Are We Speaking the Same Language? by butterfly40 on Blogster

Dear Bloggers:

The Immigration Amendment Bill voted on by the Senate, which requires that English be the official language or unifying language of the US, is being called racist by some. Do you agree or disagree?

3 comments on Are We Speaking the Same Language?

crazycat said 2 years ago
I think that it's good idea to have English be our official language. If we all know a common language, it will help unify our country. Personally, I find it rather annoying when I go to a store or restaurant and I have to try to understand the person behind the counter who is speaking a foreign language. If anything, I think that a national language will help stop discrimination against immigrants.
jemini said 2 years ago
I totally agree that there should be a main language. However I am concerned that having this national language might smother out the incentive to learn more langauges. Many Americans already aren't concerned about other languages, this might make it worse. I don't belive that it is discrimitory an any way, just hurtful to some trying to keep their diminished culture alive.
desertwind said 2 years ago
I disagree with you. I don't think that having English as the official or unifying language of the US, would smother out the incentive to learn another language. If someone is interested in learning another language, they will do so. I think its wrong to require Americans to learn another language in order to survive in our own country. You can hardly get a job now, because some companies require that applicants be bi-lingual. When Americans travel abroad, they have to learn a little of the language of that country, whether it be French, German, Chinese, Japanese, etc. If you decide to live in another country, you would definitely have to learn the native tongue in order to survive. So why should it be any different for those who chose to immigrate to the United States. There should be one unifying language in the US, English. If you choose to speak something else in your home or in your neighborhood, fine. And I don't think that by requiring immigrants to learn the language, it will diminish their culture. If anything, this country has done alot to encourage people of other ethnicities to celebrate their culture. Just look at the various celebrations there are throughout the year, in many cities across the nation. [MAD]