Should everyone who becomes an United States citizen speak English?

Question

I think they should. I think the test for citizenship should only be given in English. Look at southern Florida and southern California. If you go to many places in these areas you have to speak Spanish to function. These immigrants show no respect to the customs and history of those of us in the USA. If people of their country had done the work and made the sacrifices to make their country better in the past like Americans have then their country’s would not be such s**t holes. They now want to come here but want to keep their culture. Well, that culture has lead to their countries being such poverty and crime ridden places that they need to move. They should at least have enough respect for a superior people and culture to try to fit into our ways.

Answer 1

Yes, and if they can not send them back to whereever they came from.

Answer 2

You started off with a very good question then let it get away from you.

You referred to places immigrants come from as s**t holes. And why didn't they work to build the countries they came from.

I doubt very seriously your ancestors are native american. They probably came here from some where else just to have a chance. When they came here they didn't take up the customs of those who are already here immediatly.

There are places in this country right now that have never really took on what you would class as the American way of life. And while I'm on the subject what makes you think YOU are superior to anyone? I was born and raised in the USofA and if your comments are examples of YOUR ways. Why don't you try and fit in.

Answer 3

Your valid point is completely lost among your racist and xenophobic ranting.
Yes, immigrants applying for citizenship to a new country should be expected to learn the basics of that country's language and customs. But that doesn't mean they have to abandon the language and culture they were born with, any more than a parent should have to sacrifice the child they already have for the child they want to adopt.
Besides, according to your logic, if ALL immigrants to the U.S. had to forget their own culture and fit into the pre-existing society, then we'd all be sitting in teepees eating buffalo right now. Which, come to think of it, sounds pretty good, but the point is we would have missed out on a lot of interesting cultural developments.

Answer 4

"These immigrants show no respect to the customs and history of those of us in the USA. If people of their country had done the work and made the sacrifices to make their country better in the past like Americans have then their country’s would not be such s**t holes. They now want to come here but want to keep their culture. Well, that culture has lead to their countries being such poverty and crime ridden places that they need to move. They should at least have enough respect for a superior people and culture to try to fit into our ways. " You have no idea what is was like here in the late 1800s and early 1900s, do you... when the industrial revolution was bringing millions of immigrants in (or immigrants were moving from Europe to homestead in the Plains). Immigrants were treated horribly, had tiny tenaments, spoke their own languages, stayed within their own cultures. What you would call "American Culture" today has nothing to do with the British and French citizens who started America in the late 18th century. It is a culture of capitalism and greed; we are just lucky enough to have vast resources in our large country to fill our mass consumption. Sure, there have been many hardworkers, but the hardest working people have often been IMMIGRANTS trying to start a new life. It has not been immigrants' "culture" that has caused their former countries to be impoverished, nor their work ethic. It is usually backward economic systems, lack of education, lack of infrastructure, an oppressive ruling class, and lack of natural resources--it doesn't matter what language is spoken or what holidays are celebrated. Now, your question, whether anyone who becomes a citizen should speak English, is a different question, because we want those who are CITIZENS to be able to interact (if not integrate) with most of the members of our society. It increases safety and productivity. Of course, there are good counterarguments on the other side. But your racist views about an immigrant's "culture" being inferior because they come from an economically impoverished country are simply unacceptable. And to T101's comment: "but the fact is when people immigrated here in the past they did their best to speak English and adopt an American way of life style." That's not true. It's usually an immigrant's CHILDREN" that did their best to speak English and adopt an "American" (whatever that means) lifestyle.

Answer 5

absolutely, 100% learn the language. -but no culture is truely superior to any others....... that's like saying you are superior to your friend.... it doesn't work that way......

I am a caucasion woman. I am generalized as a 'white' person, not african american, not hispanic, not oriental, but 'white'. While, in reality, I am Native american, Sweedish, Dutch, English, German, and Portugese.

What upsets me, is when someone comes to this country and says that they want to keep thier heritage (which, by the way, I think is wonderful, if kept in the home life). But, keeping a heritage is great if you live in your country. This, is america. We were called the 'great melting pot' for a reason, and it's because of people like me, who have NUMEROUS backgrounds and heritages, but chose to meld our culture into this one. now, for those of you saying that the spanish language and culture should be melded into our culture as an american culture, then I will say that it already was. America is called America after Amerigo Vespucci, a spanish Conquistador that helped map this country. I live in a town called Limon, which, is a spanish word meaning 'citrus' or 'lemon or lime'..... Colorado means the 'color red' in spanish. We have the spanish heritage embeded into our roots. but at the same time, We don't all speak Spanish. WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK SPANISH, BECAUSE THIS IS AMERICA. You have the right to speak what ever language you want to in your own home. But this country's 'language' is American English (yes, we all agree that it is different than true english from ENGLAND.....) If you come to this country, you should speak the coutry's language. Not tex-mex, or spanglish, or spanish, or greek or chinese or japanese or indian,.............. speak these in your homes, they are part of your heritage. speak them with your friends and family, and teach them to your children, but also teach the english language.

Answer 6

Absolutely. The citizenship test should involve a 100 question test covering English, written in English, with no translators allowed to help the person taking the test. No pass, no citizenship.

Answer 7

I agree....I am not a biggot or anything like that and I personally love how multi cultural our society is...however I look at it like this....would you move to china and not learn to speak chinese???? You make life harder on yourself I think and I am certainly not comfortable with the idea of the gvt using our money to accomadate people who come here that dont even care to learn our language. Im all for immigration. That is how our country was built. I love learning about new cultures. I have a very multi cultural family however, all of us learned to speak english.

Answer 8

I was with you until the part about being "Superior" but anyhow, I think it is very unfair to come here and change customs and make it hard for many of us. I have taken three years of Spanish to benefit me when I travel. they could at least have the same decency to learn English.

Answer 9

Umm...yes they should. And English should mandated by our legislature/governments as the OFFICIAL LANGUAGE...can't exactly agree with the "respect for a superior people and culture to try to fit into our ways" part.

Answer 10

Yes... I'm not pressing one for English. It is my country and my language. But, however, when I do press one the person at the other end of the line is speaking very broken English and that is annoying. My problem doesn't get solved when I don't understand them and they don't understand me. Learn our language. If I was going to France, I would learn French. If I was going to Italy, I'd learn Italian. I hate when you go to the nail places and they talk about you in Vietnamese and ask you questions and you can't understand them. I refuse to go there anymore. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

Answer 11

They better know English to pass the citizenship test and function normally in this society. So, yes.

I don't mind if they retain their native language--it is a symbol of their heritage. But English is very important to know.