Instituting Spanish as a Second Language In the USA

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I had a very weird experience today at the very moment I was responding to a topic about immigration. This is from a local TV station in Savannah. I had to find it and share it with you. Please see if you agree: In Plain English Brand new year. Same old slow-drip, cultural erosion. Upon entering one of our area's very large retail stores, last week, like most of us, I instinctively looked up for product-category locations on the always helpful overhead aisle-signs. And the locations were, indeed, posted there in big, easy-to-read letters, but now, in both English, and Spanish. This, in Coastal Georgia and South Carolina, still the United States of America, unless something baffling happened overnight. These days, we're finding more and more product packaging and instructions presented, for our inconvenience and confusion, in multiple languages. But for now, let's just assume it's simply about cost-efficiency in global distribution. But hanging aisle signs in both English and Spanish? Why, would be a fair question. Aside from the instant reminder of a far bigger national issue, and the fact that it's counter to what's really needed, it does give you a graphic idea of where our nation is headed, just like the popular, incredibly naïve view of our terrorism fight, if we don't start realizing more fully what's going on, and the damage we'll incur by ignoring it. We've said it before, and we'll say it again. We speak English here. The English language is our heritage, culture, and tradition. It's been made the official language by over half the states, including Georgia and South Carolina. The Senate voted to make it official nationally, but way too many spine-depleted House members have, thus far, resisted, preferring to walk the pandering path, hoping the millions of Spanish-speakers here illegally will one day be proclaimed instant voters, and return the love. Flying directly in the face of this foolish, self-serving resistance, it's instructive to know that "nearly two-thirds of Hispanic adults living in the U.S. favor making English the nation's official language," as do 75-percent of our legal immigrants, according to very recent Zogby polling-data. Today, we continue to welcome and encourage all those who've elected to enter our nation, valid documentation in hand. Who sincerely want to become law-abiding, tax-paying citizens, making positive contributions, and assimilating seamlessly into our society. Those who, by hard-work, responsibility, and achievement, truly desire to buy-into the American dream, not simply rent space here, remaining detached. In return, along with employment, all that we as a nation ask, of those yet unable to do so, is to learn English. Not much to require, in return for the boundless freedoms and opportunities this incredible nation has to offer. English proficiency is vital for: personal safety, access to further education and training, employment growth, societal-assimilation and acceptance. It's the obligation and responsibility of new residents to learn to speak our language, and to stick with someone who does, until they do. The United States is not now, nor will it become, a bi-lingual nation. The road to success here is paved with English. By all means, continue to speak in your native tongue, whatever it may be, privately, among family and friends. Or, in public, as may be required by your job. But the official language of commerce here, the official language of co-existence, and simple day-to-day activities in this richly-blessed country, is, and must remain, English. So, for the giant retailers, institutions and government agencies of our land, let's cease the likely unintended, but clearly separationist signal of bi-lingual signage. Restrict such to English, and then, if truly needed, provide a Spanish language "help" desk to assist those still in the process of learning our language. By fostering or falling prey to bi-lingualism in public life, we further enable, even encourage, the separation of population-sectors, thus delaying assimilation or even preventing it completely. And by so doing, compound the already-accelerating erosion of our historic culture and traditions, fundamental gifts that remain respected and cherished by most Americans, amidst the countless blessings we've received, throughout the centuries, in this magnificent land.