[BarryRX]

[QUOTE=Shimpy;962407]Those that welcome them with open arms would be advised to take spanish lessons because the large majority of them will refuse to learn english as did most of the Cubans and will insist that you speak their language. Try going down SW 8th street in Miami and talking english. Actually try going anywhere in Miami and trying to talk your native language.[/

When it comes to language, I would guess that the south florida experience with spanish speaking immigrants is not much different than other areas of the country where non english speaking immigrants settled. A trip to various neighborhoods in New York during the last century would show that on the lower east side, Yiddish was mostly spoken, and of course in Little Italy it was Italian and in Chinatown it was a chinese dialect. Parts of the midwest had places where Polish was mostly spoken. It truly is part of the American experience. The children and grandchildren of those Cubans all speak english and they have built a thriving community with a culture that I enjoy. Their family values seem to be exactly the same as mine. They value family and education and believe in the American dream.