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,YES,YES before they get off the friggan boat

Answer 2

"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 3

Americans don't even speak English anymore. Of the countries that primarily "speak" english, England, America, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, we all have such different, but common slang, that if you don't speak proper english, you have a hard time understanding each other. We speak American.
And I personally don't give a crap what language anybody else speaks. If we don't speak the same language, then we shouldn't talk to each other. That's what translators are for...gotta keep those people employed.
As far as customs and culture goes, you seem to forget that we are a nation of immigrants, you dumbass. You think the Native Americans celebrated Christmas before we got here? Open your eyes, idiot! American "culture" is cars and stereo equipment (which isn't made in America), and other material items. Ah, and let's not forget war mongering. Is it any wonder most of the rest of the world hates us?
And I can't believe you actually used the word "superior", you just made yourself sound like SUCH a bigot...like that politician that said Florida was like a third world country. Good job.

Answer 4

I wouldn't call us a superior people We're much different, but our system is currently failing so many people in so many ways that I wouldn't begin to call us superior.

About the English thing, yes I agree to an extent. I find it odd that in order for me to make myself more attractive for a teaching job that I should be able to teach in Spanish. I dont think that immigrants should give up their culture, I mean, we have Jews, and Christians, and all sorts of culture here with people who are very into American culture at the same time.

I think that if you want to move to America and keep your culture, then knock yourself out, but please make an attempt at speaking the predomiant language instead of just starting your own subcultural group. Even an attempt is admirable, you dont need to be speaking perfect english.

Answer 5

I certainly don't agree with "superior" people and such but I definatly beleive they should have to learn English. If I was immigrating to a non-English country I would expect them, to expect me, to learn their language.

We didn't learn the native indian language because they didn't even have a common language....

Bi-lingual doesn't mean English and Spanish. Bi-lingual means the ability to speak 2 languages. I swear if people are going to throw words around.....atleast know what the heck it means.

I agree with Roosevelt. There has to be a common language and it's English. Way I figure it is if you don't want to learn it you should have migrated to a country that speaks Spanish.

Answer 6

absolutely. If we went to their country they would be very rude
if we didn't speak their language or dressed like they do.
I agree with your concepts, although you are singling out only
the hispanics, in Florida I believe you mean Cubans.....

There are other ethnic illegals in the United States Chinese, Irish
they have their own pubs in the Bronx, no one ever mentions
them. Japanese, Germans, Greeks etc. all trying to survive.
Asian Indians wear beautiful saris, delicious food.
You are saying you need Spanish to function, why not visit
Chinatown, you need Chinese to function....You consider yourself
"superior people". Think of where your people came from.
I am not trying to be condesending to you but I believe you might
be terribly upset today about watching the media or maybe
something more personal than that...God bless you.

Answer 7

Exactly, they keep saying well you guys were immigrants at one point too, 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. This is America and you will have to become an American if you want to live here. Not create another Mexico every where you go.

Anti-legals are out to get me- You only make people hate illegals even more, you are and your attitude towards Americans will be the down fall of illegals here. Keep doing what your doing

Answer 8

Theodore Roosevelt on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN "In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." My answer is YES.

Answer 9

Don´t they have to take an English test? BTW... Spanish does not have anything to do with poverty and crime... And it seems quite amazing that you refer to Latin American countries as s... holes, while there are a lot of americans visiting as tourists and staying to live in Latin America. Besides, there is no ONE latin american culture. And the US culture is not superior (Whatever US culture means to you). And let me guess... you had never travelled outside the US, right?

Answer 10

It would be great if the government required these people to take a 2 month English course. Charge a fee recoup some of the money before it heads back out of the country UNTAXED!!

Answer 11

Legally no, in practicality yes. I agree that we should give the citizenship test, and certainly other federal and state forms (ie drivers license tests) in English. But you shouldn't force someone to learn and speak English. This is still the US and it is about freedom. If they want to struggle and just learn enough English to get by, that is their choice. I don't think a neighborhood that speaks Spanish is going to turn that area into a crime ridden poverty area just because of the language they speak.