[Thorin]

Expecting the American President to address Americans in English is neither "xenophobic" or "silly." In fact, it is a gross dereliction of duty for Bush to regularly speak Spanish to Americans, or to have an extensive Spanish section of the White House web page. (I do not object to his speaking Spanish to foreigners when he is abroad). The English language helps to hold America together, and regularly addressing Americans in a language other than English sends the signal that 1) English is not the national langauge and 2) learning the English language is not important.

The assimilation of the last great wave of immigrants was aided by the fact that they came to a self-confident America, which expected the immigrants to learn English and made no effort to coddle them. There was no talk of bilingual education then, and any American President who made a point of addressing the newcomers in a language other than English would have been ridiculed. Of course, precisely the opposite is occurring now.

[sinkspur]

In fact, it is a gross dereliction of duty for Bush to regularly speak Spanish to Americans, or to have an extensive Spanish section of the White House web page.

Pure silliness. I happen to think it's no big deal. And so do most other Americans, if you asked them.

We've had bilingual stuff here in Texas for 15 years, so I guess I'm used to it. There's no evidence Texans aren't together, including the Mexicans. We voted for Bush to the tune of 70% in 2000, and 40% of the Mexicans voted for him.

I admire anyone who can speak two languages or more, and any Mexican who wants to make something of himself knows he and his family have to learn English. Most do.