Can we speak at the same level?

For some reason it has always puzzled me the fact that my native language Spanish, has been for some reason been relegated to a lesser status by your typical or mainstream American if you will. What do I mean. Well. Whenever I go to restaurants or read newspapers and they have articles, menu items or anything that is written in French for example, mind you, I have no problem with French, it's my favorite language after Spanish and English. As I was saying when I see articles with words in French, I see the editors of these newspapers or other publications go the extra mile to try to be as grammatically correct as possible. inserting the proper accentuation as the words require, they even go as far as to print them in italics so that the reader might better understand the fact the word is special. And when you pronounce it, they even correct you, they let you know that you are somehow killing the word.

Now, let's go to Spanish. I have yet to see, except for rare occasions any newspaper, menus, or magazines that offer the same attention to detail when it comes to anything that has an Iberian background, be it names, places or food.

I had been wanting to share this somewhere, somehow for quite a while, To be honest, I have no idea to what prompted me to do it now,

Perhaps no one will take this post seriously or perhaps there will be others that will take it seriously, acknowledge it but will see no truth in what I am claiming here.

Currently, I live in Los Ángeles (here's an example) and I have for quite a while now. I have been reminded time and time again since I first arrived here to Speak English, we're in America. So I have always tried my best to do just that and respect it.

I am asking though, it would be nice for people to give the respect Spanish deserves. No mutilation of the language for I know if it were French or Italian, heck, even Japanese that would be unthinkable, perhaps even unforgivable,

Try. At least try. I know Spanish is not your language, I know we're not in México or España, But could you at least try not to diminish and belittle my language, Hold it in the same level of respect you would any other European language. I will not make fun of you nor will I think I'm better than you if it doesn't come off right. After all, when I was learning your language, I kept everything I was told in order that I may be a better speaker of it, a better person and so that you would see me eye to eye.

Rogelio Gómez Hernández