We banked with Bank of America for years…I liked the name. I will fess up to being a little pissed when BOA made it clear a few years back that they would issue credit cards to people whether they could provide a social security card, proof of residency or not. My thinking was that it was quite possible that Lopez would max out a card at Rooms to Go and ship it all back home to Mexico. Lopez would then purchase a new ID card under the name of Mendez and start all over again. This would leave honest customers like myself feeling the pinch of 18+% interest rates to make up the loss and in hindsight…I think I was right.
When Bank of America sent me my first piece of correspondence in Spanish….I mean every thing but my name and address, I went quickly down to explain my ire and the fact that I am United States citizen currently residing in the United States……of America. And the fact that though I could read the letter, I prefer not to. A few months later when my second correspondence arrived totally in Spanish I went down and closed all accounts with that bank. And that brings us to this………..
After endless applications and attempts I just received a telephone job interview at HD. Having the experience gleaned from being a life long tradesman I often felt my knowledge of tools, materials and construction procedures would be of value to some place like Home Depot. What they were interested in, however, was my Spanish language skills and quickly ran me through a short verbal test to see if I was trying to pull the wool or really did have the much sought after Spanish skills. Upon the success of this I was asked….
” If called to a store for a personal interview, some portions of the interview will be held in Spanish…..are you OK with this ?” and desperate for a job I answered that I am in fact , fine with this. Well the call came right away and I am now looking at an interview tomorrow…..but I’m also looking at my Latina wife who wants to know why Gringos are so week. Maggie was quick to point out the irony of being a skilled tradesman driven out of three states because cheap Latino labor has taken over my trade….and now my value lies in the ability to use my language skills to help sell those same people building materials.
” Illegal Mexicans stand up, wave their flags and demand “their” rights, you guys don’t.” she just reminded me…..and for that I have to say to my wife……..
” Margarita Ruiz de Berthiaume…..I am very proud of you”………..
What happens at the interview tomorrow is not important….but something else is. Do you think it would be discriminatory to release an American employee for forgetting how to speak Spanish?….would there be a hue and cry?….and if not, why not?
