An essay by Samuel Quirós
I was born in Puerto Rico. I went to school in Puerto Rico and graduated from the University of Puerto Rico.
Obviously I speak Spanish fluently. It is after all my first language.
However, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude towards my parents for, among the many things they have done for me since they gave me life, making sure I had a strong bilingual education in both English and Spanish. Because of their foresight I was able to finish my graduate studies in Florida and I now hold an executive position with a Fortune Global 500 company.
Limiting oneself to one language, English or any other for that matter, closes doors of opportunity. In our case, Puerto Ricans have unrestricted access to one of the largest and most advanced educational and employment markets in the world – the United States. We need to learn English if we want to take advantage of the opportunities that await us within.
Spanish is the language of my parents; it is the language of my grandparents; it is my language. However, I will not sacrifice my future, nor will I deny myself educational or employment opportunities in some vain attempt to make a point about patriotism.
Language is not who I am.
I am more than the language I communicate in. It is the content of my message which defines me, not the language in which I choose to send it.
To suggest that language defines who I am is to limit my possibilities. We live in a country that values freedom of speech, but nowhere does it say that speech has to be in English. To do so violates the very essence of freedom of speech, and it violates my rights as a free man and a citizen of the United States.
As a matter of practicality, I need to speak English if I want to be understood in most places in the United States. That is a far cry from saying I need to speak English, and only English, to be considered an American. It is just as ridiculous to suggest I need to speak Spanish, and only Spanish, to be Puerto Rican.
I am an American. I am Puerto Rican. These two conditions are not mutually exclusive. I can value my heritage and my culture while believing in the principles of the Declaration of Independence and in the letter and spirit of the Constitution of the United States. Those who suggest that these two conditions are mutually exclusive seek to divide us. It is much easier to be divisive than it is to be constructive.
I am who I am. I am who I choose to be. Do not tell me what I can and cannot be. In the land of the free and the home of the brave I can do as I please. Perhaps those who do not understand this fear it. It is human nature. Pity them, for they are missing out on life.
We, Puerto Ricans, have to learn English. To not do so closes too many doors to opportunities, and denies us our fundamental rights of participating in the very political processes that impact our lives. To not learn English condemns us and our children to missing out on one of the biggest and most prosperous markets in the world. It limits us, it constrains us, it lessens our ability to impact the world around us and it gives those in power more control over us.
Learning English does not mean we turn our backs on Spanish – it means we expand our horizons, we increase our opportunities for advancement and improvement, and we gain access to every part of the environment that surrounds us. We are empowered by this ability and we fulfill our promise to ourselves and to our posterity.
Discuss this essay in the Puerto Rico 51 Forums!
Language is Not Who I Am
An essay by Samuel Quirós
I was born in Puerto Rico. I went to school in Puerto Rico and graduated from the University of Puerto Rico.
Obviously I speak Spanish fluently. It is after all my first language.
However, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude towards my parents for, among the many things they have done for me since they gave me life, making sure I had a strong bilingual education in both English and Spanish. Because of their foresight I was able to finish my graduate studies in Florida and I now hold an executive position with a Fortune Global 500 company.
Limiting oneself to one language, English or any other for that matter, closes doors of opportunity. In our case, Puerto Ricans have unrestricted access to one of the largest and most advanced educational and employment markets in the world – the United States. We need to learn English if we want to take advantage of the opportunities that await us within.
Spanish is the language of my parents; it is the language of my grandparents; it is my language. However, I will not sacrifice my future, nor will I deny myself educational or employment opportunities in some vain attempt to make a point about patriotism.
Language is not who I am.
I am more than the language I communicate in. It is the content of my message which defines me, not the language in which I choose to send it.
To suggest that language defines who I am is to limit my possibilities. We live in a country that values freedom of speech, but nowhere does it say that speech has to be in English. To do so violates the very essence of freedom of speech, and it violates my rights as a free man and a citizen of the United States.
As a matter of practicality, I need to speak English if I want to be understood in most places in the United States. That is a far cry from saying I need to speak English, and only English, to be considered an American. It is just as ridiculous to suggest I need to speak Spanish, and only Spanish, to be Puerto Rican.
I am an American. I am Puerto Rican. These two conditions are not mutually exclusive. I can value my heritage and my culture while believing in the principles of the Declaration of Independence and in the letter and spirit of the Constitution of the United States. Those who suggest that these two conditions are mutually exclusive seek to divide us. It is much easier to be divisive than it is to be constructive.
I am who I am. I am who I choose to be. Do not tell me what I can and cannot be. In the land of the free and the home of the brave I can do as I please. Perhaps those who do not understand this fear it. It is human nature. Pity them, for they are missing out on life.
We, Puerto Ricans, have to learn English. To not do so closes too many doors to opportunities, and denies us our fundamental rights of participating in the very political processes that impact our lives. To not learn English condemns us and our children to missing out on one of the biggest and most prosperous markets in the world. It limits us, it constrains us, it lessens our ability to impact the world around us and it gives those in power more control over us.
Learning English does not mean we turn our backs on Spanish – it means we expand our horizons, we increase our opportunities for advancement and improvement, and we gain access to every part of the environment that surrounds us. We are empowered by this ability and we fulfill our promise to ourselves and to our posterity.
Discuss this essay in the Puerto Rico 51 Forums!