The language barrier creates division

Re “No mas in the Senate ... “ editorial, May 21

It might serve The Times’ editorial writers well to read the columns in their own paper, namely “Y’all say hola to the future” by Michael Skube (Current, May 21). In it, he lays out the reasons for insisting that English be the national language. An American Quebec in the Southwest is not a pleasant prospect. This has nothing to do with race; it has to do with culture and language.

You claim the existence of the problem is “dubious.” You should check the results of the high school exit exam. Many of these students are limited English speakers. They have trouble, at least in part, because they feel learning English is unnecessary. What about the demands of bilingual education (which, by the way, was defeated by popular vote)? To top it off, the judge who overturned the exit exam bought the argument that those who failed were not given the proper instruction to pass. You folks are just not paying attention.

JOHN DORCH

Seal Beach

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Nothing illustrates the hysteria in the Senate in voting to make English the national language of the United States more than the simple fact that English has become a near-universal language spoken by educated people around the world. No other language has been as universally spoken as English currently is.

JAY STEVENS

Long Beach