rlos Vasquez had gone to IHOP to have lunch with his parents to celebrate his birthday.
While waiting for a table at a branch in Koreatown, a woman interrupted a conversation between Vasquez and his mother. Vasquez started filming.
In the video, the woman yells at Vasquez's mother for speaking Spanish, and demands that she speak English instead. Vasquez's mother begins crying and yelling at the woman in English.
Vasquez, who turned 24 on Saturday, said he never expected so much attention.
"I was shocked, and right now, still to see that it's still growing and growing and growing. But I'm glad it spread, because that's the point," Vasquez said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "I wanted people to be aware of what's going on even in the city of Los Angeles."
In the video, the woman tells Vasquez's mother to go back to Spain and that Americans fought for their freedom, and mentions Nazis and Russians.
Vasquez said his parents moved to L.A. from El Salvador in 1985. They live in downtown and his mother works as a janitor in Santa Monica.
He said that after he posted the video, he received many supportive messages -- saying things like "Please hug your mom for me" -- and also many from people saying they'd gone through the same thing and wished they'd been able to record it.
However, he said he also received messages saying his mother should learn English.
Vasquez, who lives in Highland Park and is a teacher's assistant, said that neither he nor his parents had ever through anything similar.
"It was just so rare to see that in L.A.," he said.
"We were very, very shocked," he said.
He saw that the altercation drew a crowd, including many IHOP employees. He said he was disappointed that none of them stepped in.
After the incident, Vasquez said his mother didn't want to stay at the restaurant, but he told her they should still eat there. "Otherwise we're going to show the lady that she has more power versus us," he said.
Both sides could have just ignored eachother, but they chose not to.
PS- You need public shaming for your posts.
"You're going to die real soon" The cause kindo lost its muster. It also comes off as a threat.
lady was old dude, he was just stating a fact.
lady was old dude, he was just stating a fact.
Nobody likes it when people speak around them in a language they don't understand
Lol?
What a joke.
Im all for shaming racists, but this narrative online and everywhere that is being pushed is that it is white people who are racist, racists come in all colors
It doesn't bother me at all.
Im all for shaming racists, but this narrative online and everywhere that is being pushed is that it is white people who are racist, racists come in all colors
Failure to learn English is its own punishment, and I am generally against the PC idea of providing everything in a dozen languages. Limited sources of news and opinion make for a poor citizen that is easily mislead.
Nobody likes it when people speak around them in a language they don't understand, and this includes both Mexicans and Asians, not just English speakers.
Nobody likes it when people speak around them in a language they don't understand, and this includes both Mexicans and Asians, not just English speakers.
if they're not talking to you or involving you in their conversation, what does it matter????
Depends, is it right in front of you?
Imagine: You're a woman getting your nails done. The asian lady doing your nails is talking to the other employee next to her.
God forbid she were to speak in English while you awkwardly have to sit there while she fixes up your nails for some small talk.
I think it's rude in regards to things like that. You are excluding them from a possible conversation, that if someone DID speak English in most people would have some small talk. For example, most people would have small talk with their barber, correct? Asking whats going on, what did they think of the game last night, etc...
Now imagine your barber has his hands all over you (as required to cut hair obviously) and the entire time he is speaking a different language to another haircutter next to you. Now you have to sit in silence because you have no idea what they are saying, if it's about you, or if it's just light conversation. Regardless, you wouldn't want to interrupt them, right? It seems like a dick-ish thing to do.
However, if you are two people sitting at a restaurant having a conversation in your own native tongue - by all means. No one is meant to be a part of that conversation. I fully understand.
Also, I'm tired as shit with all the "Press 1 for English" crap. If you adapt to them, they have no reason to learn the language. Why would they try? I think bending over for them is despicable. No other country would do that. Now when I'm in the crappy parts of town, I even see billboards in Spanish. I do find it funny though, there are CLEARLY some immigrants that try to assimilate properly into their new society, and others that just try to setup shop and act like it's their original home.
Depends, is it right in front of you?
Also, I'm tired as shit with all the "Press 1 for English" crap. If you adapt to them, they have no reason to learn the language. Why would they try? I think bending over for them is despicable. No other country would do that. Now when I'm in the crappy parts of town, I even see billboards in Spanish. I do find it funny though, there are CLEARLY some immigrants that try to assimilate properly into their new society, and others that just try to setup shop and act like it's their original home.
neither of those situation would bother me. i hate when the barber tries to talk to me.
also, not sure what barber you go to where they have their hands all over you. at most they have their hands on your head, and thats very little unless they are washing your hair?
no other country does that? I've never been to another country, but I find it hard to believe. Hell i provide tech support for global customers and i often call other countries and their IVR systems are in english a lot of times.
No other country would do that.