Yes, and as long as what he was doing was intended to make more money, the other effects aren't really all that important. When one is pursuing profit, one should not be at all concerned with anything other than making a profit. And, if the person with the money decides to utilize the power that his money affords him, then he has every right to use his power over others because he is engaged in the noble pursuit of turning a profit. Yes, it's a shame that this publicity prevented him from implementing a plan that was wholly justified because his intention was to make a profit. Also, since he has the money he also has the power, and he has the right to demand that those around him speak in the manner he chooses, and change their names in the manner he chooses. He is the one pursuing profit, and that is always a noble goal, no matter what the other considerations may be.
"Way to go, Einstein!" <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aF8wLg5Asgo&hl=en&fs=1&start=88"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aF8wLg5Asgo&hl=en&fs=1&start=88" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Wait a minute. Gosh, "Einstein" might not be English in origin; that could upset the customers in whatever profit-seeking venture you're employed in. I mean, "Way to go, <s>Einstein</s> Ernest!"
Pissing of the town in which you own a business, offending employees, getting bad publicity on a national level is good business practice to you? No where in the article did it say he has turned this hotel around. Having employees speak English, and have Anglo names might be good business elsewhere, but not in a small Hispanic town.
Are you serious? All the hotels I've stayed at without seeing a Hispanic employee are just hiding them in the back?
Yes, the scenario of Spanish class you CHOSE to take in an educational setting where part of the learning process is to learn about other cultures is the same as a job needed ro put food on the table.
The problem is that you don't understand racism. It goes beyond hating. It can be based on stereotypes which on the surface aren't hateful. Racism could also be forming an opinion based solely on the evidence of race. That opinion doesn't have to be hate. It could be fear, pity, etc.
Some of you seem to think it requires some form of "bad intent" to be a discriminatory, which is untrue. This guy is old school racist based on what he believes and has been taught. He most likely truly means no harm. This is the same racist thinking that many of our grandparents practice through no fault of their own. It's what they were taught. It was the norm. It doesn't make it okay, nor does it make those offended by it thin-skinned. This is the kind of thinking that had no problem with separate but equal or police dogs let loose on protesters Most people learn that this type of thinking is wrong through life experience, education, and contact with the "real world" and we modify our beliefs. Some don't.
can you name which hotels have you been to where you're sure there's not a a single hispanic employee?
Well as someone who has taught academic courses at a college and is presently coaching at a college I can tell it would be grounds for dismissal if I made a student change their name against their wishes. Now among my players we use nicknames but those aren't forced on them. What you are missing in this is that yes people shorten or change the pronounciation of their names. That is fine if voluntarily. This situation is that the guy is firing people if they don't. That is something far different and if they did at your school, especially if it was a state school, that would be grounds for a possible lawsuit. As far as crying "racism" and "political correctness" let me ask you do you think your name is important to you? Do you think it is right then for a boss to make it a condition of your employment that you change your name? That isn't a matter of racism but a matter of respect anymore than if I ran a resort catering to Chinese tourists and asked an employee named "Robert" to change his name or get fired as that is hard to pronounce for those who primarily speak Mandarin.
Yes I know the origin of those names as I dated a Siobhan and a good friend of mine's is a Llewellayn. My point was that white,even British names can be unfamiliar to most Americans which is why it is so stupid to make someone's name sound more English. Anyway by mentioning there is an Anglicized version of "Siobhan" are you suggesting that Siobhan's should change their name's so its easier for American ears? I would suggest you bring that up in South Boston and see what the reception to that is. As opposed to you b****ing about the fact that some people think its a bad thing to force people to change their names?
That's a good point. Whitten's ancestors were probably forced to speak English instead of Scotch Gaelic and some were probably forced to change their names too. Maybe though they were just told to grow a pair and accept it as good for business.
agree - racism is the belief that your race is superior to others. prejudice would be not liking another race, but not necessarily believing it is inferior. if anything, the guy might be prejudice, but i dont think you can flat out call him a racist b/c of this episode (although i will admit it doesnt help his case). for the record, i didnt vote in the poll b/c i dont think we have enough info to say whether or not he is a racist.
To follow up on Rashmon's post. We don't know what is truly in his mind so while he may not have a racist intent his actions speak otherwise. In regard to the business argument I pointed out earlier why, what is seemingly good business still doesn't mean its not racist also. Many business' opposed desegregation on the grounds that it was good business that whites wouldn't want to patronize a store with black customers or black employees in positions other than janitors or busboys. In the pre-civil rights South that might've seemed like very good business since whites had most of the money but it still didn't mean that was a racist practice.
Just an old man from texas, probably a reaganista at heart, who fails to realize that America has changed, that in the new america... marcos is sexier than mark.( no offense mcmark you're awesome) I wouldn't say he is a racist, but something tells me he is not to fond of hispanic heritage month.
Based on stereotypes? Those are called stereotypes, stereotypes =/= racism. I love how American society makes it seem like the majority as racist and if the minority say it its not racist, hilarious. I cant say that im proud of my European White background but its alright for others to do so because they are a minority, pretty hilarious.
it's okay to be proud of your own race/ethnicity but not in the expense of anothers sterotyping inferiority = racism
Of course you can. What do you think St. Patrick's Day, Columbus Day are but celebrations of European backgrounds. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your background but that is a different matter than discriminating against someone else because you feel it is inferior to your own.
