SPECIAL SPORTS ARTICLES

Nobody Asked Me But ...
by Wilbur Wilke

March 12, 2005

This has nothing to do with sports but I have to get something off my chest. You know the feeling, something that won’t go away until you complain about it out loud

Why do I, and every native born American, have to press the number one on the phone pad to hear options in English? This is not a dual speaking country. The official, and only language in the U.S. is English, so why are we being asked to press a button to hear our own language?

Too many companies are using this politically correct technique, and I’m irritated. I understand that people who do not understand English are entitled to hear these announcements in their native tongue. Since there is a large Spanish speaking population in the states now, I have a suggestion.

Why not have the recording say, “If you want to hear the options in English, stay on the line.” Then in Spanish the recording should say, For Spanish, press number one.” This way no one is offended. What do you think?

Here’s a quick baseball riddle:
Can you name the eight ways a batter can reach first base safely?

Answers in my next column. Look for it.