Guest Column
Bush is right on immigration reform, wrong on “English only” national anthem.
By Richard R. Farias
For the last 40 years, I have devoted my life to improving opportunities for low -income families; protected my country by serving in the military including a year in Vietnam; by providing close supervision of delinquent youth and I was born in this country and I am of Mexican ancestry. Furthermore, I have a heartfelt appreciation for the diversity of this country's population and the reality that it is the diverse population that has made this country great and what it is today.
Imagine for a moment, that our National Anthem is translated into every conceivable language in this universe. What an incredible tribute to our great country! As well, today, there are millions of Americans that while they may have learned English to become citizens or were actually born in this country but are primarily Spanish speaking or other language, would not do justice to singing the anthem in English. English has never been the official language of this country, so what's the problem?
As I see it, the problem is that many of our elected officials and community leaders probably never really had a true appreciation of the tremendous diversity of this country. Giving lip service to diversity may earn votes, but in the end will not keep you in office or maintain your leadership in the community.
- It is truly time to examine the arrogance and hypocrisy that continues to exist in this country. By the same token, every other country, including Mexico, must do more to keep their people in place. But, that's an issue of the need for immigration reform, which certainly should be legislated after collaboration and compromise with the countries these folks are coming from. But that truly is another story. For now, the issue of the National Anthem being translated into Spanish must be placed in the proper perspective. Being short-focused and narrow minded negates the greatness of this country and those who are against its translation should really reconsider
- __________________________________________________
- Richard R. Farias is President and CEO of Tejano Center for Community Concerns. Contact at TCCCFARIAS@aol.com
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed by HispanicVista.com (www.hispanicvista.com) without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)