Overwhelmed by the Spanish Language in the U.S.

I resent having the Spanish language pushed down my throat. It is on billboards, television commercials, political forms, product packaging on grocery shelves, business promotional materials, ads on the side of buses, in fast food restaurants, bank windows, and government offices such as the DMV and courthouses, and much, much more. English may not be the "official" national language of the United States, but it is and always has been the language that is spoken by the majority of the people who live here. All of a sudden, everything is written in English and Spanish. I resent having to bear the extra cost for this marketing, repackaging and rebranding. A countrys language is an important element in bringing about political and cultural unity among it's citizens. Historically, the American government has operated in English, I think it is time that English is officially declared our National Language. At the end of the day, I believe that a shared language would create a common bond among all the people of the United States of America.

Nobel Peace Prize - Honor or Folly

I have always held a great deal of respect for the idea behind the Nobel Peace Prize, until today. What in the world was the Nobel Peace Prize Committee thinking? To present this prestigious, meaningful award to President Barack Obama trivializes this honor. Past recipients include Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King and the 14th Dalai Lama, recipients who not only "talked the talk," but "walked the walk," a concept, that so far, has eluded Mr. Obama. Nobel Peace Prize winners are held to a higher standard. Individuals who have established themselves with their performance, not just with their promises. According to Alfred Nobel, the Peace Prize should be awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." At the end of the day, where does Mr. Obama fit within this criteria?