Posted by
Always Right on Wednesday, September 06, 2006 9:40:10 PM
No Habla Espan...uh. Well, it's true. I'll admit it. I am an American, and I don't speak Spanish. Maybe the public school system really did fail me, for the only South-of-the-border-talk I know comes from Speedy Gonzalez or that little Taco Bell Dog. I know, I am unpatriotic, a traitor even. How could I not learn the language of "the people?" Well, maybe it's because I don't consider them "our people" in the first place.
For starters, it's supposed to be a free country, yes? I decided to never learn Spanish but instead pour my efforts into other languages and talents. I once figured (in my naive younger years) that those who would want to join me in this glorious country would do so legally and blend in accordingly. Oh, I absolutely love all the different cultures this country embodies, but this is also an independent country. We aren't ruled by Mexico, Cuba, Argentina, Switzerland or Romania. We're the United States of America. Our language is English. We like hot dogs. Our citizens are here legally...well, for the most part.
Suddenly, I'm finding myself surrounded by people who have no wish to be an American. I can't read product labels in the grocery store because they are in Spanish. I can't even go to most places consumers go without having to try and order something from someone who doesn't speak English well.
I wonder if I might be a little jealous of illegal immigrants someday. I mean, I could have free health care, social security, no taxes, government welfare and low-cost housing for being illegal. I could have people in the senate working for me if I were illegal. People would consider me a saint, or at the very least, a refugee. There's only one problem...it's illegal for them to be here in the first place.
Celebrate diversity, yes. But don't celebrate division. Legal/Illegal citizens is only one of the divisive factors tearing away at our country, but you don't have to allow it to continue.