First, I never said I wanted to CHANGE the language of the national anthem. I just don’t have any problem with people who want to sing it in another language.

Our nation was NOT founded by “people fighting oppression from people speaking Spanish.” Where the hell did you get THAT idea? Open a history book and thumb to the pages about a little conflict called The American Revolution. The people oppressing us were the British under the leadership of King George III. If you ever read the Declaration of Independence, you’d understand that. It’s written in English, so you shouldn’t have much trouble with it.

You really need to consult someone about your anger issues. You have no idea how moronic your rant sounds. My only regret is that I didn’t read and respond to it sooner.

Great sentiments too in opposition to American Nazis who want to control thought, ideas, expression, language, ethnicity, and the way people vote, etc.

Sing your hearts out in any language you want.

God bless America and confound the enemies of democracy, even those that live in Beverly (Hills that is)!

Ronnie – yo soy immigrante

Bob, well said. New York is a city of neighborhoods and a real melting pot. But I think that the people who assimilate into the mass — in this case, by learning English — are the people who will truly get ahead in life. I just hope they don’t sacrifice their culture along the way.

One of my big regrets in life was that my father’s parents didn’t teach us German. They spoke it all the time at home and could have gotten us started when we were very young. Being bilingual is a great skill because it opens you up to multiple worlds. One of my personal goals in life (one of my original four, two of which I’ve accomplished) is to learn to speak Spanish fluently. Spanish is a very popular language in Arizona, where I live.

I grew up in Hell’s Kitchen of New York. There were a zillion different ethnicities located within a square mile of our house.

I found that people are more comfortable with their own group and tend to exclude outsiders.

To assimilate into a country, in my opinion you must learn the national language. If you don’t, then you don’t have to feel part of the big picture and our way of life will suffer.

I enjoy watching foreign language movies (with subtitles), listening to non English music, and going to ethnic festivals where other languages are in use. Unfortunately, I haven’t yet been successful at learning any other language and English even suffers with my use.

I do think that all business and all voting should be conducted in an official language, currently English. I think that assures a more common understanding.

The problem with being so emphatic that other languages should not be used is that someday, English may easily not be the most commonly used language in this nation and how prepared are we to learn a new language?

When I go to a Mexican restaurant, should I be upset because the attendant has an accent or I have difficulty understanding them? No When I go to my bank and I experience the same thing, should I be upset? Possibly.

To expand this thought, the world is getting too homogenized already. I like some variety in all things, even variety in language is interesting. The alternative is the language WalMart would sell (one size fits all), no variety, small vocabulary, with little thought. In other words I wouldn’t like a world where McDonald’s is considered a restaurant rather than the fast “food” place it is.

Further, I think that anyone who appreciates this country, even if they speak a language other than English, deserves it.

Waving a flag doesn’t make one a better American, quite often the opposite. Practicing (not twisting) the ideas presented in our constitution does make one a better American. I don’t remember anything in that document about a one language state? It’s generic enough to work with any language, even when translated.

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