In a topic that is very fitting given our change to English for the week, Huffington Post published a report that the Boston Fire Department's new chief, Steve Abraira, does not speak Spanish. Abraira is a native of Miami and insisted that his hiring had nothing to do with his heritage. According to a Boston Herald report, the department has been increasing efforts to hire more bilingual Latino firefighters.

Many are wondering why the fact that Abraira doesn't speak Spanish would be so surprising. As more and more Latinos are born in the United States, a growing number of Latinos do not speak Spanish. According to a study referenced in the story, nearly a third of Latino children speak only English at home. The central issue of the story seems to revolve around the perception that speaking Spanish makes one more Latino than someone who speaks only English or does not speak Spanish fluently. According to some of the people interviewed for the story, many Latinos are very proud of their heritage, without being able to speak Spanish. 

What do you think? Is it necessary to be fluent in Spanish to be considered a true Latino? Or can one be proud of one's heritage and speak only English? Does it make someone less Latino if they are unable to speak Spanish fluently? 

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/steve-abraira-latino-fire-department-chief-singled-out_n_1373701.html