America has been called a nation of immigrants. Everyone here, virtually everyone, came from another country. Only the Native Americans – the American Indians – are true natives of the land.

Lyndon Johnson, our 36th president, said America is a “nation of nations.” Is there a more diverse population anywhere than the American population?

I don’t know how there could be. Ours is a broad spectrum of people. That’s why I laugh when pundits say we must not become isolationists. We have always been open to new immigration, and to free trade. If we want to impose new restrictions on immigration or trade, we shouldn’t have to justify it to anyone.

As a child, I was taught that America was the world’s melting pot. People came here from all over the world because they were drawn to the promise of freedom in America. The melting pot symbolized all the different nationalities melting into one nationality – America. From out of many, one. Right? Are we still a melting pot? More and more Americans want to label themselves as something other than just American. That can’t be good.

Then there is the issue of language. English is our language. Yet when I call a company, I am told to select my language of choice. Frequently, signs are posted in English and Spanish.

I am told that not all our visitors here care about assimilating into American culture. They’re just here visiting and working awhile. Soon they’ll be going back to their home of origin. They’re not here long-term. If that is the case (and I have reason to doubt it) then if businesses want to trade with Spanish-speaking people, the businesses should employ bilingual workers. This way they could communicate with guest workers here who possess a limited knowledge of our language, or don’t want to learn English.

What happened to the great melting pot? I don’t want to see anyone taken advantage of due to their race or ethnicity. Still, this is America, and English is the official language here.

It’s not a co-official language – one of two. Foreigners arriving in this country should realize this. If I were to travel to Italy, for example, I wouldn’t expect to see signs posted in Italian and English. They may be posted like that, but I shouldn’t expect it. I would attempt to find someone who spoke both languages to help me make my way. That’s how it’s always been done.

Robert Peele

Rocky Mount