Why would senators vote against making English the official language in the US.?

Question

I know this question is not timely, but I am curious...Last year, the senate voted on an amendment to a bill, to make English the offical language of the US.

Can anyone help me understand WHY English should not be the official language in the US? Opinions?

These are the Senators who did voted against the amendment from www.senate.gov:

Akaka (D-HI)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dodd (D-CT)
Domenici (R-NM)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Havik - I noticed that a couple of weeks ago. South of Tuscon, in the US, on the way to Nogales, the signs were in KM, not miles. I could not believe it. But coming back north, from Rocky Point through Ajo, they were in miles. Hummm. Go figure. I wonder why?

dlgfdg - according to the source, senate.gov, there were 62 Yeas, 35 Nays (as listed) and 3 did not vote. That makes 100, the amount of senators. And btw. I am not Hispanic, I am white, American Indian decent. Born and raised in the USA. El Gato Volador is an amusing song.

Devil Dog - Good, lucid answer, although I disagree with you.

I can not follow that making English the national language is in any way, shape or form unconstitutional. Nor is it degrading to those who wish to come here and become part of our society, where majority rules, btw. I don't expect ATM's in Mexico, Korea or the PI to be in English, or my drivers license test to be offered in English.
When I go to another country, I expect for there to be some communication issues, and I study up on the basics before I go...If I were moving to another counrty, I believe I would cover more than the basics.

Answer 1

Fluency in English (written & spoken) is already a requirement for citizenship.
Additionally, the only reason to require an official language is to create a convenience for the majority of U.S. residents. However, we live in a republic, and in a republic, we don't make laws simply for the convenience of the majority at the expense of the minority. That's an infringement upon personal rights, which violates the Constitution, which applies to all residents, not simply citizens.

English is a notoriously difficult language to learn for adults. Native English speakers don't normally understand that from their perspective. This presents an undue hardship on legal residents who are legally eligible for certain government programs. The common misconception among U.S. citizens is that a national language would somehow dissuade illegal immigration. Nothing could be further from the truth. All it would do is alienate our legal residents, law abiding residents. And that is contrary to the fundamental principles of this nation.

Many of you won't like my answer. I expect to receive a number of thumbs down. The truth hurts sometimes. But there has been no evidence that an 'official' U.S. language would benefit our nation in any significant way. Our nation is comprised of many, many different cultures, and to intentionally exclude any of those cultures, simply for the sake of convenience, would be a terrible national injustice.

DD '73

Edit: Andy, I'm surprised to see a fellow Marine fail to understand the principles of personal freedom, something we swore to protect. Name one benefit to this nation other than a 'convenience' related one that would be created by instituting an official national language. Is a personal convenience a sufficient reason to infringe upon another person's personal rights?

Edit: Gato, that's a common misconception. We do not live in a 'majority rules' society. We live in a republic, in which even the rights of the minority are protected. Otherwise, 51% of the population could decide to infringe upon the rights (say, take away the right of certain citizens to vote) from the other 49%.
If we were to make English the ‘official’ language, that could easily lead to the requirement that all legal documents must be presented in English ONLY to all involved parties (this has occurred in other nations that instituted a ‘national language’). That would create an additional hardship on non-English speaking, legal residents (they do exist, everyone just seems to forget about them), making it difficult if not impossible to conduct professional & personal business. That is an infringement of their constitutional rights, which do protect non-citizens.
Allow me to reiterate; to become a citizen, you must demonstrate a fluency for English and a knowledge of U.S. history & laws greater than any high school exit exam. Any ‘foreigner’ wanting to become a citizen has stricter requirements than a high school graduate, already. Requiring this of citizen applicants is one thing; requiring it of all legal residents is another.

I’m all for stricter enforcement of immigration violations. But this proposal for an ‘official’ language is pointless. It will solve no problems and only create more.

Answer 2

You may want to review that list - try not to paint all senators with the same brush. The democrats seem to have a real problem with this issue. Perhaps it has something to do with PC. Maybe they don't want to upset their base.
Ironically, the ability to speak English is a prerequisite to becoming a naturalized citizen. Why else would anyone LEGALLY immigrate to America if learning the language was somehow offensive to them?
Honestly, I don't have a good answer - on second thought, I don't think there is a good answer.

Answer 3

Many democRATS are striving for the "North American UNION", much like the Eurpoean Union, opening borders between the US, Mexico and Canada, complete free trade and expansion of NAFTA. If they make English the official language, it is just one more barrier to make that happen.

Answer 4

There's no need to. English is the language spoken the most commonly in the U.S., and it is the language spoken in the higest levels of government as well as in most other areas. What's the need to make it "official"? It seems like a lot of people who are for this kind of vote are just against things like Spanish-speaking tv stations and signs. What's the big deal? It doesn't bother me that when I drive to Nogales the speed limit signs are in kilometers.

Answer 5

come on this ones easy how will they get the Mexicans to speak English, that would cost them money for training. They do not need to spend there money on training them, they are the 21 century Ni**ers no offense intended. Wake up America the rich people want slaves its cheaper than hiring us, look we need to defend our right to live and if we continue to allow our government to take that right away, then shame on us.

Answer 6

Maybe because it is a waste of time. What would a law like that do? Are you going to throw people in jail for speaking another language?

Seriously. What's the point?

Answer 7

For the most part, it's people with the "victim" mentality that vote for Democrats, and what are those that rant, and rave, and have protests in the streets, wanting amnesty for illegals? They're "victims". Democrats promise these people government money, and programs, and there they get votes from these people. The Dems don't want to offend these people. It's also for these "victims" that the Dems want to raise our taxes.

Answer 8

English is like Christianity; not in vogue with most Democrats. They are catering to the Hispanic vote, the Muslim vote and the illegal immigrant vote(they vote using bogus identities). Senators start campaigning for their re-election the minute they take office and instead of voting for what is best for the country, they vote for what they think will get them reelected.

Answer 9

They voted that way because it goes against common sense. There is simply no excuse for English not being made the official language

Answer 10

Perhaps, they received a bouns in their pay (just a thought)