I don't want to drift too much on this thread but I have to say that regardless of whether or not Spanish should be our second language, I am seriously considering taking a few classes. We don't have any spanish speaking techs, but we sure do have alot of spanish speaking customers.
Like it or not, this is the future. It WILL be our second language, and the sooner we accept it and learn how to adapt, the better off we will be.
Yeah, the illegals should at least try and learn the language if they're gonna move in, but ya can't force em. The younger ones usually pick it up eventually anyway.
I won't argue with you that it is the future and that everyone should, perhaps, have a few classes. Heck, when I flew into Montreal, I knew the largest majority of people that I communicated with would speak French. Guess what, though? I learned to speak French. I thought it was a courtesy. When I go into their country, they don't have an obligation to change things around just to communicate with me. Canada probably isn't a good example, though, since a lot of individuals up there speak English and it is, primarily, an English speaking nation.
But I think the problem is worse in the south than in other areas. See, in the south, we are more willing to give free hand-downs and generally just stand idle while they take over our land, homes, and lifestyle. I'm rather tight-lipped about my own life situations, but it irked me to be having a really bad night one afternoon (I have multiple-sclerosis that comes and goes and, thankfully, is on the mild side) and was told that a Mexican with a cold took a priority over me (when I was there first and had insurance).
I may sound prejudice. Let me just put it this way, though.... I can get along with just about anybody -- I'm a white man and the largest majority of my friends are white and black. But all of my friends had one thing in common: We respected our nation, we spoke English, and we all worked hard. Oh, and none of us had a "record-breaking" nine-children in just a few years. In other words, we wouldn't have taken advantage of some free hand me downs by a nation just because we could.
I think I'll shut-up before making anybody mad, getting booted, or having this post moved into the Pit (because I really do enjoy visiting this board), but I guess the nation is in trouble in several ways (with this being one of the larger problems, in my opinion).
As for showing up on the job drinking... Just because you are drinking, it doesn't make you drunk but I think I agree with the majority of people that have posted on this subject by saying that you shouldn't show up to any job drunk or with the scent of alcohol on you. If somebody shows up to my property like that to perform a job, they'll be asked to leave. It's a liability not only to me and that individual, but to the Dad, Mom, college student, or innocent child that they may kill by driving drunk.