Submitted by Mary Ann, Dec 7, 2007 07:55

People in New York City say that there is favoritism and you, as a member of our City Government should do something about it. And if you want to know who is being given this favoritism it is the Hispanic community. This is clear in the way our schools now teach in Spanish, the advertisements on our buses and trains, all the brochures and literature, when you call government offices, public service organizations and companies you now hear messages in Spanish.

Considering that this country was not founded by nor influenced by the Spanish I ask you why are we giving them special treatment. Also all other people who came or come to this country have to learn English why don't they? One must ask why don't we have a common language (that for your information should be English). How you may ask can we doing this? Well allow me to explain:

People in New York are now crying prejudice and hatred of our Policemen, Firemen, EMTs and other city workers. Our city officials claim that they want it to spot this attitude in New York City. Well, frankly, no one is helping this situation. In point of fact we, New Yorkers, are making worse.

How you may ask are we doing this? Well allow me to explain:

There is only one ultimate connection that we all can share and that is one-common language: because as you are aware or should be aware without a common language there is no communication on any level. Without a common language, reservations and concerns we may have about each other cannot be erased. Without a common language we do not prosper together. Quite the opposite, miss-understanding, misjudgment, anger, confusion, seclusion, rejection, even prejudice and hate are the consequences of not speaking the same language. How do we ever unite, if not in a common language? How do we become "one people," if not through a common language? How do we achieve together the same dreams and goals, if not through a common language?

What we are doing is dividing the country into separate societies. The American, the Hispanics, and the Oriental. We implement bilingual education programs, which in a weak and insufficient educational system, already have failed. We print official papers in our government agencies in Spanish. We advertise on radio and TV in Spanish. We provide translators in courts and businesses. We are doing everything, but including foreign nationals. We are telling them exactly to do the opposite of what they should be doing. No need to learn English, everything is in Spanish. Don't worry about getting directions: the street names are in Korean, Japanese, or Chinese (of course they are yeah right).

Do you know where the actual reason lies, for me to speak and write in English as well as I do today? It was not only because I made the choice to do so. It was because in order to achieve what I wanted to achieve, I had no choice.

Unfortunately, we have made that choice for Millions of immigrants already. What angers me the most, is that our government has given in to a few special interest groups, that are run by narrow-minded, hypocritical and self-serving individuals. And to make matters worse, our politicians willingly follow suit, so that they may garner a few more votes at the next election, i.e. President Bush's proposed Amnesty Proposal.

An example of the prejudice and one sided attitude of this country came last week, as I was buying stamps and mailing my packages at my local post office branch, I noticed a new booklet, right near the register. This 48-page booklet, (Publication 295) in both Spanish and English, is called "HISPANIC PEOPLE AND EVENTS ON US POSTAGE STAMPS."

The first 24 pages are in English and the introduction said, "since pre-colonial times, Hispanic people have contributed to the history and culture of the United States..."

While there is nothing inherently wrong with celebrating Hispanic people, my concerns are:

1) That this booklet is (half) in Spanish instead of completely in English

2) Where are the booklets celebrating the contributions of other ethnic groups and cultures in America?

3) The post office keeps raising rates while cutting back on basic services. Why would they spend crucial money in this manner?

The one major concern I have regarding this is. Did no other group of people help to contribute to the history and culture of the United State.

In conclusion I would like to say: "Our country is a long way from becoming a truly unified country. The main ingredient must come from every citizen, every immigrant and legal resident, and that is ... a common language."

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