kathy wrote on July 01, 2009 08:52 AM: Excuse me go to any other country in this world and try to survive without learning thier language, especially mexico. Its not gonna happen.And also go to mexico and try to buy property or own a buisness without going thuough thier due process.Which you have to have a certian amount of money in thier bank and pay annually for your stay there. Give me a break ok!!!!

NVresident wrote on June 27, 2009 08:03 AM: Mr. Mierzwa, I am a first generation American, the offspring of naturalized American parents. My husband is also. Neither of us heard our parents or family members refer to themselves or family members as hyphenated Americans. They taught us, by example, to be proud and grateful to be American. They embraced and passed down to their children their heritage as they assimilated into American culture as American citizens. When I hear people refer to themselves as other than simply Americns, I wonder why? Individuals &/or groups who claim to want equal treatment, rights and respect as Americans while identifying themselves as separate and different prompt the thought "Well, which is it then?" You can't have it both ways. If you want to be recognized and treated as an American, quite pointing out that you are somehow different. Speaking from our commonality is how we are the United States of America. Speaking one language is certainly a valid and useful way to be considered to build our commonality and so unite our American culture. So, although we haven't, by law, designated an "official language" in these United States, I'm fairly certain that most people on this planet think of the United States of America as an English speaking nation. So perhaps we could "enable" everyone to speak English by not "enable
ing" them not to. So, to pick up on Mr. Noble's thread, imagine how much money we'd save....

john wrote on June 26, 2009 09:45 AM: Today, because we offer such great opportunities, more immigrants live in the U.S. than ever before. As a result of that, we have a situation (maybe never before seen in history) within our society, where non-native speakers can thrive to such a relatively high level.

With bilingual speakers and information, and areas of ethnic grouping; non-English speakers can do quite well, without having to learn another language.

So are we all going to look in the mirror and truthfully say “I would be so much more focused and hard-working than these immigrants, and I would learn that new language immediately when I got to my new country?”

If that were to be proven, I guess it’s the end of the debate. But we won’t know if we really would be so industrious in that situation, now do we?

It may be easy to say, but not so easy to do – but then, that’s kind of the definition of a hypocrite right?

In the end, the only way to get over this paranoia and blame-game is to spend more time together.

And it’s happening – at soccer fields, parks, churches, parties, events, jobs, bars…we’re getting to know one another as people, not as “us or them.” Eventually maybe everyone except the true nuts will realize we’re all the same.

Just look at Dick Cheney – he’s as right-wing as they come. But with his daughter as a lesbian, he has seen firsthand that gay people are not the bogeyman.

Now he supports gay marriage.
There is a lesson to learn from Cheney: let’s realize we’re all just people – wanting to do the right thing and wanting a good life for our families and community.

Somehow that doesn’t seem like such a bad thing…

john wrote on June 26, 2009 09:35 AM: ...And, sorry to burst your “my ancestors were holier-than-thou” bubble, but how about we interject some facts into the mix:

From a Daniel Cubias blog: "Two researchers at the University of Wisconsin - Madison have published a study showing that America has a long history of (dare I say it?) multiculturalism. The researchers are Joseph Salmons, a German professor, and Miranda Wilkerson, a Ph.D. graduate in German. Their study shows that until the late nineteenth century, and even into the early twentieth century, many German immigrants to that fine state still had not mastered English.”

But how quickly (or not) our forefathers learned fluent English is not exactly well documented. Fact is – as much as it may hurt your pride and cherished (but misguided) version of history - the main reason they may have learned more quickly back then is simple: THEY HAD NO CHOICE!

There were no worker-protection and similar anti-discrimination laws to protect people; so if you did not learn English you were out of luck in most cases.

If you can show me all kinds of examples of us humans taking on difficult tasks (such as learning a new language) en masse - without an outside force making us do so - I would enjoy hearing about them. I for one am not so arrogant that I can’t admit to often waiting until someone makes me change in order to do so…

john wrote on June 26, 2009 09:29 AM: I appreciate the reactions to the letter. I hoped it would spur some intelligent debate. But unfortunately about 1 well-thought and articulated rebuttal so far in response. I mean, anyone can rant – but how about some reasoning?

Let me get this out of the way: I believe all U.S. residents should learn to speak English – it only makes sense. (duh). And I’m not blind or unaware of the monetary and other challenges presented by the sheer numbers of immigrants here. I feel bad for those of us displaced by economic conditions as well.

