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

[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.

Then why should anyone give a damn about the integration, use, or implementation of Spanish into our language? As if our English language isn't already riddled with 'foreign' words. Languages evolve...get over it.

Why did you feel the need to play the race card in this thread?

Reinhard, how do you equate me pointing out a very real element 'fear' as racism? Nativism, nationalism, isolationism, xenophobia are more accurate. Being afraid of the Spanish language and Hispanic culture of turning this country into a 'third world' country exists whether you want to acknowledge that reality or not.

I boldended the phrase for you. That's what I took as the race card being played. Or was the bleach you referred to not meant to be a whitening agent?

I don't know...what's the ramifications of making English the official language of this country? What will it mean if say, an Hispanic word or phrase become so common-speak that it is integrated into our American version of English? To forbid the infiltration of words from other languages into our own would be tragic, IMO. Change is constant, but some people fear it...they want things to remain static.

It's not about a phrase to become common speak. It's not about the infiltration of words. It's about the expectation of a rather large, uninvited population that this country accomodates them rather than them accomodating the country they chose to come to. That's a big difference, you know.

Are you talking about the Spaniards or the British Colonists?

Aw geez. Not that ole' hat. Can you stay on topic for once? Or shall we go off debating why we don't all speak Amharic seeing that the cradle of all mankind is actually in Ethiopia?

Edited May 24, 2007 by ET-US2004

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

Aw geez. Not that ole' hat. Can you stay on topic for once? Or shall we go off debating why we don't all speak Amharic seeing that the cradle of all mankind is actually in Ethiopia?

'Uninvited' is an interesting word...like bleach. It conjures up all kinds of inferences.

[Ban Hammer 13,644]

Aw geez. Not that ole' hat. Can you stay on topic for once? Or shall we go off debating why we don't all speak Amharic seeing that the cradle of all mankind is actually in Ethiopia?

'Uninvited' is an interesting word...like bleach. It conjures up all kinds of inferences.

steven, you're still losing. you'll have to do better.

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

Aw geez. Not that ole' hat. Can you stay on topic for once? Or shall we go off debating why we don't all speak Amharic seeing that the cradle of all mankind is actually in Ethiopia?

'Uninvited' is an interesting word...like bleach. It conjures up all kinds of inferences.

steven, you're still losing. you'll have to do better.

Charles, there's no winners here on VJ...you should that already.

[GaryC 7]

Uninvited is descriptive. If the shoe fits...

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

Uninvited is descriptive. If the shoe fits...

Historically, when has that ever made a difference with human migration?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Aw geez. Not that ole' hat. Can you stay on topic for once? Or shall we go off debating why we don't all speak Amharic seeing that the cradle of all mankind is actually in Ethiopia?

'Uninvited' is an interesting word...like bleach. It conjures up all kinds of inferences.

Not really. It simply points out that they lack an invitation - a.k.a. visa.

[GaryC 7]

Uninvited is descriptive. If the shoe fits...

Historically, when has that ever made a difference with human migration?

Steve, your hopeless. I guess to someone that the law means nothing to would have your POV. But I think you notice that you have very few people that think like you. That gives me hope for this country.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Uninvited is descriptive. If the shoe fits...

Historically, when has that ever made a difference with human migration?

Historically, when did nationstates begin to control immigration?

It kind of mattered ever since.

[Artegal 1]

Making English the official language would never fly--1st Amendment Freedom of Speech would guarantee that anyone US citizen or not could and can speak or use whatever language they want to without any law prohibiting the use thereof etc.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Making English the official language would never fly--1st Amendment Freedom of Speech would guarantee that anyone US citizen or not could and can speak or use whatever language they want to without any law prohibiting the use thereof etc.

It's not so much about what language any individual chooses to speak. That's everyone's personal business. It's more about what language the various government bodies and agencies need to accomodate. In a way, English is official as it is. After all, any immigrant desiring US citizenship needs to pass an English skill test. The test itself is ridiculously easy and says nothing about a persons English skills but the very fact that the government quizzes intending citizens on the English language specifically strongly suggests that this is the language we expect citizens to be able to speak, read and write.

Edited May 24, 2007 by ET-US2004

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

Uninvited is descriptive. If the shoe fits...

Historically, when has that ever made a difference with human migration?

Steve, your hopeless. I guess to someone that the law means nothing to would have your POV. But I think you notice that you have very few people that think like you. That gives me hope for this country.

Oy, Gary... for awhile there I thought you might have gotten past that hurdle...thinking in absolutes (he told a lie, therefore he must be a liar).

[GaryC 7]

Oy, Gary... for awhile there I thought you might have gotten past that hurdle...thinking in absolutes (he told a lie, therefore he must be a liar).

Sorry to dissapoint you Steve. I will always think of the illegals as gatecrashers and criminals. You need to rethink your position.

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

Uninvited is descriptive. If the shoe fits...

Historically, when has that ever made a difference with human migration?

Historically, when did nationstates begin to control immigration?

It kind of mattered ever since.

I'm assuming then you know the history between Mexico and the U.S. over the last century.

[GaryC 7]

I'm assuming then you know the history between Mexico and the U.S. over the last century.

Who cares what the history is. The reality is there are 20 million illegals here now. You need to get your head in the present man.