Mexican Leaders Miss The Point

Arnold Schwarzengger, Governor of California, said: "You've got to turn off the Spanish television set. You're just forced to speak English, and that just makes you learn the language faster."

Brent Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger demonstrated his ignorance on immigration issues once again by perpetuating the myth that immigrants have to reject their old culture and language in order to learn English and assimilate."

[SIZE=+1]Hispanic Leaders Blast Schwarzenegger's Advice to Turn Off Spanish TV[/SIZE]

Governor Schwarzenegger was correct about what he said! Mr. Wilkes missed the point and had tried to turn it into making the Governor's comments appear to mean something else.

Mexicans who want to learn American English need to immerse themselves in the language just like anyone else who wants to learn a second language. Mexicans who want to live in America need to adopt to the culture of America. That's the point and it's a fact! You can't learn to really communicate in a language until you immerse yourself in it. You can't be a part of a culture until you embrace it, understand it, and join in it. Nothing about that says you have to reject your ancestry or discard everything about your former culture and first language. You can keep that to the extent that it does not conflict with the culture of the land in which you live. You can still be proud of your origins but you need to live where you are.

All immigrants have to deal with these issues. Those that understand it move on with a better life and those that don't wallow in unhappiness.