New Hotel Owner Riles Hispanics; Owner of Whitten Inn in Taos, New...

New Hotel Owner Riles Hispanics; Owner of Whitten Inn in Taos, New Mexico Tells Workers to Change Names, Speak English Only September 20, 2009 - TAOS -- Larry Whitten said a woman recently walked into his hotel wanting to speak with him.

[Jim Trebowski]

Yet another example of why cons can't run businesses. If this is how he treats his employees, I can't imagine how he treats his guests.

[Yep]

Jim Trebowski wrote:

Yet another example of why cons can't run businesses. If this is how he treats his employees, I can't imagine how he treats his guests.

It's America!!! he should be able to run a business like he wants. I don't think what he should have asked them to change their names but, speaking in english I do think was reasonable. I speak spanish but have many friends that do not, and they get frustrated when they can't understand. Also right in Miami I was in the airport when the workers at starbucks stand spoke very poor english, so I started speaking like I could'nt speak english as well as them, guess what? They began to speak better and tried to help me speak better english. The other people in line were astonished because I told them they could speak better english and would prove it. And I did.

[Will from Texas]

I think they ought to shut down that piece of crap town down and deport every last resident white, Mexican, Indian, Tejano, illegal or not. I am sick and tired of hearing about some jackass trying to lecture Americans on "the way it was". Guess what America was founded by a bunch of english speaking white males and females. The "way it was" attitude needs to go back to Mexico central america or where ever. I don't believe in Spanish, Tejano, Mexican, Indian culture and I don't promote your culture or your language! In other words leave your tortillas and hot sauce and get the hell out of America. I'll send you some dollar bills and a couple of rifles to battle the drug lords but only when you finally appreciate what it means to live like a true American. And another thing, I have really noticed a lot of these jackass's (esp. latino youths) who have this wanna be Jesus mentality where they say things like, "...he's a racist but he's a racist out of ignorance." How prententious, arrogant! As a matter of fact I am thinking about becomming a an illegal immigrant head hunter especially for the criminals who come here and kill Americans.

[Simon]

so THATS what John Bolton is doing these days!

[MAC]

HE CAN RUN HIS BUISNESS THE WAY HE WANTS TO! STICK TO YOUR GUNS SEMPER FI

[david halladay]

I am sorry. I thought we lived in America, an English speaking nation. I have been refused a few jobs due to the fact that I cannot and have no wis to learn Spanish. The name changes are noit realistic, unless the names are impossible to say, and in some cases that may be true. I am sick and tired of having to comply with every Spanish group that thinks they have a right to force us to change our language. I am not a racist. I ama white male that lives with a black hispanic. Obviuoly not a raqcist. He knows no Sapnish and he gets greif for not honoring his heritege. Crap mine is a mix of Europe. So what I should know German, Spanish, French, Greek, and evcen Egypitan? My ancestors moved here and learned the culture and the language. Why is that so hard for the new ones to do?

[david halladay]

sorry about my spelling, I am tired , after a long day

[domshaw]

Right on, Larry!!!!

[Jim Trebowski]

Will from Texas wrote:

I think they ought to shut down that piece of crap town down and deport every last resident white, Mexican, Indian, Tejano, illegal or not. I am sick and tired of hearing about some jackass trying to lecture Americans on "the way it was". Guess what America was founded by a bunch of english speaking white males and females. The "way it was" attitude needs to go back to Mexico central america or where ever. I don't believe in Spanish, Tejano, Mexican, Indian culture and I don't promote your culture or your language! In other words leave your tortillas and hot sauce and get the hell out of America. I'll send you some dollar bills and a couple of rifles to battle the drug lords but only when you finally appreciate what it means to live like a true American. And another thing, I have really noticed a lot of these jackass's (esp. latino youths) who have this wanna be Jesus mentality where they say things like, "...he's a racist but he's a racist out of ignorance." How prententious, arrogant! As a matter of fact I am thinking about becomming a an illegal immigrant head hunter especially for the criminals who come here and kill Americans.

I feel sorry for you. I'm not sure whether it's ignorance or a lack of intelligence that formsd your thinking, but I know you can't help it. Have you ever thought about going to school? They have classes for "special" people like you, and it might help you learn what it means to be an American. You see, here in America, for instance, we no longer force people to change their names. We have an unfortunate history of that happening to Italians, the Irish, Jewish people, etc...but this is 2009. Most of us are living in the present, and for the future.

[john]

So I had the pleasure of working in the fine town of taos nm for a period. Yeah on the whitten inn. I have to say though I don't really know the truest of the stories that I have heard ( both sides of the story seem slightly embelished to me) but I belive I experienced some rasicm directed towards me. im white wow realy mexicans can be racist to ill be looks like were all americans and all suffering the same demonds. so lets get over ours selves for a second and realize were only hurting ourselves. im white your hispanic but we are all americans.

