You assume people who speak Spanish are Mexican. Many people speak Spanish. On this continent, in Latin America, people speak Spanish as the predominant language.
In this region, Spanish was spoken long before English, and remained the predominant language for a long period.
You also assume that the Mexican community "force[s] the rest of us to deal with them."
Not me: I speak and understand English just fine. Not my wife. Not my kids. Not the many in the Spanish speaking community who will "outnumber the English speaking community in a few years." Who then?
You mention the Mexican immigrants' "pure belligerence" in refusing to learn "the language of the land." You ignore societal, economic, cultural, educational factors - and barriers - which make it more difficult for these people to learn English. I know many Mexicans and U.S. citizens of Mexican descent who cling to their language, Spanish.
But Mexicans are a practical people. They want to learn English desperately because English means jobs, some measure of economic security, and upward mobility in this country. These are the reasons why they are here.
You emphasize that the U.S. is a "diverse, yet successful country." Yes. Yet the amendment you support will squelch that diversity.
One language to the exclusion of all others is not diversity. It is simply one group's attempt to impose a language and an ideology on a less powerful group. Kids in school, families at home, coworkers will continue to speak Spanish, regardless of amendments.
Toward that end, you qualify your support of the editorial. Exceptions to the amendment would include "Individuals with Disabilities Act, any actions, documents, or policies needed for international trade, tourism, commerce, or anything related to public health and safety." I agree. As a start, "Stop" signs should also read "Alto" as a matter of public safety.
As Arizona strives to internationalize its economy, it should make its documents available in Spanish too. There's a burgeoning Hispanic population in the U.S.; print ads and radio and T.V. ads should be in Spanish too.
As you yourself can attest, we cannot get away, in a border state, from Mexico, Mexicans, and Spanish.
So what do we do?
You've given me some ideas.
Since Spanish speakers will soon outnumber English speakers (according to you), let's learn Spanish. Imagine our license plates: "Arizona: The Bilingual State/ El Estado Bilingue."
Seriously, I believe knowing more than one language is an advantage. In our border state, Spanish makes sense.
Let's start in grade school: Teach all kids by immersing them, from grade school on, in the two languages.
School districts, colleges, and universities recognize the value of a foreign language, but we start too late, when students are resistant to another language and when it is more difficult to learn. Perhaps it's idealistic. But I think it is better than a knee jerk response to what I agree are some serious immigration issues.
These people will not stop coming. They are too desperate, the kind of desperate that you and I cannot comprehend. The best we can do for them is to educate them, allow them to make a decent wage and gain some upward mobility.
I firmly believe that these immigrants will avail themselves of these opportunities and better themselves; in so doing, I firmly believe that they will better Arizona and the rest of the country. That is the continuing story of all immigrants in this great country of ours.
