Is refusing to learn English in America, a sign of racism ?

Question

Is refusing to learn English in America, a sign of racism ? If some one does not learn English, and decides to come to America that person is separating him/her self from the majority of the population. This is cutting the lines of communication, and this creates a lack of understanding for other people.

Our history was written in English, how will our future be understood if common citizens look at the Constitution and see a strange language they can not understand ?

soothsaye... To immigrate to America is a privlage, not a right, and I never said no one could learn Spanish. If you wish to learn Spanish, go for it, but this is America and we speak English.

tmladenka - " I have European and Native American heritage, and you are wrong. Their were no immigration laws when the pilgrams landed, also Native American tribes were in constant warfare with each other.

Answer 1

Generally -- very generally -- you may not be naturalized unless you:

1. Are at least 18 years old and a lawful permanent resident ("green card" holder);
2. Have resided continuously in the United States, having been lawfully admitted for permanent residence, for five years immediately preceding the date you filed your application for naturalization, or
3. Have, after having been removed from conditional permanent resident status, based upon your marriage to a U.S. citizen, having resided in the United States for one year after the date the condition was removed;
4. Have resided continuously in the United States at all times after your application to the time and date of your admission for citizenship;
5. Have, during all periods of time referred to above, been and still are a person of good moral character;
6. Have no outstanding deportation or removal order and no pending deportation or removal proceeding;
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7. Have the ability to read, write, speak, and understand simple words and phrases in English;
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8. Have knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of U.S. history and government;
9. Are attached to, and can support, the principles of the U.S. Constitution and can swear allegiance to the United States.

Answer 2

You raise an interesting concept, but you're basically making the word 'racism' so subjective that it is meaningless.

The English language in the US doesn't pertain to a race, first of all. Now, if you're asking if refusing to learn English is a sign of an anti-American attitude, that may be correct in some cases. But it's hardly a given. Not learning a language is a completely passive action.

Would you suggest that I am anti-chemistry simply because I chose not to learn about it? Consider all the reasons that people do not learn things. I haven't learned Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Russian, or any language other than English. This is probably more of a sign that I am not interested and/or am not compelled to learn those languages rather than an indication that I've made a decision as to my opinion of those languages, races, or cultures.

Furthermore, there are plenty of people who hold one or more of those cultures in high regard, but have not learned the language because they have no compelling interest.

While opting not to learn English certainly can't be assumed to be a racist or anti-American decision, it could be accurately labeled as a decision against assimilation into the general culture. But assimilation is a relative concept; no individual or group has ever completely assimilated into the culture of the United States during its 230 year existence.

Answer 3

Are you for real? Do you even know what racism is?? Racism is rooted in the assumption that anything that is different is wrong which leads to anti-Arab, anti-semitic or anti-illegal sentiments. This type of attitude can result in discrimination or prejudice. So no, there is no racism going on (maybe on your end).

However, there is an over-abundance of intolerance, enthocentrism and xenophobia that is rearing it's ugly head in America against Mexicans and the Spanish-speaking population. If it were a European language being spoken what you still have that attitude? I doubt it.

Why is it that you feel that we all need to be clones of each other. Yeah this is America and we should all speak English but who wants to be part of the majority, especially if your all ignorant, ethnocentric, and prejudiced jerks. I certainly would not. Culture is a wonderful thing, you should try it sometime!!

Answer 4

I think that writing a post like this is a clear sign of racism for sure.

When someone refuses to learn english, they can live in communities that speak much spanish, and there are many. People seem to have a big problem with people speaking another language in their country, even though some of their ancestors spoke a different language when they first migrated from places like Germany. Diversity is part of what makes this country so beautiful, that we aren't all cookie cutter versions of mainstream amerika.

People who refuse to learn english at all, may not be completely refusing, they may just be unable to afford to learn or find out how to learn.

Not all of our history was written in English, much of the South, Texas, New Mexico, etc. had most of their newspapers, official documents, etc. written in Spanish.

