Make English Offical Language of USA?

[LaNdReW]

What does everyone here think of making english the official language of the USA??
http://www.us-english.org/inc/

One thing that irks me about the language thing is the fact that we PAY people to speak different languages so people can collect public assistance...

My ancestors did not speak english, they learned it...and when they had interaction with gov't officials, they brought along a friend who helped. Be it Polish, German, or Italian, they made it here without gov't translator's or welfare for that matter.
We assimilated. Why can't the newly immigrated?

(I have this overwelming urge to say Resistance is Futile)

Bilingual education of nonenglish speaking children is a whole other topic.

What do you think?

[WNYresident]

One nation one language. English.

[LaNdReW]

http://www.us-english.org/inc/news/preleases/

November 10, 2005 Florida Bill to Require Spanish Instruction for all K-2 Students

November 7, 2005 83 Percent of Maryland Residents Favor Making English Official Language of State

October 26, 2005 Common Language Debate Heats Up as Weather Cools

October 20, 2005 Census Data Reveals That 1-in-12 New Mothers Speak Little or No English

September 29, 2005 Los Angeles Daily News Highlights Growth of ‘English-Optional’ Communities

August 26, 2005 Dallas County requires school administrators to learn Spanish – or else

August 9, 2005 U.S. Military English Language Requirement Under Fire

August 3, 2005 Spanish Set to Become Official Language of Seven Denver Public Library Branches

July 19, 2005 English Language Unity Act co-sponsor list climbs past 125 members

June 29, 2005 New Poll Finds That 79 Percent of Americans Favor Making English Official

June 9, 2005 Crane Operator Sues California, Demanding Safety Test in Spanish

June 2, 2005 New Hampshire Legislature Tells Congress, “Pass Official English”

May 11, 2005 English Language Unity Act of 2005 Soars Past 100 co-sponsors

May 10, 2005 Arizona Governor Vetoes Official English Bill

May 5, 2005 Arizona Legislature Sends Official English Bill to Governor’s Desk

April 22, 2005 Arizona Official English Bill Awaits Senate Approval

April 19, 2005 Statement on West Virginia legislation by U.S. English, Inc. Chairman Mauro E. Mujica

April 11, 2005 West Virginia Poised to Become 28th State with Official English

March 31, 2005 Official English Legislation Passes West Virginia Senate, 30-4

March 29, 2005 Official English Legislation Passes Arizona House
March 9, 2005 U.S.English Chairman Testifies in Annapolis for Official English Legislation

March 8, 2005 Linguistic Diversity Underscores Importance of a Common Language

March 2, 2005 U.S. English, Inc. Supports Introduction of H.R. 997, the English Unity Act of 2005

March 1, 2005 California candidate would be nation’s only elected official who speaks no English

February 17, 2005 U.S. English, Inc., Supports Judge's Decision to Use English Classes as an Alternative to Typical Sentences

February 9, 2005 English Immersion Delivers Shining Results in California

February 3, 2005 U.S. English, Inc. Chairman Denounces the Use of Spanish on Senate Floor

January 18, 2005 Rejection of California Nominee Hurts English Language Learners

January 13, 2005 U.S. English Inc. Applauds Introduction of Official English Bill in Arizona

[LaNdReW]

Kinda like what is behind what is happening in France...


http://www.us-english.org/inc/news/p...ase.asp?ID=170


Los Angeles Daily News Highlights Growth of ‘English-Optional’ Communities
“All that you need in California is Spanish,” says one resident
A recent article in the Los Angeles Daily News reveals that many immigrants are consciously forgoing learning English, deeming the language ‘less important’ than others. Focusing on the city’s Koreatown, journalist Rachel Uranga touched on the disturbing trend created by government multilingualism — people and communities removed from the English speaking mainstream. Yoon Seong, a 60-year old living in West Hills area of Los Angeles sums it up this way “I don’t need English here. All that you need in California is Spanish.” Martin Paik, a Korean immigrant who came to the United States via Argentina says plainly, “I haven’t found any inconvenience because I don’t speak English… If you can speak Spanish, you can drive, employers can have clients, you can order in restaurants, you can do anything.”