One of the best analogies I’ve seen - from Tom Friedman... It perfectly applies to native-born Americans who arrogantly act like they are somehow personally responsible for their great fortune to be born in the U.S. These people “behave like someone who was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple.”

Face it people, just because your (and my) ancestors were smart and ambitious enough to come here to the U.S. - often with nothing– and make a better life for themselves (hmmm, what groups could that describe today); that does not mean you or I personally have any credibility to take credit for that - or to disparage others who would now do the same as our ancestors did.

I’m a lot more interested in what you and I do with our own lives; not in hiding behind the accomplishments of great-great grandparents as some eternal hall pass that means we don’t ever have to perform to deserve our great lives here; or that we get to shut a great wall behind us now that we’re here.

To be continued...

Joe C wrote on June 25, 2009 10:53 PM: Hispanic/Latino are listed as white, black, or other depending on their ancestry.
In fact Mexicans are a mix of European and indigenous people.
Pretty much like the U.S. a mix of nations.
Since stats can be deceiving welfare can list a person of Hispanic/Latino ethnic group as white, although few Hispanic/Latino will call themselves white.
So many Hispanic/Latino do indeed collect social services and are listed as white or other. This is the same in the prison system, which is why stats are so inaccurate.

Also many illegal Mexicans and Hispanic/Latino have easy access to fake or stolen ID. Many working with one fake ID and collecting benefits with another ID.

More and more jobs are asking for bilingual for job searches. While it’s not mandatory it is forced on U.S. citizens for decent job opportunity. We will left-handedly be forced upon us another language, not of our choice. As we all are already seeing and understand.

Buford Georgia just had a huge diversity job fair and bilingual was one of the requirements.
This is going on thru-out our country. So don’t let anyone tell we are not having a language forced on us.

There are good reasons you don’t hear of searches for other ethnic groups. The most obvious is, the vast majorities are from south of our border but if you search the data other are also deported.

Do not be fooled by all the grand standing and spewing of we only want equality, our new immigrant from south of our border and SOME Mexicans, Hispanic/Latino here, absolutely have a racist agenda.

An interesting site is below.
http://www.mexica-movement.org/

To Ted wrote on June 25, 2009 10:17 PM: Ted,

Kids born in the U.S. are barely fluent in English (reading and writing)...and have no idea what Democracy is...yes! I a kid in my English class asked me what Deomcracy was...and she was a senior! What the heck? It's not just "the Mexicans." and to be honest, my "hispanic" students work harder than ANY of my white ones...in fact, the white ones are so much lazier!

Step foot into a classroom and see for yourself...oh wait, then you would be wrong with you made up facts...nevermind.

youdummies wrote on June 25, 2009 10:09 PM: A few things:

1.) Almost all of our ancestors were IMMIGRANTS!

2.) "Hispanics" are from SPAIN, not Mexico!

3.) These alleged "hispanics" are not asking you to cater to them! They are adapting to the U.S., but it is DIFFICULT. I would LOVE to see you go to another country and try to speak fluently...bet you can't do it either.

4.) Nobody in this country is required to be bilingual...which is a shame...and kids can CHOOSE what language to take. It is not required to learn Spanish.

5.) Printing literature/signs in Spanish hardly constitutes a degrination into a "third world" country. If you want third world, go visit one and be thankful you live in the U.S.

6.) DO NOT EVER say that you dislike those things (press for English)- the majority of those people are WHITE! You wanna know who's eating up your WELFARE...WHITE PEOPLE (yes, I am white)! Don't blame Mexicans for everything. Why don't you blame your government for making it easy to get, and never taking it away from deadbeats. Many mexican families have ten kids and support them WITHOUT Welfare...dummy! I know plenty of them.

7.) You say "immigrants" but NOT ONE person is trying to find illegal immigrants from Canada, or expired Visas from Poland...yeah illegals from POLAND..Why? Because they are WHITE and you can't find them as easily as our friends from the South. Ya'll are just racist. Yeah, some people from Mexico take your job, so what? Why don't you complain about the others????

Our country was founded on the belief that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL...I guess they're only equal if they are from the U.S. ??? I guess none of us would be here if that were the case...oh and for the record the U.S. has NO OFFICIAL LANGUAGE!!!!!

theo wrote on June 25, 2009 09:50 PM: Where is fair and balanced Fred? Maybe I should call him a Demolitioncrat... Silly as his constant Republicon line...

Robert wrote on June 25, 2009 09:39 PM: I'm sick of my tax dollars being spent to cater to the hispanics that won't adapt to our country. Take some classes to read and write English like my ancestors did.

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