Yo no hablo Español

It's been a while but since it has been the beginning of a new semester I have been busy. Lately my kids have shown an interest in speaking Spanish. This has actually come as quite a surprise because their mom is white (non-Spanish speaker), they are pretty much surrounded by all English with the exception of Dora and Diego. Well My daughter Rachel has just recently realized that there are different ways to communicate and has been slowly asking how to say things in Spanish. This is a surprise because I recall growing up actually being a little ashamed of my Hispanic heritage. I grew up in a predominantly white area and my parents didn't speak English so often my siblings and I were their interpreters. Needless to say that the people around me often found this amusing (even those who I considered friends come to think about it) so trying my best to fit in I tried to use as little Spanish as possible in public. Of course it wasn't till later in life that I realized what an advantage I had being fluent in two languages but as a youth it was hard to see. Plus having grown up in Southern California being Mexican was occasionally looked down upon (still is really). In fact I recall Mexican jokes being told in front of me by Church leaders, I tried my best to laugh it off but thinking about it now is really beginning to piss me off. Hence why I am so proud of my daughter, well within the past two weeks I have tried to speak only Spanish to her. She can't always answer in Spanish but she can understand what I am saying about 80% of the time. For example this morning--

Rachel: Dad

Me:¿Qué quieres?

Rachel: Can I have some chips?

Me:Está bien.

Rachel: Where are they daddy?

Me: En la cocina, usa un plato.

She came back with some Doritos in a bowl.

Not to be outdone, little Roman has asked (usually emphatically) that all his DVDs be played in Spanish and he too is beginning to communicate in Spanish. He knows his colors and numbers till about 20 or so and of course simple words like hello, thank you, please etc.

I know this will tick off many Conservative right-wing fools out there but first- please realize that a second language is an advantage to anyone and second that language should be Spanish. You aren't getting rid of us no matter how hard you try. A wall won't do it. You won't be able to deport all 12 million--heck you still can't find Osama. Plus I really can't imagine some white person spending all day picking lettuce or oranges. Since you really do need to face reality, take lessons from my daughter, start learning some Spanish.