by Buzz T. Kryst

Created on: July 03, 2008

I have just finished reading the article by Randy Davis, and must say I totally disagree with most of this article. Of course, the ability to disagree is what makes our country great, no matter what language we speak!

America has always been known as the "melting pot". Since the founding of our country just over 200 years ago, people have been coming from all over the world to live in the greatest country on the face of the earth. Any one of us could trace our ancestors back to European countries and beyond. Immigration is implanted firmly in our culture, and we are equipped enough to accomodate everyone without causing too much hassle to those of us who were born here.

The United States of America is not the only country who has a large population who speaks a language other than the official language. In fact, you couldn't even begin to count the countries who have more than one official language. Canada, for example, has English and French. Belgium actually has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German. There are more with four and even five dominant languages. Having two in the ol' US of A doesn't seem so bad now, does it?

The Latino population is ever expanding here in America, as we all know. I agree that it would suit the spanish speaking community to try and learn English, but I don't think it should be a requirement to live here. In all reality, it hurts them not to learn our native language. Just think, if you were in a foreign country and you couldn't speak the language. Do you really think it would bother anyone there that you couldn't speak to them? It doesn't effect them in anyway, it just makes things harder for you. Case in point, it doesn't put a dent in our day if someone can't speak our language. Things are harder for them, not us, and they have to figure out a way to cope.

The notion that pressure needs to be put on local, state, and federal governments to stop the advancement of the little inconveniences we encounter every day due to having to choose between English and Spanish is ludicrous. It costs me fifty bucks to put gas in my car, and my energy bill is about to be increased by forty percent. I just dropped out of college to pick up a second job to handle the onslaught of medical bills because I have no insurance, but I do have a heart condition as well as diabetes. I would like all levels of government to work on how I'm supposed to make a living and support myself, wife, and four year old daughter without finishing school. I'll push buttons for English all day if they want me to.

All in all, is it so bad that we try to help them out a little? What real problem does it cause us to press a button on the ATM for English, or push 1 on the phone. This is still America, no matter who lives here and what language they speak.

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