Hot Topic (6/6): Should English be the official language in the U.S.?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

From the Tulsa Beacon: 

The citizens of Oklahoma will have the opportunity to make English the official language of their state government following final House passage of legislation today.

“As our common language, English and the ‘melting pot’ process it makes possible has made the United States the most successful multi-ethnic nation in history,” said state Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore. “This legislation will reinforce our nation’s unity and help end the drift toward linguistic Balkanization.”

House Joint Resolution 1042, by Terrill and State Sen. Anthony Sykes, recognizes that English is Oklahoma’s common and unifying language, and declares that all official actions of the state must be conducted in English. It also bars individuals from suing the state to have services provided in languages other than English.

Under the provisions of the legislation, private individuals and businesses will still be allowed to use whatever language they choose. Only official government business would be affected.

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Do you think the United States should make English its official language? 

Why or why not?

[forsythia_18]

America CAN'T have an official language.  It's impossible.

A lot of women on here whine and bitch about companies accommodating to other languages on signs, ect.  This is WRONG THINKING.  It's been said that someday Hispanics will become the majority in our country.  Does that mean we will all be forced to speak Spanish?  No.  I bet a lot of people (ironically probably the ones whining about other languages written on signs) would be against that.  People can speak whatever language they want.  It's AMERICA. 

[stormcris]

No, that is a power given to each state to decide and it should be left to them.

[eaglemama2]

IDK I think it should be English.    Think about this, in Australia in order to migrate, you HAVE to speak English, period.    This was explained to me by immigration.

Isn't Australia similar to the US in terms of melting pots?   It is also a land of immigrants, yet they seem to enforce stricter rules for immigrants in order to protect their nation from being overcome by a bunch of crazy foreigners, lol, or so to speak.   

Everything is in English, wherever you go, road signs, subway info, road names, etc.   So why would it be so impossible to keep English as a primary language?    My native language is German, I don't expect any German road signs showing up anytime soon, lol.   I adapted myself to the country I reside in.

[CSRodriguez]

nope     

[dereksmommy1227]

Yes. The only reason I think this is because I absolutly HATE it when people who only speak spanish go into a place and think that they own the place and when you don't understand them they get pissed off like you owe them something.  If people would attempt to learn the language which is English (think about it we take english from Kinder to 12th grade then throughout college) at least to communicate simple things. If people would do this I wouldn't have to buy my kid language DVD's now so that he can learn spanish so he can understand them. Why don't they buy a DVD and teach their kid english?  

[rosepetal209]

Quoting eaglemama2:

IDK I think it should be English.    Think about this, in Australia in order to migrate, you HAVE to speak English, period.    This was explained to me by immigration.

Isn't Australia similar to the US in terms of melting pots?   It is also a land of immigrants, yet they seem to enforce stricter rules for immigrants in order to protect their nation from being overcome by a bunch of crazy foreigners, lol, or so to speak.   

Everything is in English, wherever you go, road signs, subway info, road names, etc.   So why would it be so impossible to keep English as a primary language?    My native language is German, I don't expect any German road signs showing up anytime soon, lol.   I adapted myself to the country I reside in.

[cat0308]

I definately believe that we need to establish one official language soon, or it will become impossible to keep up with the changes. I don't think you should have to carry multiple language dictionaries just to travel within our country. I also believe that if you move to a country you should adapt to that country and not try to make it adapt to you.

[Mommy_of_Riley]

Quoting cat0308:

I definately believe that we need to establish one official language soon, or it will become impossible to keep up with the changes. I don't think you should have to carry multiple language dictionaries just to travel within our country. I also believe that if you move to a country you should adapt to that country and not try to make it adapt to you.

I agree 100% with this!  :)

[ain-gell72]

yes

[metalcowgirl34]

Yes.  For one things, I think it's insanely ridiculous that workplaces can require any kind of training/schooling/experience they need, but they are NOT allowed to require that the employee can communicate with the other workers.....they call THAT discrimination.  That is stupid.  I've worked with way too many people who never bother to get any better at speaking english, AND use it as a reason to do way less work than everyone else.