Hotel owner tells Hispanic workers to change names

Former Marine Larry Whitten arrived in Taos, N.M, in July to resurrect a failing hotel.

[yardman]

I would ship his Texass ass back to Texass and condem his hotels for having a cockroach in it(him)

[gruntled]

His business. His rules. Don't like his policies, don't work for him/don't patronize his business.
Pretty simple.

[Born New Mexican]

How about all the Asias at nail salons? Indians at 7 Eleven? They speak in their language and then look at you and laugh. It is so disrespectful to be speaking in another language knowing those around do not understand. Same goes for Spanish. I am full Spanish and granted, we do speak in Spanish when we don't want someone to know what we are saying. It is all a matter of respect for each other. But the nail salons are the worst.

[Cynic]

Watching an interview on CNN with this guy now; regardless of the situation, the interview is beyond unfair and unjournalistic. The angry latina's newscaster is NOT helping CNN's credibility.

Ask valid questions, get valid answers. Spout angry WHARRGARRBL, get nothing.

[IBMMuseum]

If the hotel had any Native American employees were they required to Anglicize their names as well? I'm shocked that this happened in the state I call home. Instead of trying the change the New Mexico culture of the hotel, Mr. Whitten would have been better off selecting a place in Iowa.

[Cheeky]

Born New Mexican said it best. It is rude. One day they are going to come by a "Gringa" that comes from a very spanish family, like me. I am the white girl of the family, but I do understand spanish, can't speak it tho! I've surprised people by telling them to stop talking about me. I figure this is America, speak English. I do not want to Press 1.

[Girl Too Smart for That]

gruntled wrote:

His business. His rules. Don't like his policies, don't work for him/don't patronize his business.
Pretty simple.

This idiot has to follow the law, no matter what, his business or not. What he has done is illegal, as Spanish, or any other language, for that matter, can be spoken anywhere, any time, in the U.S. If he doesn't like it, the he's the one in the wrong business, and in the wrong part of the country. He also cannot legally make people change their given names, first or last. This guy is a pompous, ignorant jackass who should face criminal charges for what he's done. He's taking advantage of folks that may or may not be here legally, so they're afraid to really legally challenge him. Shame on him!

[pat]

Born New Mexican, this man is beneath the lowest life form. Yes, it is disrespectful to speak another language in front of others.
But this is disrespectful to the culture and people of New Mexico.
To gruntled, it is pretty simple you can go work for him and patronize his business.

[jmack]

I think everybody should be able to speak his or her cultural language. BUT I like to be able to understand what people are saying when I go to a business. IMHO everybody should be taught English and it should be mandatory during working hours. I speak Spanish and out of respect for my coworkers I refuse to speak it while at work.

[arebee]

What egos many of you have. Just because someone is speaking another language, doesn' mean they are talking about you. Me! Me! Me! that's all everybody thinks about anymore. It's just uncool to ask someone to change their name because someone can't pronounce it. We Americans have gotten so lazy.

[Bluntly Spoken]

Born New Mexican wrote:

How about all the Asias at nail salons? Indians at 7 Eleven? They speak in their language and then look at you and laugh. It is so disrespectful to be speaking in another language knowing those around do not understand. Same goes for Spanish. I am full Spanish and granted, we do speak in Spanish when we don't want someone to know what we are saying. It is all a matter of respect for each other. But the nail salons are the worst.

Here is where you will learn someday that just because your speaking Spanish does not mean that the people around you regardless of color and race don't know what your saying.

Just because one is White, Asian, Indian, Black or whatever does not mean they don't know other languages.

I don't care what people speak in their homes but when dealing with the public speak English, that is the language of the USA.

All other languages are native tongues which should not be used to conduct business UNLESS it is with the same language group.

My opinion only, others might and will not agree with me as is your right but no need to post nasty replies.

[Cynic]

arebee wrote:

What egos many of you have. Just because someone is speaking another language, doesn' mean they are talking about you. Me! Me! Me! that's all everybody thinks about anymore. It's just uncool to ask someone to change their name because someone can't pronounce it. We Americans have gotten so lazy.

So if someone is talking about you in another language, which you cannot speak but can understand, you should just put up with it?

[Smith]

I agree, speak English or no job!

[Ghostman]

Bluntly Spoken, Englishis not the language of the usa you dumb piece of @#$%. English is from england not American. The Native Americans were here 1st. Learn respect and learn the real American language.

[frazled]

I am certainly NOT against any culture just people that bred and practice acts of ignorance. Thanks Witten You just lost a potential customer!

[WorkingStiff]

Agree Arebee. This is nothing more than a dumma55 coming here and trying to change things around him. I do believe that everyone should speak English if they live here but there is no law saying you cannot speak Spanish.

I got news for all you ignorant caucasians: When we talk, we are not always talking about you. The world doesn't revolve around you and your not the center of the universe. He11, we couldn't care less if you are standing there or not.

Is his name prounouned "WhYten or is it "wit ten" as in dimwit? Was he trying to whiten up the hotel? I think it is disrespectful to pronounce a name incorrectly. It also shows your ignorance, contempt and laziness which proves this idiot seems to be full of disrespect for other cultures.

And btw, for some of you white Americans. There is no "R" in wash. And wire is not pronounced with an "a" as in war.

[WorkingStiff]

Cynic wrote:

<quoted text>
So if someone is talking about you in another language, which you cannot speak but can understand, you should just put up with it?

How do you know someone is talking about you if you dont know the language. You just think they are??

[Silk_the_Absent1]

Bluntly Spoken wrote:

I don't care what people speak in their homes but when dealing with the public speak English, that is the language of the USA.

I agree that it is in people's best interest to speak English; but as to your commenting that it is the "language of the USA," with all due respect, I'll point out that the USA has no national language.

[CornDaddy]

The best wat to address this butthead is to allow him to continue and all the workers quit. It'll only take a week or so until he caves in or sells. meanwhile its hard on the current employees, but it will eliminate his ignorant style!

[Cynic]

Ghostman wrote:

Bluntly Spoken, Englishis not the language of the usa you dumb piece of @#$%. English is from england not American. The Native Americans were here 1st. Learn respect and learn the real American language.

Last I checked, the pueblos/navajos/apaches, et al, are not interested in teaching kids outside their communities their language.

That's the issue: we all learn english in school. The vast majority speaks it; don't be dense, we're not having a historical argument. You can make a complaint like that just as soon as you are willing to teach me your language.