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The opposition in Congress to making English the official language of the United States is a near perfect example of the failure of the current leadership in Washington to adopt a deeply held value of the American people. Eighty-five percent of Americans want the federal government to join with 30 states in making English the official language of the United States, and yet our elites consider the adoption of this value as a distraction or worse.
Consider the Democrat presidential debate Sunday . When asked for a show of hands, Mike Gravel was the only candidate to express support for English. Barack Obama said that the question "is designed precisely to divide us" and that "when we get distracted by those kinds of questions, I think we do a disservice to the American people." If 85% of Americans support English as the official language of government, the only division is between Senator Obama and the American people.
Evita Clinton responded that she supported English as the "national" language but not the "official" language of the United States, since making English the official language would prevent the printing of foreign language ballots for U.S. elections.
It seems that only the elites can possibly see 85% support for a deeply held American value as divisive and think it is acceptable to express support for English as long as it does not actually have any meaning.
why should america have a single official language ??? i think one of the good things about america is its eclectic mix of races, cultures and languages. why ruin your unique and risk excluding minoroties...
Which country do you live in ? Here our diversity has historically worked because through the assimilation process English was the presumed language and I believe the glue that bonded us together.
Needkarma
impeachment resolutions have been introduced by that flake Congressman Denis Kucinich (against Vice President Cheney) . They will go no where because there is not that growing ground swell ,and certainly not a majority of Americans who think it necessary or proper to do so .
I don't know the answer but if I went to Germany, France, England, Poland, Mexico, Columbia, or Russia, and I went into thier government offices, Can I demand that all the paper work I have to fill out to get permits be in English ?? Will thier governments pay to provide language tutors for me. If I go into thier county with no proper ID will I be allowed to live and work?
Here our diversity has historically worked because through the assimilation process English was the presumed language and I believe the glue that bonded us together.
Official English would reinforce America's historic message to new immigrants - that we expect them to learn English in their assimilation.
Official English doesn't mean "English only." None of the 30 states with official English laws prohibit government agencies from using another languages when there is a compelling public interest for doing so. All this would stipulate is that English as our official language means that for the government to act officially, it must communicate in English;the language of record is the English language.
If I moved to another country I would have to learn that language. Should the US expect less from those who would live here ?
Here in England it is the case that immigrants must be seen to be learning the language.
Chuck, Yes, you should be always able to get documents in the language of your choice. I know this is the case in England. But the English document is the only one provided as standard.
Switzerland has four official languages and they don't seem to be falling apart too soon. In the U.S. English seems to be the defacto language already with the government supporting the teaching of spanish. Pockets of immigrants exist in every country. It's their problem if they can't speak the defacto language.
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