Hotel owner tells Hispanic workers to change names

Larry Whitten move to a small town in New Mexico to take over a struggling hotel. Whitten, a former marine, brought a tough attitude and new rules. Some of the new rules included speaking English only and changing there first name. Whitten has had many different hotels across the country that where very successful. He jumped on the chance to buy the hotel in New Mexico for $2 million. Some employees where fired due to being hostile and insubordinate. Whitten was soon labeled as a racist, because of his methods. Many former employees picked the hotel and called him a white (N-word). Whitten says that he is not a racist and that his methods have nothing to do with the culture.

Well if you read the article there are a few things that jump out at me. The hotel has had 4 to 5 different owners. Hmmmm, that makes me wonder if all the problems are Whitten or if it has to do with employees not like new rules. I mean I don't agree with every thing that Whitten did, but it is a private business and his rules. I would have to say that I do agree with the idea of speaking English. My personal opinion is that if you live in this country you should have to speak English. Now changing there names I don't agree with, but again his hotel his rules.

I'm sure that this article will be a little touchy with some, but others will agree. I have lived in this area for a lot of years and I can remember when there weren't hardly any Hispanics in Carthage. In the past 10 to 15 years I have watched Carthage change. I don't feel that we should have to adapt to any culture, because they came here. If we go to there country we have to adapt to them, so why is it we have to change for them. My whole point to this is I in a way see where Whitten is coming from. Like I said I don't agree with everything he did, but I understand how he feels.

With this being said think before you act. You never know how people will interpret what you do or say.