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Editor,
Annabel Chia writes in the Dec. 16 Student News column in the Daily Journal that she has two names. She is like me, raised in America but having immigrant connections to a foreign place. Her emblem is her name in Chinese characters given to her by her grandparents and mine is wholly internal, because Filipinos do not have a writing system.
And I do not have another name in my language. And I did not go to school to learn Tagalog. Filipinos do not have a Filipino school in America, and so we are even more disconnected from the Philippines than Malaysian Chinese in America are. That’s why my brother and two sisters are thoroughly American and speak only American English. But I lived and studied in the Philippines and the woman I married taught me Tagalog. My Filipino school was the Philippines!
I have a healthy respect for multilingual people, where most Americans speak only American English. Knowing another language, and I speak Tagalog, Spanish, Japanese, and one word of Punjabi, gives you a better perspective of how other people think, and removes you from the myopia of American culture. You are at a distinct advantage if you can speak another language and you are likely to be less jaded, less myopic in your viewpoints, and more well adjusted and even keeled in your personality. Because language teaches you perspective.
So Annabel you are one of the elite Americans who are blessed for being able to fit in another culture. God has blessed you with wisdom!
James Mark Constantino
South San Francisco
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(2) comments
Mr. Constantino,
Although I see your Letters to the Editor on a regular basis I often disagree with your viewpoints because many times the subject matter is more political in nature and our views definitely part ways there.
I very much enjoyed your letter today about Annabel Chia. Being an “English only” person myself I admire those that have multiple backgrounds and nationalities. Over many years of tailgating at the “Stick” it was always fun to meet and share stories and food with our fellow fans. They would offer their latest creation and we would offer ours. On another occasion back in the ‘60s while serving in the US Coast Guard we were ported for a couple of days in Valparaiso, Chile and on shore leave some of the crew members were at a small bar to have a beer. Not speaking the local Chilean dialect, if there was one, they tried what they thought would work. Something like uno, dos cerveza for two beers. The bartender looked at them a little inquisitive and did nothing so they tried something else with the same result. Finally one said something like I just want a couple beers and the bartender said “Well why the heck didn’t you say so?”
The world would be in a better place if more folks shared stories such as yours today and not push the envelope of disagreement.
Huzzah!
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