Answer 5

"Not racism, but a clinging to past culture. This is not a matter of one language better than another. This is a matter of allowing communication.

Any person who travels to another country and does not know the language or does not learn the language spoken there is either arrogant or ignorant.

With Americans (citizen of the USA) traveling elsewhere, it is arrogance as much or more then ignorance. I would not guess about others who come to this country. I only know that they do miss out on much of the experience if they do not speak English. "

i dont agree with richard at all. just because you dont learn a language dosent mean your ignorant or arrogant. ive been all over the world and have never had a problem with language. richard obviously hasnt gone anywhere. everyother country learns english because americans are their biggest customers. if we want to start selling to the spanish, then we may want to learn their language.

Answer 6

Refusing to learn any language has absolutely nothing to do with racism. It is a personal preference.
While I believe that english should be learned in the US, it is not racist not to learn it.
Any intelligent person can grab a dictionary or tranlation software and get the jist of the Constitution. With english not even the donminant language on the planet, and many elderly immigrants moving to the US, they are not being racist if they do not learn english. It sure does not help to intergrate cultural communties and leads to the seggregation of communites by language and culture, but it is not racist.
If you look at the worst rasism in the US, it is based not on language, but colour - so should everyone in the US be white - or more correctly - be red - or else be called a racist - based on your question....

Answer 7

Wendy G has it right. How are these new Americans supposed to get the schooling necessary and to also function in everyday life at the same time? They still need to buy food, use the ATM, visit the DMV etc. before they have mastered this whole new language. We need to show more understanding to these people who are really only trying to do the same thing that you are - make a living and to survive. Give'em a break! You try going to a new place & learning the language and still having to work & fuction. Do any of you EVER put yourself in someone elses shoes? Try it once.

Answer 8

Not racism, I don't figure. But that is silly. If you're not committed to learning the English language, then you will not be able to fully experience an American life.

I do think it's sad though that we're one of the only countries that doesn't learn a second language like others.
Still though, you couldn't go to Japan or something and say, "Start speaking English if you want to talk to me because I'm not learning Japanese."

You can't expect everyone to change their lifestyle so the immigrants can fit in.
It doesn't work that way.

Answer 9

No, not a sign of racism; I think more of a refusal to conform to the American way of life. There's a strong anti-American undercurrent today with people not wanting to obey our laws, trying to change our educational system and so forth, in essence trying to make America fit them instead of fitting themselves to America.

It makes absolutely no sense. If I were to go and live in France for a few years, it'd be nearly impossible to function if I didn't learn to speak french. It would be even more ridiculous if I insisted that the french people should start changing their culture and learn english for my benefit.

This is America. We speak english here. Get with the program.

Answer 10

I worked in a birthing center for many years...Over the years, I helped the same lady deliver 9 children..She didn't speak English when the first was born, nor when the ninth was born...That is sad.. She cut herself off from learning the language her children were speaking..Missing the communications with their teachers and their friends..and being an embarrassment to her family.

Answer 11

Your point is moot because most immigrants DO want to learn English, it just takes time. A while back I worked at a school that taught English to immigrants, and we had a HUGE student body of "brand new" immigrants who came in at night, after a hard day of manual labor, to learn our country's language. Their enthusiasm and drive was truly inspiring. Plus, these classes weren't free, so a large part of their paycheck was going to pay for this, since financial aid usually didn't cover everything. (LOANS, people, not GRANTS, in case you were wondering) AND many of them would say that were going home after class to teach what they learned to their family. My experience with immigrants, (ESPECIALLY those from Mexico and S. America, but other nations as well) is that they are extremely willing to assimilate, want to learn our language and culture, and want to learn it as quickly as possible. Many "home grown" Americans are given years to learn what these immigrants only have a few months to learn. And, I hate to say, wind up knowing a lot more about our govt. and history than many of us do.