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Walmart Employee Tells A Customer To Speak English “Because We’re In Texas”
With mid-term elections coming up in the USA, fake news and scare stories designed to influence voters abound. Immigration is always a hot topic, and the mere suggestion that someone might be in America to ‘take advantage’ is enough to get people of a certain political persuasion foaming at the mouth. This viral video of a Walmart employee telling a man of El Salvadorian descent that he should be speaking English has certainly gotten people talking, and it lays bare the deep divisions and misunderstandings about immigration in a country built on just that.
The video itself is actually pretty innocuous. Sure, the Walmart employee was at work, and is there to deliver customer service not give her personal opinions on what language people ‘should’ be speaking. However it was far from a racist tirade of hate, and shouldn’t be treated as such. The man, Joel Aparicio, has apparently lived in Houston for 13 years, while the employee, known only as Cecilia, spoke Spanish herself and “looked Hispanic” according to Mr. Aparicio. Perhaps Cecilia had worked hard to learn English herself, and feels that others should make the effort too? But then again, the incident took place in the City of Pasadena. With an Hispanic population of over 60%, maybe Mr. Aparicio felt like speaking his native Spanish was a perfectly normal thing to do?
The reactions to the video were eye-opening. People claiming to be relatives of Cecilia threatened Mr. Aparicio directly after it was released, while others defended his right to speak whatever language he chooses, citing the lack of an ‘official’ language in the USA. And as always there were those who, unable to see the irony in their own badly written English, demand that he should learn the language or ‘get out.’
Perhaps, after the election and this particularly divisive government, topics like immigration will be discussed in a more rational way. Talk of ‘invasion’ and witch hunts against ‘illegals’ aren’t helpful, but then neither is shouting ‘racist’ at every person that may not be as accepting of diversity as you.
For now, it is what it is, and people will have their say. Scroll down below to check out the video and reactions for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!
RELATED:
Joel Aparicio spoke Spanish to an employee at a Walmart store, and while it was obvious she could speak the language herself, she refused to do so
Watch the full video below
https://youtu.be/hCW20w9Ct1w
The Walmart Supercenter is in Pasadena, Texas, where more than 60 per cent of the population is Hispanic
Many commentators believed she should have spoken in Spanish
But there were some that agreed with the employee:
What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
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What do you think ?
diane a 6 years ago
Didnt Texas previously belong to Mexico? - that would make Spanish more of an indigenous language than English.
MammaG 6 years ago
Exactly. English is NOT the official language because we recognize the freedom to speak your own language.
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Janine B. 6 years ago
I honestly think it's a lot worse that in the US any person is allowed to make a video of an unknown person and post it on the internet for some silly reason. This is just so wrong. The lady might not have been the friendliest. But we don't see what has happened before or after either. So stop being so childish to tape each and every single fart just because you're pissed and post it on the internet. I'm really getting sick of that stuff.
Hendra Lim 6 years ago
yeah, i also think that it's wrong for someone to "INTENTIONALLY" make video of bugging old lady while she's working just to make her looks like internet "criminal" while she's just answering his bugging question
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Magdalina777 6 years ago
This article is just another internet witch hunt ready to start. I'm siding with no one on this but I hope this lady does NOT lose her job based on what some random internet white-armored knights had to say over a few pictures/vid of people whose stories they don't know. I don't know why she acted that way, I wish we could get to know her side of things. I also don't know (it doesn't seem clear from the article, or perhaps I missed it?) if the man speaks English after living 13 years in USA and if not, why is that. I wish we knew that as well. I also really wish we'd stop with these internet witch hunts.
diane a 6 years ago
Didnt Texas previously belong to Mexico? - that would make Spanish more of an indigenous language than English.
MammaG 6 years ago
Exactly. English is NOT the official language because we recognize the freedom to speak your own language.
Load More Replies... Janine B. 6 years ago
I honestly think it's a lot worse that in the US any person is allowed to make a video of an unknown person and post it on the internet for some silly reason. This is just so wrong. The lady might not have been the friendliest. But we don't see what has happened before or after either. So stop being so childish to tape each and every single fart just because you're pissed and post it on the internet. I'm really getting sick of that stuff.
Hendra Lim 6 years ago
yeah, i also think that it's wrong for someone to "INTENTIONALLY" make video of bugging old lady while she's working just to make her looks like internet "criminal" while she's just answering his bugging question
Load More Replies... Magdalina777 6 years ago
This article is just another internet witch hunt ready to start. I'm siding with no one on this but I hope this lady does NOT lose her job based on what some random internet white-armored knights had to say over a few pictures/vid of people whose stories they don't know. I don't know why she acted that way, I wish we could get to know her side of things. I also don't know (it doesn't seem clear from the article, or perhaps I missed it?) if the man speaks English after living 13 years in USA and if not, why is that. I wish we knew that as well. I also really wish we'd stop with these internet witch hunts.
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