What is so special about Spanish?

Burt Constable's column demonstrated that he just doesn't understand the real issue regarding the Spanish language controversy. This is not about showing "more tolerance to people of all languages."

It's about granting special privileges for the first time in our 232-year history to a specific group of immigrants that refuses to learn the English language. When placing a phone call to a utility company I can't ever remember being prompted to "Press 2 for Polish" or "Press 2 for Italian" or "Press 2 for German," have you? And what about all of the Spanish signs in the department stores? Have you ever seen a Polish or German sign in a Home Depot? I haven't.

I'm all for embracing our long history of immigration, but by the same token I expect immigrants coming to America to embrace my country and its culture by learning and speaking our chosen language.

This bilingual insanity that has taken over is serving no purpose other than to create two separate societies within our nation. Maybe we should seriously consider changing the American flag so that it has just two stripes on it instead of thirteen.

The real question that needs to be answered is this: What makes the Spanish-speaking population in America so different from other immigrant groups that they require preferential treatment? Is this part of some underlying conspiracy to transition the official language of the United States to Spanish over the next decade? At some point in the future we may learn the answer to this when we hear "Press 2 for English" after placing a phone call.

Stan Rozycki

Hawthorn Woods