sandy2

English as a national language

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English as a national language

from JoeUser Forums
I was watching an episode of West Wing, and it was discussing preventing a bill making English the national language from passing. I mean, I consider myself to be left leaning, but come on, we should have English the national language. English should (if its not already) be taught to all students in all schools, and to become a citizen you should be required to be proficient in english. We are an english country, we need to stay that way.
politics
11,862 views 31 replies
Reply #26 from JoeUser Forums Top
I have to agree with the original poster. I have lived in another country and had to learn their language. It was neither appropriate or reasonable for me to expect them to provide an English translator wherever I went.

I love that the US is multicultural. Heck, my immediate family is multicultural. But there needs to be some uniformity at the national level. That certainly doesn't mean we are discouraging their native languages.
Reply #27 from PolMach Forums Top
I beleive it should be a law. maybe not so much as to have them be literate and or fluent but, atleast to the point they can handle simple/basic question and awnsers.
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Reply #28 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think I'll go on teaching English as a second language to all takers. If a person chooses not to speak English here, then I wish them luck trying to get by -- perhaps they will be able to find a community in which they can do that. Illiteracy is a similar issue for me: I will continue to teach reading to all comers, but if a person feels like they can get by without reading, then I'm willing to let them try. I guess I feel like common sense will win out here over having to make laws.
Reply #29 from JoeUser Forums Top

Reply #27 By: wINtro - 10/18/2004 9:07:29 PM
I beleive it should be a law. maybe not so much as to have them be literate and or fluent but, atleast to the point they can handle simple/basic question and awnsers.


It is a law if they want to become a citizen.
Reply #30 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree with the article as well. In the Army, for example, (perhaps the entire Armed Forces) English is the offical language. It does not say that soldiers can not speak another language, just not while interacting with other soldiers. This point was brought up in Iraq during, what us enlisted called, a BS session. My Commander re-stated what offical military policy was and that, if nessacary, we were authorized to inform anyone speaking another language, ( they might be saying ANYTHING) that is what unauthorized for Force Protection. I don't know, personnaly im somewhat multi-lingual (Spanish, and Portugese) but if it is required that you speak, read, and write english in order to enlist in our Nation's Military then it is unreasonable to assume that civillians arent required to learn the same. I think reply #2 by drimmler states it perfectly.
Reply #31 from JoeUser Forums Top
, I just rememberd the post that said we are not an english country! Would someone please refresh my memory, who were we founded and declared our independance from? The fact that we are multi-cultral is not relavant to the national language requirment.