| At the risk of making a politically insensitive | | | | learn to talk at all. How in the world did early |
| statement, I offer my deepest apologies for the | | | | human beings, who were arguably much dumber |
| following article if I offend anyone in anyway. | | | | than we current human beings, even develop |
| Our country has long been a melting pot of ethnic | | | | ways of communicating effectively with one |
| diversity and amazing tolerance for cultural | | | | another? |
| differences. Lately, however, our national ethnic | | | | And the English language with all it's multiple word |
| stew has taken on the un-mistaken flavor of our | | | | meanings and rules, has to be strong evidence |
| neighbors to the south and I've developed a | | | | that alien beings must have visited with us in the |
| terrible case of indigestion. Mexican food just | | | | past and played some cosmic practical joke on us |
| doesn't sit well with me. | | | | Americans! I feel sorry for those who are |
| As a mother, I've noticed this influence of Spanish | | | | attempting to learn English as their second |
| culture into my own home life, most noticeably in | | | | language because it really makes absolutely no |
| the programming my 4 year old watches. Dora | | | | sense at all! Back to the point though. |
| the Explorer, Diego and Handy Manny are just a | | | | I feel that eventually to function in our ever |
| few of the shows peppered with Spanish | | | | changing society, everyone will need to know |
| seasoning, and I must say, I'm not sure if I'm for | | | | both English and Spanish. I will always firmly |
| this or against it. | | | | believe however, that English should remain the |
| I've always been proud of my national heritage, | | | | national language if for no other reason than to |
| the place where I was born, but lately, my | | | | protect the last shred of our cultural identity we |
| patriotism has suffered a bit. Political correctness | | | | have left. |
| and tolerance have gone completely overboard | | | | I don't believe that to be a politically insensitive |
| and we are rapidly losing any sense of U.S. culture | | | | statement, but I could be wrong. I certainly never |
| that may have actually once existed. | | | | thought I would see the destruction of the religion |
| Regardless of what side of the fence you may | | | | this country was founded upon, so who knows, I |
| be on this issue, pardon the pun, we all must | | | | guess I better not take the chance. The Spanish |
| admit that this trend seems to be here to stay. | | | | population will eventually be the majority and I |
| With that in mind, I decided to learn Spanish. My | | | | have no doubt that they will stick together and |
| kids are already doing it, and I don't want to fall | | | | protect their national heritage unlike we have, so |
| to far behind them like I did with the pesky | | | | we better get used to it now if we want to |
| computer and all that went along with that | | | | survive. |
| societal shock wave. | | | | Our children will absolutely have to know Spanish, |
| So I went online, of course, and did some | | | | so I guess it's okay to encourage them to do so. |
| research. There are really some great programs | | | | I'm not sure how we Americans are still getting |
| out there that can get the old synapses firing in | | | | away with English class being a required course in |
| the right direction to begin learning again. It's | | | | our public schools while Spanish, German, Italian |
| amazing how early on in life we stop adding to | | | | and so forth are still considered electives. It's just |
| our vocabulary and how that portion of the brain | | | | a matter of time before we get around to it I |
| kind of just seems to shrivel up and die. | | | | suppose, our law makers are still busy with killing |
| I put a link in my author's bio for the program I | | | | Christmas you know. |
| actually ended up using. As this article is not | | | | I do understand the idea of people coming to our |
| intended to sell you on any particular course, I | | | | country and still wishing to hold onto their own |
| won't focus on that aspect of my bilingual | | | | culture. What I don't understand is why I must |
| journey. What I will focus on is the absolute | | | | give up mine to accommodate them. |
| amazement I have that any of us can actually | | | | When in Rome, I suppose... |