Five-in-six Americans support making English the official language of the United States

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Let's do it.

Agreed.

[Alex+R 0]

You know, I'm cool with this too. Having an official language doesn't mean we can't celebrate all the other ones. But having one that holds us together is really a celebration of the fact that we're capable of being one nation full of millions of individuals. Maybe that sounds too cheesy. Also I'd like to add that having an official language doesn't mean we can't provide information in other languages.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I have no problem with this either... I just wouldn't like to see the Congress spend too much time and energy debating this. There are other, more important, things I'd rather see prioritized.

[mawilson 2,133]

You know, I'm cool with this too. Having an official language doesn't mean we can't celebrate all the other ones. But having one that holds us together is really a celebration of the fact that we're capable of being one nation full of millions of individuals. Maybe that sounds too cheesy. Also I'd like to add that having an official language doesn't mean we can't provide information in other languages.

Zackly!

[Alex+R 0]

I have no problem with this either... I just wouldn't like to see the Congress spend too much time and energy debating this. There are other, more important, things I'd rather see prioritized.

[mawilson 2,133]

While we're at it, can we call the language "American"?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Heck yeah.

[Alex+R 0]

While we're at it, can we call the language "American"?

Only if we can also officially eliminate the verb "to speak" when preceding a language. As in "Round these parts we only speak talk American."

[Saddle Bronc 124]

While we're at it, can we call the language "American"?

That would work--as it's definitely NOT the same as Oxford Brit English.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

While we're at it, can we call the language "American"?

That would work--as it's definitely NOT the same as Oxford Brit English.

Thank God.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So what changes would result if we were to make English the official language? Would it have any consequence? Or would we just be trying to make a point?

There is a fear and a movement motivated by that fear - that Spanish will become more integrated into American English. So what better way than to pour bleach on it.

These people must sleep with the lights on...seriously.

[pedroh 21]

yo hablo ingles!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

yo hablo ingles!

Hey, why don't we start eradicating the English language of ALL foreign words. Let's start with rodeo...that one's Spanish...no more f##kin rodeos.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So what changes would result if we were to make English the official language? Would it have any consequence? Or would we just be trying to make a point?

There is a fear and a movement motivated by that fear - that Spanish will become more integrated into American English. So what better way than to pour bleach on it.

Thank God, the race card played just in time.

I was a little worried we're not getting there in this thread.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Navarrette: Immigration anxiety is cultural

SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- On Thursday, senators announced a rather remarkable bipartisan compromise on immigration reform that combines border enforcement, a guest worker program, a path to legalization for illegal immigrants, tougher employer sanctions, and an education/skills-based point system for future immigrants.

The same day, the Census Bureau reported what many Americans already know: The United States is becoming a Hispanic nation. Hispanics are the nation's largest minority with 44.3 million people and they account for almost half the growth in the U.S. population. Meanwhile, since 2000, the white school-age population dropped 4 percent, and the white population shrank in sixteen states.

The stories are connected. Anti-illegal immigration crusaders claim their worries are entirely practical -- tied to border security or the cost of entitlements or the fact that illegal immigrants supposedly depress wages for the low skilled.

(That reminds me. Memo to the low skilled: "Grow up. Stop complaining. And go get more skills. Then you won't have to suffer the humiliation of being driven out of the market by folks with a sixth-grade education who are here illegally and don't even speak English.")

But I digress ...

As someone who has written about immigration for more than 15 years, and heard from hundreds of thousands of readers along the way, I can tell you that most of the anxiety over illegal immigration is cultural. People worry about changing demographics, the encroachment of Spanish, the fear that the country is becoming Hispanic-ized, etc. One sociologist called it "cultural displacement" -- the fear that your children will grow up in a world different than the one you grew up in, with fewer advantages, where they will have to work harder for what they accomplish.

One of the more fearful members of Congress is Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-California. Last year, while campaigning, he told a largely white audience near San Diego that if we don't end illegal immigration, one day our children would live in a world where instead of electing to take Spanish in high school, they'll have to take Spanish. Bilbray now heads the House Immigration Reform Caucus. That's where members of Congress come together at regular meetings and complain about illegal immigration while counting the campaign contributions they collect from businesses back home, many of which undoubtedly profit from hiring illegal immigrants.

Last week, Bilbray popped up on one newscast after another and milked his 15 minutes. He opposes the Senate plan, which he calls -- wait for it -- amnesty. But, like most of the critics, he offers no alternate piece of legislation to solve the problem over which he claims to be worried sick.

The Senate compromise isn't perfect. But it's bold and thoughtful, and it's a start. It also did something that's very significant -- dividing traditional allies and uniting traditional adversaries.

If the deal crumbles, we'll return to the status quo. Illegal immigrants will still come to the United States do jobs that Americans won't do. And employers will still hire them. Nothing will change. No one will be punished or held accountable. There's a word for that. I know -- wait for it: amnesty.