Talking Points #2 on Richard Rodriguez

Why is this story called Tongue Tied? This story is called that because Richard Rodriguez feels in a way violated because he wasn't addressed in Spanish like he would have liked to be when he was in school. He felt that since he was Hispanic that he would have felt more comfortable if he were addressed in his native tongue. I feel that he makes a great point because I know that if I were to go into a different atmosphere and had to speak a language that is not comfortable for me I think that I would feel the same way as he does. I find it to be a bit odd that at his very own dinner table they would practice their English and not speak in Spanish. I feel that school is a different place than at home. Home is where you should be able to not worry about a language barrier and should be a place where you don't have to worry about fitting in just because you don't speak the "common" language. I agree with him when he states that "he hears bilingual educators say that children lose a degree of individuality by becoming assimilated into public society." I feel that if an person cannot express themselves then they are being discriminated. I have to say that I absolutely agree with this piece because I believe that everyone should be able to express themselves the way that is most comfortable. Everyone lives in this country together and everyone should be able to work with each other in order to have a most comfortable society.