Last Demo: If You Live Here, Learn Our Language

I believe I am quite liberal in respect to accepting people of all colors/race. Have had friends who were black, Hispanic and many others of various “white” backgrounds. Also am first generation American, with both parents coming from Slovakia at a young age, speaking only their native language. But this country is bending over backwards too, too much in respect to new people who immigrate here and don’t learn the language quickly, and expect everyone else to accomodate their language needs.

My parents assimilated, with English as their primary tongue, early on, and I went to school speaking normal English. Never learned Slovak well, but could understand the dialect of my parents when I heard relatives speaking. My growing-up community was a mix of various ethnic backgrounds, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Croatian, Bulgarian, with a few real “english”!! But almost everyone in that era (30s-50s) spoke English, and there were NO signs in any other language.

I have spent many winters snowbirding in the Cochella Valley of California, where the locals (and workers) are mostly Hispanic. Most of these folks speak Spanish exclusively, or such poor English that you can’t even converse with them without sign language. The local Walmart is mostly staffed with these same folks, and it maddening to ask for help, and find the staff unable to converse in English. I don’t know whether or not an official language is needed or funcional, but I do believe we must do what is necessary to preserve our country as one nation, speaking English. If you come here to live, then learn the language!!

LastDemoinIdaho