Day 307
Okay, I have a short wick. I know it. I have always been like this – well, as long as I can remember. My patience is short and sometimes my tolerance is shorter. And if there is injustice or something that just doesn’t seem “right” about something, then my wick and tolerance is even shorter still.
I graduated from college in 1979 with a degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in the Spanish language. At that time … some 33 years ago … I thought that Spanish might come in handy some day.
Apparently, that day has come.
I was reading the ads in the newspaper today (after scooping off dead squirrel #2 off my property – this one was the victim of a hit and run) … and an ad caught my eye that has me contemplating writing a letter to the company and/or boycotting their products.
But since I’m a chocoholic and it is the holiday season … boycotting is not in MY best interest at the moment. I might have to wait to boycott until after the New Year.
Anyway … the advertisement is for Hershey’s. It’s a one page flyer in a coupon/advertising packet. In large white letters are the words … Disfruta las fiestas con Hershey’s. In smaller yellow letters UNDERNEATH the Spanish is … Enjoy the Holidays with Hershey’s.
REALLY? When did English become the SECOND LANGUAGE? (And for that matter – when did the word holidays need to be capitalized?)
On the coupon Spanish is listed first (Ahorra/Save) … (en cualquier 2 de/on any 2) … the rest of the coupon is in English.
BUT STILL. Spanish is listed FIRST.
Aren’t we an ENGLISH speaking country?
I would like to say yes. But lately I have begun to wonder.
In the stores around town there are times when I am pretty sure I am the only English-speaking person for aisles around. And it’s not just Spanish I hear … it’s Polish, Russian, some dialect that is of slavic nature or from the Middle East, or sometimes it’s Korean or Chinese.
I know America is a melting pot … and I think that is great. But my mindset is that if you live in this country – you learn the language … which is ENGLISH. For the last hundred or so years when people immigrated to our shores they brought with them their cultures, their recipes and foods, their traditions and beliefs … and very few came knowing the language of this country and yet they learned.
I’m sure it was very difficult. And very scary. BUT THEY DID IT!
English as a second language … I am having a VERY difficult time with this. I just don’t like it.
I don’t like that coupons (let alone street signs) have Spanish on them … and I certainly don’t like Spanish being portrayed as the dominant language. I do not live in Spain or Mexico or the countries that comprise Central/South America. I live in the United States of America where our language is English.
At least it was … until today.