Canadians feeling guilty about taking jobs away from Americans?

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

I love how quick some 'Americans' are to take that stance, yet they neglect to see the other side of the coin. For instance, the invaluable contributions some highly educated immigrants make to US Society. Think of all the scientists, professors, medical practitioners...that have studied abroad, and brought to this Country..helping research and the Country evolve the way it has. Not to mention, all the foreign companies that have opened up shop (ie. some of the biggest car manufacturers etc) and have created jobs for those Americans.... some people honestly live their entire lives with their heads in their a*****! lol!

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I think someone commented above about this....what frequently happens with immigrants is they establish a new community amongst themselves and continue speaking their own language and therefore older adults especially tend to avoid learning the new language since there is no need. It happened with my grandparents (like I said - my grandma lived in Canada for 80+ years and sounded like she'd arrived yesterday!)

I have nothing against anyone learning to speak english as they arrive here in the US.....I think we might even have some French Cdns among us who probably spoke mostly French their whole lives and have had to brush up on English...I wouldn't be surprised at all.

I liked Wyatt's commentary - if you arrive in a new country you should make a concentrated effort to learn the language...no excuses.

As an aside.....I was recently at the hospital visiting my mother-in law and there was a nurse or nurses assistant who changed her bandages and gave her final instructions before we left.....this woman couldn't speak english to save her life....it was very frustrating because we had final questions and couldn't get anything more then a smile, a chuckle and mumbled something from this woman....she mostly nodded her head at everything we said. I had to go down to the nurses desk and say excuse me...we're having trouble understanding the lady who is helping us, do you have someone who speaks better engliish since we want to be clear on what we need to do.....they apologized profusely......and I basically felt like an a$$ because I felt like I had put someone down who could't speak english.

Everyone can argue as much as they want that everyone needs time to learn the new language...but it is an employers responsibility to ensure that the people they are putting in positions that deal with the public need to be prepared to speak the usual languages for that area...in Texas - that may mean Spanish more then English....in Maine that may be English most of the time.

[BriCar 0]

I guess what I see is that immigrants are being singled out. If it were any other 'thing' that made the person a poor customer service representative, like poor manners, a condescending attitude, poor communication skills - would we be saying, it is up to the employee to take manner, attitude and communication training?

I don't think so, I think most of us would be on the phone to the manager questioning why that employee is on the phone talking to us.

People with English as a second language are easy targets. It has nothing to do with them being immigrants.

I agree.

Money seems to be the universal language, and when it's on the table the words used to communicate find a way to do just that.

[waiting4rana 1]

I was on a job forum today and it seems that I inadvertently hit a nerve on some Americans, who feel that "foreign professionals" should not "steal" jobs from some Americans. I personally don't feel guilty. Your thoughts??

I am american and i am not at all offended with legal immigrants comeing here working in usa, its the illegals that really gripe my last nerve, they come in usa illegally and then take jobs for cheaper pay and get paid cash and dont pay taxes, meanwhile the gov't is makeing my husband wait a very long time to get his visa, its not fair when mexicans sneaking accross the border everyday