This is so bang on.
I was labeled a racist when I suggested we shouldn't have Asian characters and Punjabi on bank machine screens. My point was it doesn't give that immigrant a reason to learn the language of the country he/she now calls home. Plus, no European immigrant had a choice to read their language in public area's, (bus stops, banks, other public signs, etc...), why should anyone else?
Have you considered the greater cost to society to have to sort out the ensuing confusion?
I'm sure people who complain about seeing other languages which essentially don't affect them, would be the first to scream about being held up in line at the bank because some immigrant thought it was the police station.
As to why no Europeans ever got to see their languages in public places, ...tell me, which nationality not fluent in english would have the hardest time figuring out these English words:
English - Police, Bank
Italian - Polizia, Banca
Portuguese - Polícias, Banco
Spanish - Policía, Banco
French - Police, Banque
Chinese - 警方, 银行
Japanese - 警察, 銀行
Russian - полиция, банка
Arabic - الشرطة ,البنك
Now if
I were travelling to or emigrating to England, Italy, Portugal, Spain or France, I probably wouldn't be all that concerned about being able to read English on signs and public buildings, ...but I sure as heck would need them in China, Japan, Russia, or Dubai. Sometimes, it just makes better sense, and is far less expensive to assist & facilitate an immigrant's assimilation into the mainstream.