Should the U.S. Declare English Our Official Language?

[PLFXpert 0]

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I have a feeling the standards have been somewhat relaxed when it comes to the understanding of the English language...

Or I'm guessing the words they must read, write & understand are something along the lines of:

Please.
Thank you.
Hello.
Goodbye.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[PLFXpert 0]

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And there is no way if I moved to another country I would not attempt repeatedly until successful to learn their language. It's just respectful, imo. But, if we don't have an "official language" to learn well, I guess I see their point.

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Yeah, but ...

My point is we actually have an "official language. It is English. It is on most everything. Now occaisionally we have other languages listed as an option with it,

Pratically have one and not-so-much, well both are indefinite.

My point (and I'm still quite open to other points of view on this particular topic) is that if there is no definite, then what reason do immigrants have to learn English? Certainly I can think of a million reasons, but I also can't deny the many, many immigrants who do not speak it and seem to have no desire to learn it.

I go back (again) to what I said previously:

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I think it's important for any immigrant to learn an official language of their new country. Communication is so important. It's important to me every citizen understand our laws, their rights and the issues to vote on.

In my line of work, I often come across companies in need of my product, yet no-one speaks English and thus we mutually loose. Let's not even go into the logistics of what it would take our company to set-up a department to accomodate non-English speaking business (and I work for a multi-billion dollar company). We already have paperwork in Spanish, and a few customer service reps that can translate---but frankly no-one wants to handle it b/c it takes about 10 x as long to sign up a new client going through a translator for the same commission as a client in which you do not need to translate. So, I understand both sides. Certainly I'll do it should the business come my way b/c it's the right thing to do. But that doesn't mean even I don't roll my eyes and feel a bit insulted.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[Andy9o8 2]

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And I still maintain that it's thinly-veiled, plausibly-deniable immigrant bashing. Primarily, Hispanic immigrant bashing.

So b/c I would support such an ammendment, I must be an "immigrant basher"?

Yowza. I better go---many relationships to end and years of lost antagonist-work to make up for.

Oops, I should clarify. No, I'm not lumping you in with the immigrant bashers. I know there are people, like you, who have perfectly honorable reasons for thinking English as an official language is a good idea. But I think the primary (of course unacknowledged) motivation of those who actively have been pushing to bring this issue to the public forefront is one of anti-immigrant bigotry, and/or creating a wedge issue to play off the fears and bigotries of many people. It fits a recognizable pattern, and I've come to recognize it when I see it.

Oh, by the way: in all fairness, I generally agree that when you immigrate to a new country, you really should make the effort to learn the language.

[PLFXpert 0]

Again, I'm quite open to understanding other points of view and perhaps altering my own. But I haven't read many responses that weren't making assumptions or playing defense.

I grew up in Florida. I spent a summer in 8th grade with my very close friend Margarita at her family's home in Puerto Rico. I briefy dated a Puerto Rican pro surfer. One of my best friends in high school wasn't a citizen; her family moved here from Columbia and w/in a year she spoke perfect (American) English. She was an honor student and won homecoming queen all four years. Another very good friend of mine in high school was not a citizen. His family moved here from Spain. His dream was to continue swimming competively for our school and our college (UF) and then go back to represent SPAIN in the Olympics; he also spoke perfect English w/in a year of moving here.

With these friends (and more) I've had this discussion--and it wasn't even something I brought up. At the time (high school mostly) I really didn't think much about it. They all felt very strongly about setting an example for others with their same background. You could even say it was my culturally diverse group of friends that played a heavy role in my current views on such topics.

And frankly I don't feel it's really necessary to mention my friends or this or that b/c it holds little weight in an arguement or discussion. I mention it anyways b/c what I've received is assumptions on my opinion on immigrants, rather than thoughtful reasons why one might oppose such a declaration.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[PLFXpert 0]

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It fits a recognizable pattern, and I've come to recognize it when I see it.

First, I appreciate the clarification.

Regarding this statement, do you feel then you might be biased when reviewing all the facts from both sides b/c too often you've seen the unfortunate "public forefront"?

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[Andy9o8 2]

>>what I've received is assumptions on my opinion on immigrants

See my clarification in post #53

>>rather than thoughtful reasons why one might oppose such a declaration.

See my post #21.

[Andy9o8 2]

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It fits a recognizable pattern, and I've come to recognize it when I see it.

First, I appreciate the clarification.

Regarding this statement, do you feel then you might be biased when reviewing all the facts from both sides b/c too often you've seen the unfortunate "public forefront"?

In this instance, no. I'm well into my 40's, and I analyze issues for a living. I take each issue individually. In this case, as I see it, the recognizable pattern is glaringly obvious.