Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Hotel manager asks workers to change names...

Follow the link below to an article about the hotel manager who recently asked some of his Latino workers to Anglicize their names. What do you think about the controversy that's ensued? Blog your reactions.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/26/national/main5422261.shtml

4 comments:

  1. What this man is doing is a form of forced-conformism, when conforming should be a voluntary action. Making someone change their name is making someone change their identity. It is wrong. These workers have had their identity their entire lives. Now, with the new owner, he is basically saying what they've been told their entire lives is incorrect or not good enough. Not only is it a slap in the face, but its a jab to someone's culture. Celebrities are naming their babies strange things, like apple, but they won't be judged the same as these ethnic workers. This owner is being ignorant of the rich culture around him; he is making them stamp out their life's heritage for this job. My name is hard for mostly every person that comes in contact with it. People tell me its wrong, but it isn't. It just isn't what they're used to; however where my name originates finds the spelling perfect. I would be offended if someone told me to change my name because they didn't like it. This man discouraging their own names is only fueling our nation's ignorance of other cultures and laziness to not be more open or learn about it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can see where the guy is coming from with all of this but it is really unnessisary and rude. The workers shouldnt be forced to change their names. Those are their names, if they want to wear a different one to make it easier and so they dont have to correct people then they totally can but if it doesnt bother them then no one else should care. It sounds like most of the people around that area are hispanic anyway so it probably really isnt that big of a problem.
    The owner asking them not to speak spanish around him i think it acceptable because he doesnt understand. They should be sensitive to that and not leave him out. It just makes you feel like others are talking about you or something like that. I think that is rude.

    ReplyDelete
  3. i dont think that he should be able to do what he is doing because that is their birth name which is totally acceptable to go by. however if he wants to be rude and own a business the way he is then go for it and if YOU are working for HIM and dislike his rules then quit. its as simple as that. if he doesnt want their names in his hotel business and their language then he shouldve never hired them in the first place. there is so many differant sides that you can come from on this one.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ha! I "stole" this article from the copy room--an extra copy was left on the machine--and used it for the very same class without knowing whose it was!

    ReplyDelete