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

[homesick_american 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.

That is such a weak argument.

[JoeMama 0]

Here in California, there's no shortage of Mexican immigrants and Mexican-speaking people. What I don't get is when I go into a department store, like Target, and I ask a worker there where I can find something, they don't speak a word of American English. Go figure why someone who doesn't speak this language would be forced to feel alienated all they've known language-wise since their birth. Especially, in their own country!

amh, Mexican is not a language.. stop acting stupid as if u didnt know..

besides, Cali, and the southwest have always been bilingual.. it's not new.. so u're being alienated because u want to..

It's funny, you're super quick to call someone stupid. But you sure don't like when someone says your name in an English sense, do you Peter? American "English" is not spoken the same as the "English" spoken in England. You can't convince me that "Spanish" in Mexico is spoken the same as "Spanish" in Spain. Is it?

I know you want to work yourself up into a frenzy and call everyone prejudice, racist, etc. So sling away. It doesn't bother me. And, personally, I don't think anyone really cares. The more you keep trying to force something on someone, the more likely they're going to refuse it. One fact is true. I was born here and have been here all my life. I am well aware of what's going on around me amigo.

[JoeMama 0]

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.

That is such a weak argument.

I agree with ya on that one too HomieA!

The funny thing is no one is saying to stop speaking a foreign language when living in the USA. The majority of Americans primarily speak English. Correct me if I am wrong. But isn't it beneficial assimilating to the culture of the country you choose to live? Not force the culture to assimilate to you, the visitor? Seems easy enough to understand.

[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.

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

So, you're saying that the history between Mexico and the US makes the US/Mexico border and the US immigration law somehow less valid than other countries and their borders and immigration laws and regulations?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

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.

History can't be cherry picked, Gary.

But that's precisely what you're doing, Steven.

[JoeMama 0]

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.

So, you're saying that the history between Mexico and the US makes the US/Mexico border and the US immigration law somehow less valid than other countries and their borders and immigration laws and regulations?

Your questions are well stated! I don't know why there is a sense of entitlement based on the past. I certainly would not just walk into a house I used to live and make myself at home WITHOUT an invitation or permission from the inhabitants/owners of that home. That would be downright illegal!

[Ban Hammer 13,644]

History can't be cherry picked, Gary.

not according to some bushbashers

[homesick_american 1]

I agree with ya on that one too HomieA!

The funny thing is no one is saying to stop speaking a foreign language when living in the USA. The majority of Americans primarily speak English. Correct me if I am wrong. But isn't it beneficial assimilating to the culture of the country you choose to live? Not force the culture to assimilate to you, the visitor? Seems easy enough to understand.

When my great-grandparents moved to America from Russia (they were ethnic Poles, but there was no Poland in 1905), they continued to speak Polish in the home, and my great-grandmother also spoke Swedish since she was half-Swedish. My grandmother and her sisters all learned Polish and Swedish in the home and their parents rightly assumed that they would pick up English once they started school, which they did with no problems.

It wasn't like they weren't trying to assimilate; it's just that my great-grandparents felt more comfortable speaking Polish in their own home, though both of them learned English quickly once they were in America and conducted all of their business in English. My great-grandfather owned a restaurant in a small town in Connecticut and he insisted on his employees speaking English around the customers; he didn't want to alienate anyone. He also once physically threw a health inspector out of his restaurant when the inspector threatened to shut him down because he had the audacity to hire a black cook. He said "This is America, not Russia! Nobody is going to tell me who I can and cannot employ, you DIRTY BOLSHEVIK!" I wish I could have met him, but he died in the 1950s.

I'm getting off-topic here. The point is, he was a big believer in assimilating on the outside but also maintaining the language and culture at home. He was a big believer in the idea of America as a multi-cultural land where people from all ethnic and religious backgrounds lived side-by-side, getting along and working together, but maintaining their own cultural identities at the same time. Our family no longer speaks Polish or Swedish; my grandmother and her sisters did not teach them to their children. However, we still do some things the "Polish" way, including Christmas celebrations. It's neat, and it's one of the great things about America.

[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.

So, you're saying that the history between Mexico and the US makes the US/Mexico border and the US immigration law somehow less valid than other countries and their borders and immigration laws and regulations?

I'm saying the recent swell of hysteria, outrage, xenophobia over Mexican immigrants who are here illegally is being triggered by other factors than just their presence here - you only have to go back say 50 years or less to see that. From a personal perspective, I am an Arizona native and grew up going to school with many kids whose parents crossed the border illegally. I can tell you, there wasn't the level of disdain over illegals being here like there is now, nor was anyone except a small group of people regarding them as lawless, immoral, criminal or any other negative connotation. We treated them as regular people, nothing less, and most of us understood/accepted their plight - finding a way out of poverty. We didn't see it as a national security threat, or a threat to our economy, or that they would bring more diseases. History can tell us a lot about ourselves and that's why history is never irrelevent.

[Ban Hammer 13,644]

I'm saying the recent swell of hysteria, outrage, xenophobia over Mexican immigrants who are here illegally is being triggered by other factors than just their presence here - you only have to go back say 50 years or less to see that. From a personal perspective, I am an Arizona native and grew up going to school with many kids whose parents crossed the border illegally. I can tell you, there wasn't the level of disdain over illegals being here like there is now, nor was anyone except a small group of people regarding them as lawless, immoral, criminal or any other negative connotation. We treated them as regular people, nothing less, and most of us understood/accepted their plight - finding a way out of poverty. We didn't see it as a national security threat, or a threat to our economy, or that they would bring more diseases. History can tell us a lot about ourselves and that's why history is never irrelevent.

that's all well and wonderful, steven, you've become immune to the real issue over time.

[mawilson 2,133]

I'm saying the recent swell of hysteria, outrage, xenophobia over Mexican immigrants who are here illegally is being triggered by other factors than just their presence here - you only have to go back say 50 years or less to see that. From a personal perspective, I am an Arizona native and grew up going to school with many kids whose parents crossed the border illegally. I can tell you, there wasn't the level of disdain over illegals being here like there is now, nor was anyone except a small group of people regarding them as lawless, immoral, criminal or any other negative connotation. We treated them as regular people, nothing less, and most of us understood/accepted their plight - finding a way out of poverty. We didn't see it as a national security threat, or a threat to our economy, or that they would bring more diseases. History can tell us a lot about ourselves and that's why history is never irrelevent.

Well Steven, with all due respect, there weren't 10 million Mexicans in Arizona in 1950.

At what point do they become a threat to our economy? 20 million? 30 million?

[Fandango 1,440]

100 BILLION

*holds pinky to mouth*

[Ban Hammer 13,644]

Well Steven, with all due respect, there weren't 10 million Mexicans in Arizona in 1950.

At what point do they become a threat to our economy? 20 million? 30 million?

somewhere i've seen estimated that 1 out of 10 mexican citizens are in the states. i wonder what the ratio was back in the 50's

Edited May 24, 2007 by charlesandnessa

[Otto 83]

100 BILLION

*holds pinky to mouth*

[Dr_LHA 3]

I don't know...what's the ramifications of making English the official language of this country?

All the Hispanic people will magically speak English of course. Silly! Plus phone lines will never again say "press 1 for English", thus releaving all English speakers from their greatest burden: having to push a button. Also there will now be new names for all those jummy Mexican dishes:

"Can I get the Young Donkey? "

"Would you like some sauce on that sir, perhaps some Rooster's Beak? Black or Mottled Beans?"

All hail our new 100% American speaking nation, in which all our problems are solved!