Tuesday, May 23, 2006 | 7:33 a.m.
The word America is a Spanish word that came from Spain and not England. The Spaniards settled in the Western Hemisphere and named their conquered land America. About a century later the English settled in the East Coast and then named their country the United States of America.
The Spanish language was spoken in America before English was. The United States border later came to the Southwest United States, which was once under Spanish and then Mexican rule. The majority of Mexicans trying to enter the United States are American Indians, who were taught the Spanish language by the European Spaniards.
For many years the White Anglo Saxon Protestants in our government have been trying to assimilate the American Indians and other people of color to be like them. This mentality has now spread to the Middle East by invading and conquering Iraq, and the next step is the assimilation of the Iraqis into Anglo culture.
It is very hard to change years and years of language and culture. The Spanish language will continue to be spoken in America. The people who want English-only are probably not racists and are most certainly suffering xenophobics. Whenever someone says Las Vegas, Nevada, or Los Angeles, California, they are speaking Spanish.
Michael G. Borresen, Las Vegas
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