Network: 
It's kind of like moving to Ireland and requesting that everyone drop the "Mc" from their names. At least that's how people in Taos, N.M., reacted when new owners took over a local hotel and told employees that they'd need to "shorten" their Hispanic names to something a little more, well, "American." Larry Whitten moved to Taos from Texas to take over the newly renamed Whitten Inn and threw down the gauntlet:
1. No speaking Spanish in front of the boss.
2. Everyone's fired and has to re-apply for their jobs.
3. It's "strongly suggested" that employees shorten their long, silly Spanish names. ("Who has the time to say 'Marcos?' Why not Mark or Bill?" That's actually a real example.)
The majority population in Taos is Hispanic, with roots in the area going back hundreds of years. They weren't really happy with Larry's (formerly Lorenzo?) ideas, and protests erupted. Lorenzo responded by playing the victim card and putting some token Spanish phrases on the hotel's welcome sign.
Watch the video and let us know what you think.
From the Web:
10 Famous Quotes That Were Cut Short. (College Humor)
The Ten Trashiest American Past Times. (Gunaxin)
Comments:
Add a comment
Tuesday 06 October
By Heavytoka
That dude is dumb, if the majority of the population is Hispanic then he is just setting himself up to fail. Stupid Lorenzo... I mean Larry
Reply
Wednesday 07 October
By scott
The one stupid thing he did was ask them to change their names. I agree with the rest. I would only want them speaking English around me. I am so sick of the whole Mexican/ Hispanic thing. Speak English, don't expect everyone to learn Spanish this is America.
Wednesday 07 October
By what!?
He said "No way Jose!"
Reply
Wednesday 07 October
By John
I live a short drive from Taos...they take their heritage seriously. This guy had no idea what he was getting into and should probably just leave town.
Reply
Wednesday 07 October
By JP Walker
I can agree with no speaking spanish in front of the boss, because you know that he is going to be royally insulted to his face, and they will be smiling masking the remarks as praise.... Other than that what a friggin idiot, but if I just spent 2 million to fix up a hotel, I'd run it however I wanted, I'd also spend another million to off the protesters because that's not going to be good for business.... Don't get me wrong the dude is not bright, but he is rich and the golden rule states he with the gold makes the rules, but to disrespect the heritage with the name change suggestion someone should have just whooped his ass, a good ass kicking always improves my mood.
Reply
Wednesday 07 October
By ckevinbaldwin
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as Amended 1991) makes it illegal to discriminate against anyone on the basis of their race . . . or national origin . . . . .
Call the EEOC and LIGHT HIS A$$ UP!!!
Reply
Wednesday 07 October
By Michele
Really? Then how come I am white and can't get a job because all the of Hispanics are getting them? And oh, I also must be able to SPEAK Spanish. I refuse to in order to get a job, this is the United States! Deal with it!
Thursday 08 October
By GOPfromBAMA@aol.com
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as Amended 1991) makes it illegal to discriminate against anyone on the basis of their race . . . or national origin . . . . .
Call the EEOC and LIGHT HIS A$$ UP!!!
Ok how did he discriminate? Did he not fire EVERYONE? Don't most companies who outsource have American names for their employees? AOL, Lexmark, Dell, etc. Really, Habib in India is "Mark or Paul". Mr. Whitten is the boss and can do just about anything he wants. PC has ruined this country. No wonder businesses are going overseas. Between taxes, unions, socialist in the White House and Congress we have lost OUR rights.
Thursday 08 October
By Brittany
Yes Michelle, because I'm sure you're just dying to get a job working a field. If I recall, its the Chinese, Middle Eastern, and Russians owning multiple restaurants in each town, owning most of the tourism businesses, taking the doctor and nurse jobs, becoming CTO's and so on. This country has always had, and always will have, multiple heritages and multiple languages. You don't have to speak Spanish to get a job unless you want to be a translator of some sort.
Wednesday 07 October
By Keith
With all due respect to the "Civil Rights" Acts of whenever, Congress only has authority over commerce "among the states" (meaning it must cross a state line). This man runs a hotel. His hotel rooms don't hop across state lines, so how can renting one of hotel rooms be construed as commerce "among the states"?
Reply
Thursday 08 October
By E
If the manager is in a hotel chain, or owns hotels in multiple states that are operated under the same business name, (ex: Hilton hotels or "Taos Palacio" owned by "Bob's Hotels" which also runs hotels in Texas), then it counts as business across state lines.
I know someone who nailed an employer to the wall on that one because they lived in a town that crossed a state line and the bank she worked for had offices on both sides of the line. What the bank did to her was legal in the state of origin, but not under federal employment laws.
Know the laws that apply to your life, know your rights, and stand up for them.
Wednesday 07 October
By Chris
I agree with the owner on the "speak english" in my presence rule. English is the official language spoken in this country, and I think everyone that lives or works here should also speak the language. Re-applying for a job when a new company takes over is fairly common but I think that there should be a good reason to make people re-apply for their job. I also believe that if your name is hard to pronounce, it is really not that bad to have an easier name (on your name-tag)as long as you get to pick the name. Who can't pronounce "Marcos"? That is just dumb.
Reply
Wednesday 07 October
By Jessica
The United States has not chosen an "official" language yet...
Sunday 11 October
By MArie
REPLY TO JESSICA: the United States has no official language??? I think the American Indian language should be the official language but who cares about them. The Spanish speaking language and people are the fastest populating people across the world. They have unofficially made their language the language of America just by sheer out numbering the English speakers and it will only progress, we made a mistake with the open borders to the south now we can't stop the progression of the language and the drug traffic that is makeing them extreamly wealthy so they can buy their way into any venue in America.
Thursday 08 October
By Brittany
Marie, When have you ever seen a mexican driving a Lexus or an Envoy? They are just oh-so-rich because of that drug money. I don't know about your area, but in mine I have NEVER seen a Mexican druggie. Blacks and whites? HELL YES. They are everywhere. Prostitution too. Never seen a Mexican prostitute. They don't outnumber English-speakers by the way. Whites are still the majority.
Thursday 08 October
By Lillian Weiland
Replying to Chris - The US does not have an official language. My parents immigrated from Mexico legally. I wish English had been the official language because it would have forced them and rest of my family to fully learn English. My parents can communicate in broken English, but wouldn't it be great for them to be truly bilingual. I am a hot commodity because I am completely fluent, but the US screwed the pooch by not making English the official language.
Wednesday 07 October
By tim seeley
I think we should run the whole country the way the innkeeper want to run his Inn. After all He spent HIS money for an Inn in AMERICA not South America. Larry Whitten For President!
Reply
Wednesday 21 October
By shirley reyes
A person like Larry Whitten will never make it for mayor let alone President. Racism is very wrong. No one has the right to change a persons name to put money in their pocket. Lets say that I am a rich hispanic woman that owns a chain of motels. I have been ordering employees to change their names to sound more hispanic and want them to speak spanish. I know that you would not like it one bit. you would boycott me the same day and try to shut me down. New Mexico is very cultural and we plan to keep it that way.
Wednesday 07 October
By casey
Congratulations to the bilingual employees...this is a valuable skill. Maybe "Lorenzo" should try taking up Spanish instead of whining about what he knows the employees are saying about him (because it certainly looks like they OUGHT to be talking about this idiot!)
Reply
Wednesday 07 October
By Michele
You must not then being taken over and being told you have to learn Spanish. How rich!