Shouldn't the Ability to Speak English Be a Pre-requisite for Landing a Job in America?

I recently visited an Academy Sports store to do some shopping. Traveling with two babies almost always means that my shopping will be briefly interrupted so that I can change someone's diaper. No problem, we have restrooms for that right! I head to the ladies room just to find it closed. Inconvenience? Yes, of course. That wasn't as much of a problem for as the lady who was cleaning the restroom. I politely asked her if the restroom was indeed closed or if she was just finishing up. She looked at me, confused of course, but the thought still never crossed my mind that she couldn't understand what I was saying.

I was extremely annoyed that we stood there for thirty seconds while she just stared at me and never answered. "Is it closed or are you finishing up in there?" I asked again. She mumbled something and nodded her head. Well, that was still not an answer. Is it closed or are you finishing up? Which one of my questions was she answering here? Borderline fuming at this point I asked, "well how much longer is it going to be?"

Again she mumbled something in Spanish. Before I could help myself I managed to roll my eyes and say, "You've got to be kidding me? You don't speak English?" I abruptly turned and began to walk away. Again, unable to keep my mouth shut I vented aloud, "Aren't we still in America?"

I was very upset by the fact that American businesses continue to employ people who do not speak English. I understand the whole 'melting pot' ideal and the freedom to speak your native language. HOWEVER, if you are going to work in a store where it it likely you will be engaging others in conversation for whatever reason, you SHOULD be required to speak English. THIS IS AMERICA ! I have personally lived and worked overseas and let me give you a little tip, if you can't speak German, you are not landing a job in the German economy! Likewise with Mexico and other countries where English is not the primary language.

I have visited places like France where you are publicly scorned and treated rather rudely if your dialect is off. I speak pretty decent French but you should have seen the looks and treatment I was privy to when they rejected my dialect! I lived in Germany for 3 1/2 years and I worked hard to learn the language, not just because I knew I HAD to, but out of respect for the German people. It is not their responsibility to learn English to accommodate me as a visitor in THEIR country. I'm just very fed up with the illegal immigrants in this country and the employers who continue to give jobs to illegals as well as people who cannot speak enough English to provide acceptable comprehension and conversation.