Should the U.S. legislature make English the official language?

Question

Give a decent argument please!!!

Answer 1

this sounds like a homework question. Perhaps, think about it a little for yourself. Here are a few ideas to ponder:

In favor:
(1) It's a cost-saving measure. With an official language the government needs only print documents in one language, so you don't have to print ballots, bills, notes, etc. 2, 5, 10 times for every possible language under the sun that anyone MIGHT use.
(2) It encourages assimilation. We are a VERY diverse country, but what kept our country together (outside of armed military conflict in the 1860s of course) was the fact that when people got here, they learned the language, they learned "American" traditions, and they melded together. Today, with so many cultures striving for cultural identity, we've become a less cohesive country, which has caused lots of strife. At a minimum, mandating English as an official language will send the signal that all Americans have the responsibility to communicate using the same tongue.

AGAINST:
(1) It's racist. Just because English is the language spoken by the Founders of our country doesn't mean it's "official." Official language makes people feel like second-class citizens, like their identity and culture are not important. It also marginalizes the large minorities in this country who have not yet learned English.
(2) It denies people equal access to the government. There are many LEGAL immigrants and others who have not learned the language. Making English "official" means that many of them cannot access government services (such as VOTING, social services, knowledge of the government, etc.) because they cannot read or communicate in English. Such a result is unfair, unreasonable, and is probably violative of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendement, thus unconstitutional.

So you think about it.

Answer 2

Official language is established by the government simply for simplification of communication and for unity within the nation. It's a good thing, just like the fact that we have established language rules, not for the oppression of the users of that language, but as a result of what was created BY the users of the language, and in order to allow each person to communicate most easily.

Because language grows and develops, American language has become a combination of many languages, with English simply being the root. Making it the "official" language simply means that we are making education geared to the most widely used language so that the largest majority of our citizens can understand. It is not easy for an imigrant to our nation to not be able to communicate in English, and even though I love linguistic diversity, and I study several languages myself, to give the imigrants the greatest advantage, we need to help them communicate in the language already established. On the other hand, I believe that foreign languages, especially Spanish here in the U.S. should be required in schools.

Answer 3

No.

The US is made of many cultures and beliefs. My grandparents were first generation Americans and spoke German. If the law makes English the official language of the US, what does that accomplish? Nothing. Immigrnats will still come to the US, people will still speak Spanish, French, Russian, whatever.

The US Legislature should not waste their time over something petty like language -- they need to feed the hungry, help the sick, provide decent housing and education for all and get our troops the hell out of Iraq.

Answer 4

Of course, like most other countries do. If someone wants to immigrate legally, that's fine and there are plenty of private schools that teach English. However, to expect the government to cater to a different language than our majority one (which happens to be English but which could be anything for the purpose of this answer) is to expect it to become less efficient than it already is and to spend extra time and money coddling its newcomers.

How far do you think you would get if you moved to Mexico, for example, and demanded that everything be provided for you in English? Not only that, but to your children who must be allowed into Mexican schools and taught in English, and your whole family who must have doctors who speak English too!

It gets really bad when the US provides *voting materials* in other languages - VOTING MATERIALS?! You can't vote unless you're a citizen, and you can't become a citizen unless you learn English -- or is that not true? If it isn't we're in more trouble than I thought.

Countries function best when all its citizens speak the same language, linguistically as well as culturally. Variety is the spice of life, but we must have common ground too in order to communicate with each other. Those immigrants who insist on bringing their culture and language with them and are not willing to assimilate to at least some extent are only condemning themselves to the bottom of the economic ladder, which makes no sense for anyone.

Answer 5

Well, it is accepted as an "official" language in the US.

Answer 6

Yes. English should be our national language.

Answer 7

Yes! The overwhelming majority of Americans speak it and have for years. I don't see the English speaking German, Swahili's speaking Chinese, or the French speaking Russian. They speak the language of their land, and here it's English, dang nabbit, and should remain so.

Answer 8

Yes, right after they balance the budget, make social security solvent, stop medicare fraud, rewrite the tax code to something we can understand, win the war on drugs, and do something about illegal immigration.

Answer 9

what language you speak i would say would be part of the right to choose.

Answer 10

In the U.s. Yes.. Let the imigrants Learn to speak it. If they want to live here!!!!