange students, people on student visas, people who fall in love overseas, people who seek asylum through no fault of their own, victims of the economic starvation, people seeking a better life for their families... these innocent and vulnerable people are who you are attacking when you make that argument.

Last edited by UnOriginalNuttah (2006-11-16 11:34:20)

jonsimon
Member
+224|6753

CameronPoe wrote:

So I ask: Why did it bother those in the US that adverts aired there in Spanish? I don't really get it.
Because it was an advertisement by Chevy, whose slogan and marketing are 100% Redneck All American Patriotic Truck Driving Sonovabitch Better Than Everyone White Male Power, advertising in Spanish to Mexicans, the enemy of rednecks.

It was hilarious.

P.S. It was the World Series

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