Should English be the official language?

Question

Right now there is a proposition in AZ going through to make English the official language. Some Latino community advocates are calling this racist. They say it limits diversity. My question is, how can effective communication be achieved with a language barrier? How can you expect others to think that you truly want to be an American when you refuse to adopt its most common language? It is great to learn a new language. I know Spanish and am learning German as well.

But when I came to the US my mother insisted we only speak English, but some people I know still insist that their family speak Spanish to not lose touch with their culture. I don't think it's a matter of cultural pride, I think it's a matter of being successful and smart in this country. Your thoughts?

Answer 1

It's not racist. It's AMERICAN. No other country caters to criminals the way that we do. We are a laughing stock, and people are taking advantage of us.

We must start standing up for ourselves!!!

.

Answer 2

My thoughts are that English only laws are inherently racist. They are a way to take power from an entire cross-section of people. If it's true that we all need a single language to communicate, why don't we all learn to speak Cherokee? After all, it was one of the first languages spoken here in America, right?

I certainly believe that speaking English is very important. My father, an illegal alien, came to the US and learned to speak English very quickly. It helped him to be successful. He is a truly intelligent person.

But what about those people who, for some unfortunate reason, lack the ability to learn a new language? Maybe they are too old, or maybe they are ill, or maybe they just don't have the time because they are working too hard in their job? Denying these people the ability to understand only makes their lives worse.

The saddest thing is that these places that are pushing this racist agenda tend to be places where Spanish was spoken first! Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, California... all these places were once part of Mexico! The people who lived in that area of the US were originally Mexicans and Native Americans. It's sad that racist policies are being used to make their lives more difficult, especially when making those changes would be of no benefit either way to the dominant power structure of white folks. Is it really any skin of their back that someone can't speak English?

Answer 3

Bharris.
UK calling
We've known 4 a long time here that the more U rave about UR wealth, health & prosperity the more criminals we'll attract along with the genuine.
Not every1 is a criminal & it's a shame we can't tell just by looking at them!

I was told there R more Chinese in the World than the rest of us put 2gether.
Praps as a mark of respect we should all speak Mandarin Or Cantonese!

I think the divisions of years of oppression is fast catching up with the Affluent West.
I just want the whole world 2 live in harmony, regardless of race or colour.
We can learn 2 speak different languages there R no excuses 2 not trying 2 get on.

Answer 4

Latino activists call everything AMERICANS desire 'racist'. That word is meaningless anymore, pay it no attention. If we don't have an OFFICIAL language, people will not be able to communicate nation wide in the USA. We cannot placate every diverse language we have represented in the citizens of the USA. We should have ONE universal language in the USA and it should be English. That is the language used most and that is the language that has been spoken here since the beginning of this sovereign nation. No one is saying people cannot speak their preferred language at home or with others who speak their language. But, anyone who is a citizen of the USA MUST know English or they will not be able to communicate with the MAJORITY of USA citizens. They can know 15 languages for all I care as long as ENGLISH is one of them. If people don't want to learn ENGLISH, THEY will be left out. THEY can go back to their homelands.

Answer 5

My family also immigrated here and my parents insisted that we only speak English at home so that we would not have problems communicating in school.

While we shouldn't lose touch with our heritage we should all be able to speak and write in English, which I thought is the official language of the US.

I also speak French, Spanish and a little bit of Japanese and Tagalog. There are many Europeans who are muli-lingual. Learning English does not mean you have to stop speaking whatever your native language is.

Answer 6

Yes, English should be the official language. The U.S. does not have the historical background to make Spanish an official language, nor does the U.S. embrace multiculturalism which is a principle in Canada. Here we have two official languages, English and French, in keeping with our historical and philosophical bases. A country should have an official language because all the documents and communications to its citizens must be in a consistent language. The U.S. is just making it official that English is its language of operation.

It makes everything really complicated. But our politicians have to be bilingual and that makes it most interesting!


However, a state should have an official language that reflects its residents' needs.
P.S. Many of our govt. docs are available in Tamil, Farsi, Punjabi, Arabic, etc. too.

Answer 7

Many countries have no official language. Some even have more than one. Canada for example has 2 official languages.

The world is getting smaller as the population grows. Many countries also teach multiple languages in their schools, it's only logical since eventually you will need to interact with someone that speaks a different language.

You can't keep your head buried in the sand forever you know. The world is changing and we need to change with it. Isolationism is going the way of the dinosaur, adapt to the world or be left behind.

Answer 8

Well english is the official language. Some people are just too lazy to learn another language. Many Europeans know more than one language. I speak english, spanish, and a little french.

Answer 9

Their is nothing wrong about requiring at least those who wish to become citizens to be able to speak English,every other civilized country on earth as far as I've seen requires those who wish to become citizens to have a working knowledge of their language. To call it racist is a weak,wrong headed argument that signifies a debater who knows he has already lost the argument if it's based on facts. No coherent society can function with those within demanding to separate themselves in every way from the rest, that said if the Hispanic community wants to limit their opportunities based on unrealistic ideas on cultural identification then so be it,but we should not enable it.We should not spend millions putting voting info and such in other languages,as by law those who are citizens engaging in these activities should have a working knowledge of English,and those unwilling to do such a small thing as learning English should not be able to become citizens. A great deal of my family still speaks Polish even 80 years after my grandparents immigrated here but even my grandparents tried to also become a part of America more than what I see today.

Answer 10

'Diversity' is just one more little political palisade they've been hiding their little colony plan behind....learn english, or go somewhere else, that's how I feel about it. We can and should learn and speak other languages in america, I think that's positive, I think we already do it, too. But, when you say OFFICIAL language, as in 'language of public commerce/government/ business etc., that should be english.

Culture, smulture. You move to a different country, congratulations, you left the Old Country behind for a REASON...so, pick up where you left off in the new one. Besides, america's an amalgamation of different cultures, if you can't find something you like, go home.

Answer 11

English has already become the official language throughout the world.
Although to know the local language is good too, and I would like to know other languages as well such as Norwegian and Russian.
I am not a native English speaker.