Speaking of English: It should be official

I grew up in Grand Prairie, a suburb of Dallas. Not long ago I went to a high school reunion of some of my close classmates. I walked outside to see what main street looked like after many years. To my surprise I could only read a few of the signs outside businesses. I was truly amazed and at the same time disappointed.

I read about special classes in school for students who do not speak English. I see on almost all labels of goods at stores that have another language in addition to English. I see printed documents that are printed in both English and Spanish.

I feel sorry for those who come to this country and never learn English. They don’t know it but they are slowing or eliminated their own future and for their children. I went to school with Hispanics and they all spoke English. We got along fine. I even had one for a roommate before I got married. We remained friends for a very long time until he moved to another city. However, this would have never happened if he did not speak English.

My first job as an engineer in Dallas had me working on the High Thrust Rocket Research Facility at Edwards Air Force base in California. Two of the technicians on my job were Hispanic. One was Sergio Medelin mentioned above. Another was Louie Gonzalez another Hispanic. When my wife & I were engaged to marry we had not set a date. Sergio and Louie brought their wives and took my fiancé and me to Oklahoma where we were married.

In the early years of our country, many people came here from numerous countries. The vast majority of them learned English. They did not have to live in a neighborhood where people spoke the old language. They became part of our country. They would never consider flying the flag of their old country to a place celebrating America or one of its famous people. They loved America and became a part of it. They were proud to be Americans.

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