http://marianyc.com/2010/01/13/when-good-men-do-nothing/ The world through the eyes of an "opinionated" New Yorker Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:51:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 http://marianyc.com/2010/01/13/when-good-men-do-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-606 Jae Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:06:58 +0000 http://marianyc.com/?p=832#comment-606 Good thoughts Maria. I teach high school in central Jersey, and was feeling pretty disgusted yesterday after overhearing a student conversation. There's a popular sandwich place near our community. A scene of folks ordering from their counter is not unlike Seinfeld's Soup Nazi bit, you'd better know exactly what you want, say it fast, and get out of the way. The men behind the counter speak with a variation of accents (I believe a few of them to be Guatemalan or Honduran, am not sure.) My student's story revolved around a 'speak English or get out of my country' concept, which is the part I found infuriating. What I tried to say, but could not in a eloquent fashion, is... How dare he! How dare this little teenage snot disrespect the courage of someone who leaves behind all that they know in the dream of something better! How dare he pick on the language skills of someone who while speaking accented English, is still fluent in two languages, when from my observation, he (the student) has barely mastered his native tongue! And, knowing that the men at the sandwich shop are at the very least documented immigrants, if not naturalized citizens, how dare this ignorant boy who cannot name a single Supreme Court justice or list any amendment beyond the first, be so quick to disparage the patriotism someone who due to not having had the privilege of being born a citizen, has studied our constitution harder than he ever will. So... I draw comfort from the realization that there are others out there who believe that although our nation is not without problems, the fact that most of us have a roof over our heads and food to eat affords us, in fact almost mandates, that we do all in our power to help others, both domestic and abroad. Good thoughts Maria.
I teach high school in central Jersey, and was feeling pretty disgusted yesterday after overhearing a student conversation.
There’s a popular sandwich place near our community. A scene of folks ordering from their counter is not unlike Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi bit, you’d better know exactly what you want, say it fast, and get out of the way.
The men behind the counter speak with a variation of accents (I believe a few of them to be Guatemalan or Honduran, am not sure.)
My student’s story revolved around a ’speak English or get out of my country’ concept, which is the part I found infuriating.
What I tried to say, but could not in a eloquent fashion, is… How dare he! How dare this little teenage snot disrespect the courage of someone who leaves behind all that they know in the dream of something better!
How dare he pick on the language skills of someone who while speaking accented English, is still fluent in two languages, when from my observation, he (the student) has barely mastered his native tongue!
And, knowing that the men at the sandwich shop are at the very least documented immigrants, if not naturalized citizens, how dare this ignorant boy who cannot name a single Supreme Court justice or list any amendment beyond the first, be so quick to disparage the patriotism someone who due to not having had the privilege of being born a citizen, has studied our constitution harder than he ever will.
So… I draw comfort from the realization that there are others out there who believe that although our nation is not without problems, the fact that most of us have a roof over our heads and food to eat affords us, in fact almost mandates, that we do all in our power to help others, both domestic and abroad.

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