We are a nation with many different types of people, ranging from differing skin colors, sexualities, religions and so forth. Being from a different heritage and having a different primary language are no different.

On Sunday, Sept. 8, the Democratic Party held a debate between its presidential contenders. The usual things were discussed – Iraq and immigration, among other things – but something was different about this debate that set it apart from the others.

It was broadcast almost entirely in Spanish.

The Spanish-speaking television channel, Univision, hosted the debate. The Democratic contenders wore ear-pieces so that those not fluent in Spanish could understand the questions being asked. They responded in English, with a translator then repeating their answers in Spanish for the audience.

Not every candidate needed the earpieces, as Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Bill Richardson of New Mexico were both fluent in Spanish. However, the rules of the debate dictated that they both respond in English to wane away unfair perceptions of the other challengers who couldn’t speak Spanish.

This was the first time in a presidential campaign that a debate was presented primarily in Spanish. And it’s a step in the right direction: in a country where the past two elections were determined by less than two percent of the electorate. The Hispanic population – with over 40 million eligible voters in the upcoming election – will undoubtedly be an important voting bloc to consider when courting voters.

More importantly, it is also the socially responsible thing to do. For many Americans, Spanish is the primary language spoken. By recognizing this, through debates or otherwise, we not only do what is morally right (by recognizing differences in language), but we further enfranchise those who may not have had much of an opinion prior to hearing them in a Spanish-speaking format.

I’m not advocating a complete societal change: Spanish is NOT the primary language for the majority of Americans. And while I stop short of saying it should be the official language in America, English is the primary language and should continue to be for as long as it is spoken by most of the people here.

To ignore this segment of the population would be catastrophic. We are a nation with many different types of people, ranging from differing skin colors, sexualities, religions and so forth. Being from a different heritage and having a different primary language are no different.

Spanish-speaking citizens should recognize that America is an English-speaking country. However, English-speaking Americans should also recognize the growing sphere of influence that Hispanics have within the country.

High schools across the country teach Spanish, with some going as far as requiring it. College campuses – including the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – encourage their students to learn a second language, with Spanish often the popular choice.

Those with Spanish-speaking credentials oftentimes find themselves landing better jobs. The Democratic debate showed that American attitudes towards Hispanics and Spanish-speaking immigrants, (or nationals), are changing.

Americans are beginning to accept – albeit slowly – the fact that not every American speaks English in their homes. We should continue to encourage this acceptance of another language – and culture – within our society.

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