Is a bilingual US a good thing or bad? Why?

Answer 1

Learning a new language is ALWAYS beneficial.

Answer 2

A nation with two official languages faces some inefficiencies, but nothing that can't be overcome. So it's a bad thing, but not a /very/ bad thing.

However, going from a basically monolingual, to bilingual nation is going to carry some more substantial difficulties, as it would represent a dramatic shift in culture, not just an inefficiency in administration. That could cause all sorts of problems.

Canada is a good example of a bilingual nation. For the most part, it does not present them with great problems, though, there is a degree of geographic sepparation, and the French-speaking region has occassionally made noises about greater autonomy.

Answer 3

First of all, you can't make more money if you speak Spanish.
Hispanics like to think that, but why would working for a lower income group make you more money?
You can get a job speaking Spanish as a social worker, or working for sleazy loan office, an immigration attorney or a cell phone company.
You will never be successful in America if you don't speak fluent English.
That being said, yes I think a country where people speak other languages and appreciate other cultures is a good thing. As long as there is a national language that the public schools teach, and all government licenses, government tests are in.

Answer 4

Bilingualism is the antithesis of our national motto: E Pluribus Unum: Out of many, ONE! Former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm said it best: "History shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict and antagonism of two or more competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an individual to be bilingual; however, it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. Societies that are bilingual become two competing and nation-dividing languages
A nation is much more than a place on a map. It is a state of mind, a shared vision, and a recognition that we are all is this together . . . one indispensable element must be that we all speak one common language.

Speak English -- Why Bother?

While there are at least 27 states that have legislated 'Official English' -- the federal government has not. There are 12 million households in the United States that are what the Census Bureau calls "linguistically isolated". Many of those households don't bother to learn English because they can bank, vote, shop, work, go to church, watch TV, listen to the radio, get a GED, driver's license, purchase real estate, and get a mortgage without EVER speaking a word of English.

Adding to their 'linguistic isolation' is the fact that our government requires hospitals to supply translators for ALL languages that enter their doors, adding to your cost for healthcare. According to a report on Lou Dobbs of CNN, many new arrivals are stunned how they can live here in the US without ever speaking English.

Wake Up America!
Now is the time for "We the People" to rise up and take back our country from a government that is working with all its might to end our sovereignty and Constitutional Republic! They can succeed only if we let them. How? Don't vote for ANY incumbent unless they have a proven track record of working to end the illegal alien invasion and have fought for America's sovereignty. You can start by removing everyone who voted for CAFTA. Remember they are counting on you to stupidly and robotically return them to office no matter how they've voted in the past to destroy America!

Thanks to the agenda of the golablist elites, America faces a major challenge . . . if we began to 'babble' in different tongues we too will lack the necessary collaborative 'glue' of a common language. "This primeval confusion of tongues emphasizes what modern man often fails to realize: the REAL divisions among men are NOT racial or physical or geographic, BUT LINGUISTIC."

Answer 5

Being bilingual is a terrific thing - the more languages you know the better!

However, having a bilingual country can pull the country apart and create separation, misunderstandings and magnify racial tensions.

Former Gov. of CO Dick Lamm said it best in his 2004 speech, "How to destroy America."

He said: "History shows, in my opinion, that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of two competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an individual to be bilingual; it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. One scholar, Seymour Martin Lipset, put it this way: The histories of bilingual and bicultural societies that do not assimilate are histories of turmoil, tension, and tragedy."

Answer 6

Speaking a second language is great, and I think that we need more emphasis on it in public schools. However, I agree with the person above who said it should not be forced upon us by a bunch of illegals who simply refuse to speak the language. There is nothing wrong with a national language. Civilized society has been defined by many experts to include the developement of a common, written, language. We are civilized here so I see no problem with establishing a National Language and English makes the most sense.

Answer 7

I wish they would teach children other languages at a young age. It's always a good thing to be bilingual. But having it forced on you because of illegal immigrants is not. We need a base language that is common to us all. We don't need yet something else to separate Americans.

Answer 8

Put English teaching schools around the border! Then it will be great for people to be bi-lingual. Require illegal immigrants to learn OUR language before they can come over here! Why segragate the population?

There are large areas in our cities where Americans can't even go because noone speaks English there anymore. We are losing our land because noone is requiring ANY stipulations to be put on these people. They just come and go as they please, not even having to communicate with people who have lived here their entire lives.

So they want a BETTER life for themselves? Have respect enough for the country that is GIVING you that better life and learn our language! That is SOOO not a lot to ask. Mexico requires you to speak THEIR native tongue if you want to be a citizen, why can't we require the same?

Dude up there said it best....."great for an individual, bad for a country"

Answer 9

For an individual to be bilingual is always good.

For a society to be bilingual is very bad.

Answer 10

A bilingual US is BAD because we are bowing down to another country, and accepting THEIR customs as our own against OUR will. If they want to be AMERICANS then speak English. Period. If you want to learn another language to learn it because you WANT to then great...but don't force it just so citizens can have jobs in the USA. THAT is discrimination against CITIZENS and you are racist against USA CITIZENS if you think it isn't.

Answer 11

Being bilingual, is to be admired, the only caveat is that, most of us in the USA, do not want to see any language that would replace or be equal to English