What Comes Around Goes Around

Many of us in America feel that our once proud culture, including our world-dominating English language, is being threatened by immigration, particularly illegal immigration from Spanish-speaking countries such as Mexico. Because of this legitimate threat, many people and organizations have overreacted. One example occured on May 14, 2013 when Officer Jessinia Guzman, of the New York Police Department (NYPD), was reprimanded for speaking a single sentence in Spanish while at work (see The New York Daily News). She spoke the sentence to a co-worker who, along with Guzman and approximately 1/3 of all NYPD officers, speaks Spanish (see The Observer). Having many years of experience in law enforcement, I can say with certainty that having an officer who is fluent in Spanish is an asset to the police department and the community as a whole. For that reason alone, bilingual officers should be encouraged rather than reprimanded. But, I think there's another reason that may be even more important.


According to New America Media, the United States could become the world's largest Spanish-speaking country by as soon as 2050. If this were to happen, who do you think will be elected to the various leadership positions around the country? And, what language do you think could be "outlawed" then? I think the way in which we handle the inevitable transition will greatly impact how those who speak our traditional English language will be treated.

Many in our English speaking culture are offended by the incursion of those who, rather than assimilate, bring their own culture with them. They are especially offended when our Minority Rule society accuses them of "intolerance" for not accepting the newcomers and their foreign ways. Even though, in the countries from which these newcomers originated, it would never be acceptable to practice the ways of our culture. However, because of our government's refusal to seal the borders to illegal immigtration, the change is coming regardless of our feelings or wishes. I suggest we prepare for it.

Of course, once we all speak Spanish, the Chinese will be coming.