Maria Vargas

I found this on: http://www.ktbb.com/youtellme/2007/10/02/es-tiempo-aprender-ingles-its-time-to-learn-english/#comment-513 and had to respond!

To this statement of ONE ignorant person:

?Honest to goodness, if you?re in middle school in Tyler, Texas and you need a sign in Spanish to tell you that progress reports are coming out, how much progress are you really making??

I say, not everyone that speaks Spanish and does not understand English has been here long enough to know all our language, some have not been here very long, legal and illegal.  Do not speak neg of the school system that wants to communicate a message they feel is import with the majority of their parents.

This statement:

?Not fluent in English? Don?t expect to be a doctor, lawyer, accountant, banker or insurance salesman.?

Is not necessarily true, have you been to the doctor, hospital, or some stores lately, the ATTITUDE of ?English is the language of success in America and around the world. It is the lingua franca of commerce everywhere on the planet.?  Is an AMERICAN privilege attitude, and ?If you couldn?t speak English, you couldn?t get a job. No job - no food.?  I know some legal and illegal residents that have bigger homes, better cars, and live in better neighborhoods than I do!

To say:

?Don?t expect investors to fall all over themselves to provide capital for the business you are wanting to start. Same thing for the loan officer from whom you would like to borrow money.?

Well this may be true to SOME extent, but not to the fact of spending money!  The investors, or loan officer may not allow you to BORROW any money; however, which one of the two or millions will not take your money, no matter which language you SPEAK? 

THERE IS ONLY ONE TYPE OF PREJUDICE, and it is do you have enough GREEN or not!

When you say:

?And they are American through and through. ?We are a nation of immigrants,? is not a phrase that pertains to people from Mexico who want the opportunity and freedom of America without the attendant costs and responsibilities. It does not pertain to those who want to transplant their native country (Mexico) to American soil, absorbing none of the history, traditions, customs - and language - of the fabulously free and opportunity-rich country to which they have made the choice to immigrate.?

It is said with such hate, or prejudice, there are many MEXICAN Americans that are legal, came here legally, and are now USA citizens that are PROUD of our USA.  Many take ALL the responsibilities that come with that title.  The HISTORY, TRADITIONS, AND CUSTOMS of America are also the Mexican ones, READ!  that you and people like you so just want you did and clump them together.  You and some like you forget that American Indians and yes MEXICANS were here in the good old USA before you!

I am 1st generation American and my children are 2nd generation we are VERY American and love this country.  I believe that this is the best country in the world, because of it?s tolerance of MOST to allow people to be themselves and embrace all humans with all their differences.  On the statue of liberty does it not states:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Emma Lazarus (1849-1887)

Where does it say, UNLESS you can?t speak English, or ONLY if your educated, or ONLY if your not from MEXICO, or ONLY if you don?t take my job, or go to school with my child.

I believe THIS is the GREATEST country in the world, and WE should take everyone.  In AMERICA, we fight and love people who fight.  I believe if you can make it here to dry ground, then you can stay.  So talk to your Government officials about keeping people out.

This is AMERICA, and if you fought to get here, then why should you not be able to stay in this country ?land of opportunity??  MEANS ?land of opportunity??