The Fort Collins Coloradoan, which is my local newspaper, recently published a letter to the editor (reproduced below) that complained about the Olive Garden restaurant including a note on the letter-writer's check. The note said in Spanish, "Thank you for visiting us today." The letter-writer argued that the note unduly "catered to one particular nationality."

And I suppose the letter-writer is right. Good manners, signs of respect, acts of civility and courtesy all necessarily cater to someone else; thereby dignifying the giver and the recipient, as well as the disinterested bystander who might vicariously participate in the exchange by witnessing it. I don't know where the letter-writer's complaint or injury lies.

Furthermore, implicit in the letter-writer's argument is the notion that Hispanics lack standing as stakeholders in Fort Collins' cultural and economic life. That doesn't ring true with the city's history. Hispanics have contributed to Fort Collins since at least the turn of the century, when the Great Western Sugar Company recruited them to work as laborers in the sugar beet fields.

For example, John and Inez Rivera Romero immigrated from New Mexico to Fort Collins in 1927 and bought a lot in Andersonville – one of the three Sugar Factory Neighborhoods located northeast of Old Town. There they built a four-room adobe house and raised seven children. The city purchased their house in 2001 – as a northern example of indigenous adobe construction – and designated it as a local historic landmark, which the city then renovated into the Museo de las Tres Colonias, an interpretive center documenting Hispanic contributions to Northern Colorado development.

Hispanic contributions are a reality for my family. My daughter's junior high school has a large Hispanic population, and I was curious about the school's quantitative demographics. I called up Poudre School District Communications Services and asked. They sent me (Thank you very much!) the following demographic profile for my daughter's school:

White - 68%
Hispanic - 24%
Black - 3%
Asian - 3%
Native American - 1%
undeclared - 2%

However you cut it, the Coloradoan letter-writer was off-base in disparaging the Olive Garden for recognizing its Fort Collins Hispanic patrons. But here's the letter. See what you think.

Catering to Hispanics Letter to the editor published by the Coloradoan on Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Here is a good example of what annoys non-Hispanics. A group of us had lunch at the Olive Garden recently. The food and service were good, and we had an enjoyable time. However, I ceased to be pleased when I received my bill. At the bottom of the bill were the words, "Thank you for visiting us today." Beneath these words, the statement is repeated in Spanish. The Olive Garden is supposed to be an Italian restaurant. The menu language, the cuisine and the atmosphere all reflect Italy. Even the restaurant's business card has the word Italian Restaurant printed beneath its name. Why then is the comment in Spanish? Would it not make more sense and be more appropriate to have the comment in Italian? I have nothing against Hispanics. I lived among them in Los Angeles. I had, and still have, Mexican friends. I like their food, music and customs. However, there is too much emphasis on Hispanics. Other nationalities are being discriminated against. America is losing its identity by catering to one particular nationality.

Joseph P. Zito
Fort Collins