‘Is Spanish Wrong Signal?’

Chavez’s applaudable opinion that Latinos living in the U.S. should be able to speak English is not enough to condemn Dukakis’ use of Spanish on the campaign trail. It is a shallow, short-sighted individual who thinks the only benefit a Spanish-speaking representative of the people can claim is his/her ability to muster votes. Speaking Spanish, Dukakis shows he has windows open to the outside world; windows that America has kept closed for too long. At last, we will have a President who, in addition to leading a sound domestic policy, can truly understand that the world is made up of a variety of people--both inside and outside our borders--with a multitude of different value systems and methods of personal expression.

Finally, our foreign policy will not be limited to the ignorant, pretentious powder keg of recent times, but will be able to better serve the interests of the United States around the world through insight and intelligence.

ROBERT J. COOPER

Carlsbad