Manifiesto por la lengua común

Recently, in an About.com blog article I read of a new Spanish initiative that sounds somewhat suspicious in its motives. And again from About a link to a Manifesto for a common language can be found at  El Mundo.

A brief translation of the first few sentences:

Manifesto for a Common Language
For many years there has been reason to be concerned about our country, and the institutional situation of the Castilian language (Spanish), it is unique and among the official common languages of all Spanish Citizens. Of course, we are not merely concerned with cultural unease - our language enjoys a strength that is enviable and increasing in the whole world, only superseded by Chinese and English. -

As the about.com article is keen to point out there are many different languages spoken within Spain, and the bilingual proficiency is not well kept.

Although for tourism reason I suppose it is good to promote the use of Castilian as well as other languages such as Basque. Certainly, for the best outcome for the Spanish people it is wise for them to speak the most common language. The lingua franca if you will of the peninsula. However, the Manifesto lacks a great deal of compassion, as noted by a commentator in the about.com article as a purely political move. I do not disagree that a common language is good generally speaking, but can also be a strong detriment is pushed too far into one direction.

In some ways, I consider the move to be a compassionate turn for the betterment of Spanish culture and tourism, and in other ways I find it to be a cruel and under handed way to attempt to abolish the minority languages and cultures of the peninsula.

Nevertheless, I am not fearful that these languages will be in any danger as time passes with or without a manifesto seeking a common language.

(Image Courtesy Iker. a photo of an Old tower in Zarautz, Basque Country. )