This whole thing is a ridiculous "to do" about nothing. By the second or third generation all these immigrant groups will be speaking English. Whether or not they still speak their native languages is another question. I would hope that they would.

Similar to Deckman's family history, and that of many of other Americans, my father grew up in a Norwegian community in Wisconsin where Norwegian was spoken at home, in the church, and other places. Norwegian was his first language; he only learned English when he started going to public school. Such will be the case, I believe, with other new immigrants, whatever their native language. It's a pity that most Americans can only speak one language, English. Speaking other languages will be more and more an economic advantage as business becomes more international.

We should certainly be free to sing or speak in whatever language we wish. This has nothing to do with being patriotic American citizens.

S. in Seattle