When I think of the diversity of this state, I can't help but think, "How can we have such weak language programs in our schools?" You cannot walk through the streets of Manhattan without hearing several different languages. I understand that, according to Henry Hitchings' book, 'The Language Wars: A History of Proper English', the language of the future seems to be English. It is studied worldwide and serves as the lingua france of business and popular culture. It is used widely in areas of shipping, diplomacy, computing, medicine and education. But recent research uncovers, one's native language is associated with tradition, home, religion, culture, school, arts and social sciences. What I found so fascinating about Hitchings' book was that holding on to one's native language is likened to the behavior of an environmentalist: the more English occupies the space of other languages people are like activists trying to preserve their mother tongue. This is the tongue that speaks to your heart, your family, your religion, your culture, etc. How do we preserve such a garden of babel? What steps do we take in New York to support this unique quilt of languages?