“The development of ‘English-optional’ communities in the United States is a problem that we as a nation ignore at our peril,” noted Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of the Board of U.S. English, Inc. “Recent tragedies have revealed the extreme hardships we face in getting out urgent communication in our common language. Now imagine the difficulties we will face getting any message — educational, business, emergency — through the wall of the language barrier in these neighborhoods.”

After dwindling since the World War I era, the number of households isolated by the language barrier has skyrocketed since 1980. According to the U.S. Census, the number of “linguistically isolated” households, homes where no one over the age of 14 speaks English at home or speaks another language and speaks English very well, has surged from 2.9 million in 1990 to 4.4 million in 2000. More than 1-in-25 households in the United States now fall into this category, including nearly 1-in-10 in California and 1-in-13 in New York.

“American homes and neighborhoods have always had their unique languages, but they have always been tied to the rest of the nation through their knowledge of English,” continued Mujica. “The growth of multilingual forms, ballots and instructions has loosened that tie. With items such as Social Security documents in 16 languages and 45 states offering driver’s license exams in languages other than English, we have made it entirely possible for adult immigrants to go about their lives without ever having to learn our common language. This is a sad development for a proud nation and one we should immediately address.”

U.S. English, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest non-partisan citizens' action group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S. English, Inc. (www.usenglish.org) now has more than 1.8 million members.

[Night Owl]

One nation one language. English.

Oh, you mean the language of England?

One nation under god, with librety and justice FOR ALL.

[WNYresident]

PEople can know as many languages as they would like.

[therising]

I care about things in the world that effect me.

I'm pretty sure that my life will not be effected by whether or not English becomes the offical language of the US.

I'd be curious to know why anyone feels so passionately about it.

[WNYresident]

I'm not passionate about it but think about it. One day we'll have some special interest group in NYS that will want all street signs in 2 or 3 languages. Some idiot in government will say "CHANGE ALL THE SIGNS" Guess who pays for it.. you and I.

[Night Owl]

I'm not passionate about it but think about it. One day we'll have some special interest group in NYS that will want all street signs in 2 or 3 languages. Some idiot in government will say "CHANGE ALL THE SIGNS" Guess who pays for it.. you and I.

"They" will pay for it as well, if they are a special interest group - they will be of the taxpaying citizens as well, which means they will be paying taxes just the same as everyone else... in this, the land of the FREE and home of the brave.

There was a different thread about "others in America"

[WNYresident]

You have to make things about race don't you.

[Night Owl]

You have to make things about race don't you.

Nope, you mentioned changing street signs to different languages.

IE-

One day we'll have some special interest group in NYS that will want all street signs in 2 or 3 languages.

Actually, I don't think I mentioned anything about "races" in this, I went back to check and don't see it. Quote me of something I am missing?

[Ragin]

Let's see if I got this right ...

Laws mandating English speaking citizens to learn Spanish ... hmmm ... why not mandate spanish speaking citizens to learn English as well?

It goes both ways.

[300miles]

My take...

A common language unites people. It gives nations a more common ground for understanding and communication. Look at what the French/English issues has done to Canada.

Likewise, look how a common language even between countries like US, Canada, UK, Australia give us a sense of common ground. While the divisions of language in the European Union will always be a stumbling block.

Americans should always be free to speak whatever language they choose, BUT ALL AMERICANS should be taught English to fluency. That includes children of Spanish speaking parents. We should never allow Spanish-Only schools (or any other language).

Speak whatever you like, but you must be able to read/write/speak English fluently as an nationwide education requirement for ALL children.

[steven]

Originally posted by therising
I'm pretty sure that my life will not be effected by whether or not English becomes the offical language of the US.

I'd be curious to know why anyone feels so passionately about it.

Your life is already effected by it. There is literraly millions of tax dollars spent every year to produce government forms in different languages.

[therising]

Originally posted by steven
Your life is already effected by it. There is literraly millions of tax dollars spent every year to produce government forms in different languages.

And that effects me how? Are you saying that my taxes are higher becuase of those millions of dollars that are spent on the bilingual forms?

I mean, is it really that much of an issue?