Honor ancestry, but speak English
In reaction to candidate Obama's comment that Americans should be multilingual and learn a second language other than their own, I must respectfully object. I am a firm believer in the "Melting Pot" that has made this nation the greatest nation in the history of the world. Our history is based upon people who left their native countries to come to America for opportunity and freedom. That is the great attraction of this nation. The great success of this nation has been to mold all of these different ethnic groups into the American culture. Part of that culture is the English language. Over the past decade or two, political correctness has entered into the picture. It has emphasized the ethnic differences of our backgrounds, rather than the similarities. It has created separatism and not unity. It has carved out political agendas for politicians to remain in power by appealing to certain groups, rather than for the benefit of the country as a whole or the state as a whole. According to those politically correct individuals, we should have traffic signs in every ethnic language so as not to insult ethnic background. Obviously, that would cost this nation billions of dollars. In addition, it would not promote American culture. If people have such strong ethnic commitments to their cultural background, let them go back to the countries of their origin. It has always been my understanding that when you commit to being an American, you pledge your allegiance to our nation. That does not mean that you cannot honor your ancestry, it only means that this is your nation and you are committed to the culture. No one forced you to come to this nation. You did so based upon opportunity and freedom. Team America will only be successful if we have loyal team members. Long live the "Melting Pot!" As the great Michel LeGrand music states, "Let someone start believing in you, let them look into your eyes, and see into your heart and watch what happens." What happened was the United States of America, the greatest nation in the history of the world.
Steven R. Heuberger
Libertyville