Should we comform, should we assimilate?

Question

Though I agree that everyone should speak english, I don't believe the should only speak english wether at the store or at home. By everyone speaking english in the United States, life would be much more easier simply because we no longer would have a language barrier. That wouldn't be comfroming or assimilating to the lifestyle of others, not in my opinion, because you can keep your native language and speak it when you want, but you'll know english and you'd be able to use it when needed. What I don't agree with is people that want everyone to comform or assimilate to an "American" lifestyle. When you find out what an "American" lifestyle is please tell me, this country's roots and heritage are not of one country but many. All these cultures have fused together to create what we have now and will continue to fuse today, tomorrow and in the future. I will not comform to a certain persons lifestyle, where would it end? What happen to our freedoms then? What do you think?

Stealth, I speak english, i'm a legal citizen and for your information i speak spanish, and french, i'm not looking for a handout, and I will not live as you live for I have my freedoms and my choices

Answer 1

Should immigrants learn English? Yes.

Should they lose their heritage and cultural identities (or be forced to speak English with their friends in public)? Hell no.

Diversity with a common goal – that’s what makes a country great.

Answer 2

...If you come to America to escape the depths of hell from your original, you must do the deed to respect this nation by assimilating with the rest of society. By neglecting this detail, you're not only making yourself look foolish, but those around you that "immigrated" from elsewhere.

...You of course may not give a damn what other people think-- and if that's the case, that's fine. I don't give a **** what other people think..

However, if that was the case entirely, you wouldn't have submitted this question. Something psychological is telling me, you're wanting some type of support...

The bottom line is....

You come to America for a better lifestyle, you learn to live the way people do in this country. You can speak any language you like. You can blare any music you like also.. You can even wave your nations flag, but you better do so with the presence of the American flag as well!

It's fine to speak other languages.. Bilingual is a good thing. But, make sure you know the basics of a "nations" language majority before entering that country.

Concerning the flag, you best not fly a Siberian flag on July 4th..And the music, can be Tejanno or whatever, but you better wave that American flag..

When I spoke about waving other nations flags with the American flag.. the American flag best be at the highest level, with the state flag below it, and your nations heritage flag beneath that!

Because you have rights.. as a LEGAL citizen here in the states, and because you may have your own property doesn't permit you to fly some other nations flag alone!

And if you think of it that way, than you're not wanted here! Take a class in American history and you may figure out exactly why that is!

If you can't just seem to recognize how in the hell it's so disrespectful, than return to the country of which you came from-- because the 'PEOPLE' of this nation-- it's DOCUMENTED CITIZENS-- don't want that trash around here!

--Rob

Answer 3

I think everyone in the U.S. should be speaking English. It's not like immigrants don't know what country they are immigrating to. Also, that's a big factor in the naturalization process. It pains me everytime I go up to an ATM or some other such machine and it asks me whether I want my transaction in English or Spanish! I'm an American, so I really shouldn't be forced to answer a question like that. To me, it's a slap in the face of everything America has been through.
Just a side note: If we are getting so many mexicans immigrating up here in droves, why don't we just take the next step and make Mexico part of the United States? The corrupt government down there sure wouldn't like it, but I bet the rest of that nation would breathe easier.

Answer 4

You've thought this out very intelligently.
Learning English as a resident or citizen of the US may not be an enforceable requirement, but if a foreigner refuses to learn English,
then one has limited oneself to conversing or conducting business and/or working in the new country, in all fields of endeavor.
Language barrier will always limit ones earnings.
Today in US, the greatest language demand is for Arabic.

One has to understand the resistance by Americans to study foreign languages, and the adamant resistance to learn a language to suit a foreigner.

In foreign countries this is not true, and a given in the tourist industry. Many in that field speak as many seven languages.
I speak a little Spanish and Italian, as well as native English. I can get by, but could not, being limited, conduct business in another language,

Answer 5

What you speak at home is your business. English is our COMMON language, the language of commerce and the communication medium.

Without an official language, you can have many people speaking something different and nothing gets accomplished, you have created a tower of Babel. and it falls.

That's why we need a common language, and that language here is English.

I will not conform to the lifestyle of cultures that are primarily Spanish nor should I have to. If your in our country you speak ENGLISH. If I am in Mexico I speak SPANISH.

Why is it so hard for you to accept that America is a soverign country?

Answer 6

Maybe we should float a better definition of 'assimilate'. It doesn't mean to have an American lifestyle. It means to fit in with others who DO have an American lifestyle, and to make accomodations like learning the language so that they can participate in the society here, rather than expecting those here to make those accomodations for newcomers.

Multiple languages are a good thing. Diverse backgrounds are a good thing. Language barriers that force self-segregation and exacerbate cultural misunderstandings are a bad thing.

Answer 7

What it seems to boil down to is that Americans are getting fed up with everyone else getting equal rights and privileges while they're losing what they had. It's fine that you speak Spanish; but must I learn it too? I'm pretty sure that if I wanted to live in Mexico, I better learn Spanish. It's just common sense. So, why is it that immigrants refuse to learn English when they come here? Everytime you see Spanish in the U.S., you give hispanics another reason not to learn English, and then demand that everything be available in Spanish,,, like voting ballots.

Answer 8

I think you are absolutely right.Why conform to something that desperatly needs changing anyways?Right now,being an american is not something I'm too proud of.Why conform to become a greedy,lazy,whining person?
What is the "american lifestyle"anyways?Does that mean blending in with everyone else and not voicing your opinions?Going to work at some cake job where you sit all day and still complain about how "tired"you are?Or how about receiving welfare and living in public housing?Maybe standing on a street corner begging for money when the mcdonalds across the street has a help wanted sign in the window?or dealing drugs on a corner b/c you want easy money and don't want to work?Then you also could be the crack head who sells her body for a little rock and abandons her kids to get high?Or how about being the harley riding redneck who hasn't bathed in a week and waves his rebel flag proudly while smoking cigarettes and dying of lung cancer and liver disease from drinking all that beer?

Every day I look outside or read the paper,theres always something else going on.And most of it involves american citizens.Child molesters,baby killers,rapists,gangs,etc.Now,they want you to conform just because you speak spanish?I think that some of them need to conform,into human beings.

Yes,knowing english is important in a country where most speak the language.But don't let them strip you of who you are and where your roots grew.Do you want to be like some of the americans I mentioned above ^ ^ ^?

Answer 9

As the old adage states, "When you have your hands in the lions mouth, ease it out". Just go along, until it gets better. You know who you are, which is a person with positive values, morals, reasons, etc. person, Right!!? Then live life to the fullest and forget about the barriers.

Answer 10

I agree with you. America is a melting pot of different peoples and it is our differences that make us a great nation. Be sure to send this to your governmental representatives as you've made a good, sensible argument.