I hold no grudges and I still love our america

lvoe ya

peanuts ha bye

[shirley]

Big march on November 14, 2009 at 11:30 across Wal Mart. march to the hotel and press @ 2pm. come and show your support

[shirley]

Justice wrote:

We speak English in the United States. If the racist Mexicans don't like it they can move to Mexico.

cant you get it through your greasy head that these employees are from America. Born and raised you twitt

[cgutie]

Will from Texas wrote:

I think they ought to shut down that piece of crap town down and deport every last resident white, Mexican, Indian, Tejano, illegal or not. I am sick and tired of hearing about some jackass trying to lecture Americans on "the way it was". Guess what America was founded by a bunch of english speaking white males and females. The "way it was" attitude needs to go back to Mexico central america or where ever. I don't believe in Spanish, Tejano, Mexican, Indian culture and I don't promote your culture or your language! In other words leave your tortillas and hot sauce and get the hell out of America. I'll send you some dollar bills and a couple of rifles to battle the drug lords but only when you finally appreciate what it means to live like a true American. And another thing, I have really noticed a lot of these jackass's (esp. latino youths) who have this wanna be Jesus mentality where they say things like, "...he's a racist but he's a racist out of ignorance." How prententious, arrogant! As a matter of fact I am thinking about becomming a an illegal immigrant head hunter especially for the criminals who come here and kill Americans.

Get your history straight..! America was founded by the Spaniards "WHO SPEAK SPANISH" What school did you go to? This is America and I am an American! I and shouldn't have to go to Mexico because im Latina. i was born here IN AMERICA! Also the employee's are AMERICAN AS WELL!!!!! I feel sorry for you cause you nothing better to do then to threaten us! We are not in 1865 anymore so take of that white sheet! Last i heard we were in 2009! Get over yourself...

[davy]

thanks for the input mr ignorant racist republicunt.....now pull your d*ck out of your sister and get back in your trailer....and stop speaking like an ignorant hick or you are gonna lose your job!

Will from Texas wrote:

I think they ought to shut down that piece of crap town down and deport every last resident white, Mexican, Indian, Tejano, illegal or not. I am sick and tired of hearing about some jackass trying to lecture Americans on "the way it was". Guess what America was founded by a bunch of english speaking white males and females. The "way it was" attitude needs to go back to Mexico central america or where ever. I don't believe in Spanish, Tejano, Mexican, Indian culture and I don't promote your culture or your language! In other words leave your tortillas and hot sauce and get the hell out of America. I'll send you some dollar bills and a couple of rifles to battle the drug lords but only when you finally appreciate what it means to live like a true American. And another thing, I have really noticed a lot of these jackass's (esp. latino youths) who have this wanna be Jesus mentality where they say things like, "...he's a racist but he's a racist out of ignorance." How prententious, arrogant! As a matter of fact I am thinking about becomming a an illegal immigrant head hunter especially for the criminals who come here and kill Americans.

[Taosena en Tejas]

As I see it the facts are as follows:
A man buys a hotel.
A man wants that hotle to follow his rules.
THAT man holds the purse strings...
'nuff said....

I've lived and worked in a variety of jobs and places for most of my adult life and the FACTS are "he who pays you, makes the rules" That may be unfortunate but blunt... there it is, nothing more or less. Who among us have NOT had to figure that out and live by those rules? The process by which this happened can be considered at best unfortunate and at worst, a cruel intentional slap at our pride & heritage. But in a business world it still comes back to "he who pays you, makes the rules".

[Summermoondancer]

First, I have heard a lot of screams that it is America learn English crap...these employees speak English, but many of them also speak Spanish and their Native American tounges..yeah that is right...didn´t you folks know that many New Mexicans are Native American yet have Spanish sounding names? Of course who would have guessed...
Not to mention that SPANISH is an OFFICIAL language in New Mexico.
The culture there is heavily both Native American and Spanish speaking. People do not go to New Mexico to be served by Tom or Joe.. They want to be tended to by Tomas or Jose and they want to see the real Native and Spanish cultures there. No one is offended that Tomas or Jose answers the phone and says this is Tomas how can I help you...
get real!

This man should have taken the time to learn a little bit about how things work in New Mexico first...especially in Taos. It would have been good for him to have a buisiness and cultural advisor. I think is principal error was he was opening a business in New Mexico and not South Carolina so what works there..might not work in New Mexico. Every area has different beliefs, cultures, and build on that. You can learn something from that.
I do not think Mr Whitten was a racist or is a racist. I think he was just a bull in a china closet and wasn´t well informed on how things work in that area...he isn´t in Virginia he is in Taos.
I hope he apologizes to his employees he has offended and offers a job back to those he fired to mend fences and that he takes the time to get to know his employees and asks them how he can improve things as well as asking them to make consessions to him..like speaking around him in English or having someone take the time to tell him what they are saying when he does not understand..respect goes a long way.
New Mexicans have been around a long time..many of their families longer than any white families have been in this country. I am from Texas...my family has been in this country and was here long before any white man knew that it existed...Mr Whitten, you can learn a lot from people different than you and they can assist you as well in making your buisiness more successful than you ever dreamed. It can be a wonderful experience or it can be the worst nightmare you ever dreamed..it is your choice.