Letters: Signs should be in English
In this Tuesday, June 14, 2011 photo, signs primarily in languages other than English are displayed in the Flushing, Queens section of New York. New York City Council members are wading into a potential culture clash with a bill that would require 60 percent of a business' exterior sign to be in English, saying the signs are a public safety hazard and keep merchants from attracting a larger customer base. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Credit: AP Photo/Seth Wenig
On July Fourth, of all days, an article appeared regarding the store signs in Chinese in Flushing ["Pols push for signs in English," News]. Why aren't these signs in English in the first place?
The article states that changing them to English might "homogenize diverse pockets of the city." Seriously? The diversity will still be there.
How dare Peter Tu, executive director of the Flushing Chinese Business Association, say that "people must respect that this is a special area." This is Main Street, Flushing, for God's sake, not a "special area" solely reserved for immigrants. How insulting.
Tu further states, "When you walk in the street, you don't feel like you are in America." If people don't want to feel like they're in America, why are they here? Why do Americans have to feel like we're the ones walking in another country?
Fran Ceraso, West Islip
I don't understand why this city legislation to require signs in English didn't happen long ago. I was born and raised in New York City, and I love our diversity. However, I do not like feeling like an outsider in my own city.
I do not feel welcome in neighborhoods and stores that make it clear that they are not interested in my understanding.
When my grandparents and my dad arrived from Europe, they were thrilled to be here and couldn't wait to learn English and be American. They always held on to their heritage and their first language. Nevertheless, English was spoken at home as well as outside.
I can't help but resent those who come here, benefit from all that our wonderful country has to offer, but do not try to assimilate at all, and make no effort to become Americans.
Sheila Bernard, Douglaston
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